Wisła Kraków, the Polish football club nicknamed “Biała Gwiazda” (The White Star), announced in June 2026 that it would permanently adopt a crest based on the club’s historic 1911 emblem. The decision came after nearly three decades of using a modernized version of the badge, and followed the introduction of a special 120th-anniversary crest for the 2026 season. The club stated the change was an expression of respect for its history and a response to supporters’ voices. [1]
Design and History
From 1997, Wisła Kraków used a crest featuring a red shield set within a circle, containing the club’s two main symbols: a white star and a blue band representing the Vistula River, with a crown at the top. [2] The blue band had been a consistent element of the club’s crests since its introduction in 1936, making the 2026 change the first time in 90 years that the element and its color were absent from the badge. [3]
For the club’s 120th anniversary in 2026, Wisła Kraków introduced a temporary jubilee crest. It removed the circle, band and crown, leaving a shield with the star at its center, and added three gold borders, the number 120 and a gold star at the top. The design was created in collaboration with the agency Wonderkitz. [2] After the season, the club decided to make the historic design permanent rather than revert to the previous crest. The permanent version removes the anniversary decorations, including the additional star, border and the number 120. [3]
The new emblem depicts a red shield with a white star, which previously appeared as the central element of the crowned crest used since 1997. [4] The 1911 shield was the first in the club’s history to contain the white star, now Wisła’s main symbol. [3]
The jubilee crest remained in use until the end of 2026, with the new historical identity gradually introduced across kits, club materials, licensed products, communication channels and club spaces. [1] The club described the change as a step toward unifying its branding and managing image rights more effectively. [5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The central element of the crest is a classic white five-pointed star, which has been a symbol of the Kraków club for over a century. [5] The blue band that appeared in crests from 1936 onward was intended to directly reference the Vistula River. [3] The club’s official statement on the new crest noted that comparing the 1911 emblem with the 2026 version shows “the same club, only richer with the experience of 120 years of history.” [3]
The gold star that Wisła wears on players’ shirts, signifying at least ten Polish championship titles, remains on the kits and is not affected by the crest change. [6]
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