Brewers stray from tradition with 2026 City Connect jerseys

Major League Baseball introduced "City Connect" jerseys back in 2021 as a way to add a completely different kit to each team's lineup of uniforms. The jerseys, which generally offered unique colorways, logos, and fonts from the team's typical uniforms, were supposed to be inspired by the city that each team played in. For example, the Milwaukee Brewers' first City Connect uniforms, released in 2022, included details like beer foam sleeve designs and hats that incorporated both "414," Milwaukee's area code, and "MKE," the airport code for General Mitchell International Airport.

However, in 2026, the Brewers and seven other teams are due for new City Connect uniforms, and this time around, the jersey's inspiration hasn't been limited to just the Cream City. Rather, the Brewers have taken inspiration from the entire state of Wisconsin when designing their 2026 City Connect jerseys.

The following video, created by the Brewers' unmatched video production department, will not only strike a nostalgic chord with Wisconsinites, but it also explains where the inspiration for this year's City Connects truly stems from.

Taking a closer look at the Brewers' state-inspired 2026 City Connect jerseys

"Wisco" -- that's the word that the Brewers will don across their chest every time they wear their new City Connect jerseys. It speaks to the fact that the Brewers aren't just Milwaukee's team; they're Wisconsin's team. Without another team in the state, the Brewers are the rooting choice in practically every corner of Wisconsin, so why shouldn't the team acknowledge that support with a jersey that recognizes it?

However, the "Wisco" lettering isn't the only tribute to Wisconsin included in these jerseys. For starters, the colors used are intentional. The blue, which is not a shade the Brewers have donned before, represents Wisconsin's lakes and rivers. The cream accents are said to represent the state's beaches and sandstone bluffs. And the sunset gradient throughout is supposed to reflect the colors that result from a sunset over a lake in the Northwoods or Lake Michigan on the eastern part of the state. The orange used for the "Nike" logo and other accents throughout could also be attributed to the hunting culture in Wisconsin.

Some of the smaller details include a wheat and barley braid on the arm sleeves, paying homage to the state's brewing industry, which is not limited to just Milwaukee. Inside the neck of the jersey is the word "Forward," which is the state's motto that demonstrates a commitment to progress. Finally, two new logos appear on the uniform. The first is a reimagined use of the Brewers' old mascot "The Barrelman" fielding a groundball, which appears in front of a sunset gradient outline of Wisconsin on the sleeve. The other, which won't be seen on the field, is a reimagined use of the grill logo that appeared on the Brewers' previous City Connect jerseys. This time, the logo has been turned into a fishing bobber and appears on the jocktag of the uniform, which is generally tucked in.

It's not only a stray from tradition, using inspiration from the state as a whole rather than just the city of Milwaukee, but it's also a bold design for the Brewers. The uniforms are bound to be met with mixed reactions, but there's no denying a lot of thought and attention to detail went into creating these "Wisconsin-inspired" threads.