Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in Burnley FC’s away kit launch film

Burnley Football Club has revealed its away kit for the 2026/27 season, the result of almost two years of work steered personally by co-owner and former NFL star JJ Watt.

Watt worked with the club and its technical partner Castore at every stage, taking a hands-on role from the initial concept through to the finished product. He was involved in choosing the crest and colours as well as the smaller design details.

The kit pairs a cream shirt with claret shorts and cream socks, and draws its inspiration from the town, its history and its residents.

The launch video ends with a cameo from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who turns to Watt and delivers a line from Predator: “Been pushing too many pencils lately?”

A returning crest

The centrepiece of the design is the comeback of a much-loved club crest, which Burnley wore from 1979 to 1983 and again between 1987 and 2009.

Watt pushed to bring the shield back after two years of conversations with fans, for whom it carries particular meaning across several generations. For the away kit it has been redrawn in a tonal palette that keeps the feel of the original.

The shirt carries a bespoke pattern based on the stonework of Gawthorpe Hall, where the club's training ground is located. The estate has been linked with Burnley for decades, and its medieval barn was used for this season's player photoshoot.

The barn served as the club's gym in the 1950s, when Gawthorpe was one of the first purpose-built training facilities in world football.

Inside the neckline is a bespoke wordmark based on the lettering used on Burnley matchday programmes in the 1960s and 70s, updated for a modern shirt. Below the back of the collar, an ‘1882’ script marks the year the club was founded.

The Milkman film

A cinematic campaign film accompanies the launch, featuring Burnley and the surrounding villages and countryside. It plays on one of Watt's NFL nicknames, “The Milkman”, with Watt driving a traditional milk float across Lancashire and into the town to deliver “the cream”.

On the way he meets supporters and well-known faces including Capital Radio DJ Jordan North, cricketer Sir Jimmy Anderson, Bank of Dave founder Dave Fishwick and Burnley great Stan Ternent, as well as Schwarzenegger.

The route takes in local landmarks such as the Royal Dyche pub, whose landlady Justine Lorriman also features, and the Singing Ringing Tree, before the float reaches Turf Moor.

A Making Of documentary following the project from the first sketches to the finished design is available now on Clarets+ and YouTube, giving fans a detailed look at Watt's role in the process.

Watt said: “From day one, I didn’t want this to be just another football shirt. I wanted to create something quintessentially Burnley. Every decision we made started with one question: are we doing the supporters of this club proud?”

He said: “As I’ve said many times before, this club existed long before I arrived and it will exist long after I’m gone. But during this time, my goal is to help honour its great past while also shepherding it to a brighter future.”

He added: “Bringing back this iconic crest was extremely important to me, mainly because of how much it means to our supporters, but also because I’m just a massive fan of it. This shirt belongs to the people of Burnley, and I hope they can see how much care and thought has gone into every single detail.”

Tom Beahon, co-founder and chief executive of Castore, said: “In all my years working in elite sport, I’ve never known an owner become so immersed in the design process. JJ challenged every decision, listened intently to supporters and cared deeply about getting every detail right.”

He said the Castore team had worked closely with Watt and the club over almost two years, adding: “It’s a shirt that tells a genuine story about Burnley, and that’s what makes it so special.”

The away kit is on sale online and in the Clarets Store, and was first worn at Turf Moor in Sunday's friendly against Torino.