Olympique de Marseille (OM), the French football club founded in 1899, unveiled its twelfth crest on 8 April 2026, replacing the badge that had been in use since 2004. The new logo will appear on match shirts from the 2026-2027 season.[1]
Design and History
The 2026 crest adopts a rounder, more streamlined silhouette than its predecessor, a shape that nods to the mark used by the club from 1935 to 1972.[2] According to the club, the construction is not a free interpretation but a deliberate blend of elements from several periods of the club’s visual history: the white border from the 1973 logo, the structure of the “M” from the 1899 logo, the curves and dynamic lines of the 1986 logo, and the double border of the 1993 logo.[3]
The previous crest, introduced in 2004 under then-president Christophe Bouchet, was a simplification designed for marketing purposes. Bouchet explained that the colors were those of the Marseille cross and that the “O” and “M” needed to be freed up to display those colors.[4] That 2004 badge replaced the so-called “historic blason,” which had been created by the club’s founder René Dufaure de Montmirail in 1899 and featured an “O” overlaid on an “M” beneath a banner reading “Droit au but.” That historic mark disappeared between 1935 and 1986, then returned in the Tapie era and became associated with the club’s 1993 European Cup triumph.[5]
The 2026 redesign was the result of roughly 24 months of work, according to interim president Alban Juster, who framed the change as part of a broader brand strategy amid declining television rights revenue.[1] The trademark for the new visual was filed in May 2025 by Flair Creative Studio, an agency founded by former OM staff members Quentin Fevre and Dylan Rosain-Bach, the latter having served as the club’s art director. The club confirmed it holds the rights via contract and that formal registration with the French trademark office was imminent.[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The club describes the new logo as modernising its iconic badge while honouring its history, with a clean geometric structure giving strength and clarity while the “M” moves freely, echoing “the water, wind, and fire of Marseille.”[7] The gold star, which commemorates the club’s 1993 Champions League victory, and the motto “Droit au but” are retained on match shirts and certain sporting equipment, though they may be omitted on other applications.[1]
Typography and Design
Alongside the crest, the club introduced a new colour system built around “Marseille Blue,” a tone derived from analysis of every historic badge and inspired by the Mediterranean, the Marseille sky, and the blue of the city’s street signs. A darker shade called “Deep Sea” forms the core of the palette alongside Marseille Blue, with white for clarity and gold as an accent.[7] The club also launched a custom typeface, the OM Marseille font, described as bold and geometric with subtle serifs, available in four weights from Light to Bold.[7]
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