25 years of the VELTINS-Arena: Schalke's new home shirt turns the stadium's roof construction into a design and carries the anniversary 25 on the back of the neck.
FC Schalke 04 have unveiled the new home shirt for the 2026/27 season, and it's a tribute to their own home ground: the jersey celebrates the VELTINS-Arena's 25th anniversary and turns the stadium's architecture into a central design element.
Home shirt 2026/27: the arena as pattern
The shirt comes in royal blue and navy. An abstracted pattern of the distinctive roof construction runs across the entire front, fading into a darker gradient, paired with raglan sleeves and a classic crew neck. The three light blue adidas stripes on the shoulders recall the arena's well-known 360-degree band. The back of the neck features a graphic of the stadium with a striking 25, marking the anniversary. The home kit is completed by white shorts and blue socks, with the club's founding year 1904 finished on the socks.
25 years of the VELTINS-Arena: a stadium that set new standards
The occasion for the design has its own place in German stadium history. In 1998, Schalke laid the foundation for an arena unlike anything Germany had seen before: fully privately financed, with a retractable roof and a pitch that can be shifted. After 33 months of construction, it opened in August 2001 and was considered the most modern stadium in Europe at the time. Known as Arena AufSchalke until 2005, it has been called the VELTINS-Arena ever since.
In the 25 years since its opening, the arena has hosted, among other things, the 2004 Champions League final, several matches at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2024. With the new home shirt, Schalke now carry that history on their chest.
The home shirt is available now in the online shop and at all S04 fan shops. It makes its on-pitch debut on 19 July in the friendly against Erzgebirge Aue.
