NHL Stadium Series 2026: Unveiling the Bold New Jerseys for the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning
The National Hockey League (NHL) has officially unveiled the jerseys for the 2026 Stadium Series, featuring the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The highly anticipated event will take place on February 1, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The jerseys, designed by Fanatics, showcase a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and regional flair.
According to Dom Fillion, creative director for Fanatics, “They really capture what the Stadium Series is about: taking chances, leaning in, designing toward the future of the game and having fun doing it.” The Bruins are set to play in their sixth NHL outdoor game, while the Lightning will participate in their second. The Bolts’ font and “stair step” design on the front reference their first outdoor game sweaters worn in Nashville in 2022.
Tampa Bay Lightning Jersey: Pirate Inspiration and Photo-Realistic Lightning
The Lightning jersey features a new patch logo on the shoulder, which includes a crest with the team’s name wrapped around a white skull with a lightning bolt on its head. This design element is a nod to the team’s previous use of skull logos on fan jerseys, but this custom art logo marks the first time it will be worn on a game jersey. The jersey also includes blue and white strands of “pirate beads” inside the collar, which are also found on the embossing within the light blue stripes around the waist and the arms of the sweater.
These “pirate beads” connect the team’s “Bolt for Life” logo with the lightning bolt skull found on the shoulder patch, which Fanatics said is meant to “recognize the team’s season ticket base.” The jersey also features a tattered Lightning logo flag on the back, which looks as if it could have been raised on a pirate ship. The introduction of a new shade of blue into the team’s color palette honors their traditional team hues while acknowledging the outdoor game held in the Sunshine State.
The jerseys also boast a photo-realistic representation of lightning on the letters and numbers, a first for the Tampa Bay Lightning. This design element was painstakingly tested, with digital artists and the factory working together to ensure the right materials and colors were used to execute the concept.
Boston Bruins Jersey: Brighter Gold and Nods to Tradition
The Bruins’ Stadium Series jersey introduces a much brighter and vibrant shade of gold for the team. The jersey features a new logo on the shoulders, which includes the letter “B” with five claw marks scratched around it. The claw mark motif is also found on Boston’s pants and helmets. The crest of the jersey features the “Bruins” bear shoulder patch that was introduced this season, as well as the word “Boston” in the front, paying homage to their jerseys from the 1920s.
The jersey also features an embossed sunburst pattern on the sleeves, which is also found on the “Easter Egg” tag on the back of the sweater. Additionally, the Bruins jersey includes the acronyms of the six states that make up New England, including Connecticut, in the collar.
Overall, the 2026 NHL Stadium Series jerseys are a unique blend of tradition, innovation, and regional flair. With their bold designs and attention to detail, they are sure to be a hit with fans. As Fillion noted, “It’s all part of why people think we might be a little bit crazy within the design space, but being obsessed about the details ultimately makes a difference.”
THE 2026 NHL STADIUM SERIES JERSEYS HAVE ARRIVED ️ Which one do you like better? pic.twitter.com/rzhH90LnRE
— ESPN (@espn) December 12, 2025
For more information on the 2026 NHL Stadium Series and the new jerseys, visit the official NHL website or follow ESPN for the latest updates.
