Army-Navy Game 2026 Shirts: Date and Trademark Rules

The 127th Army-Navy Game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on CBS, according to Army West Point Athletics. The game is sold out, per the official Army-Navy Game FAQ, which means most of the people who want a shirt will be wearing it at a watch party, a unit gathering, a base event, or an alumni chapter tailgate. It is also one of the most heavily trademarked matchups in sports, because three separate licensing programs control the marks. This guide covers the dates, who owns what, and how a print shop can take these orders without getting a cease-and-desist letter.

Army-Navy Game 2026 at a glance

Army's release says CBS has aired every Army-Navy Game since 1996, and that last year's game averaged 7.84 million viewers. Neither academy had published a 2026 uniform reveal as of Oct. 20, 2026. Navy revealed its special uniform on Nov. 18 in 2025 and Nov. 20 in 2024, so mid-November is the pattern, and fans often want shirts that match the theme.

The Army-Navy Game falls the week after the conference championship games and before the College Football Playoff first round. Our College Football Playoff 2026-27 guide covers the rest of the December calendar.

Three licensing programs, not one

Most college matchups involve two schools and one licensing agent. Army-Navy involves three separate owners, and each sets its own rules.

Army (the service branch). The Army Trademark Licensing Program, set up in 2007, manages marks owned by the Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard: seals, emblems, insignia, logos, mottos, wordmarks, and unit and rank insignia. Its page says it does not cover West Point. A standard license carries about a 10% royalty on direct sales and an average advance of about $5,000, and review takes at least 30 days. There is also a hobbyist license limited to handmade products with no wholesale. The program says veterans cannot use Army marks to launch product lines "even at small scale," though custom one-off personal items may be allowed when no licensee can fill the request. West Point (the academy). West Point's trademark page says its licensed indicia are the exclusive property of the U.S. Army and that a license or authorization is required for any use. Commercial licensing runs through CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company), which also offers a crafter program for small independent makers. For non-commercial or one-time use, West Point asks requesters to email its licensing office with the marks, the item, and the maximum quantity, and says processing takes two to six weeks. Navy (the service branch and the Naval Academy). The Navy Trademark Licensing Office says anyone using the Navy name or trademarks for any purpose must get approval first, and that it routinely grants one-time, non-commercial approvals. Its crafter license is a $250 flat fee for two years, but the Navy says shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and ball caps do not qualify for a crafter license, so a shop printing Navy-mark apparel needs a standard license. Naval Academy athletic marks are licensed by the Naval Academy Athletic Association under federal law, with Navy approval, and CLC announced a multiyear renewal with the Naval Academy in August 2025.

Federal law backs all of this. Under 10 U.S.C. 2260, each military department may license the marks it owns or controls and use the fees, with royalties going to morale, welfare, and recreation programs. The Department of Defense branding page adds that service marks, including unregistered common-law marks, may not be used without a license agreement or written permission.

What about "Beat Navy" and "Beat Army"?

These are the phrases cadets and midshipmen have shouted at each other for generations, and they are the most requested shirt lines. A check of USPTO records found no live federal registration for either phrase. A brewing company's 2020 applications for BEAT ARMY and BEAT NAVY on beer were abandoned in 2021, and a 2021 application for BEAT NAVY on blankets was abandoned in 2022 after a letter of protest.

That does not make the phrases free to use in every design. The services say they also protect common-law marks, and a "Beat Navy" shirt that adds the Army star, the Black Knights shield, the Navy "N," or the goat crosses into protected territory fast. Plain text in the team colors is the low-risk version; the logos are not.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Shirt ideas that stay clear

Plain-text rivalry shirts. "Beat Navy" or "Beat Army" in block letters, black and gold or navy and gold, no logos. Watch-party and family shirts. "House Divided," "Dec. 12, 2026," a football, and the family name. Our team sports spirit shirt guide has more layouts. Unit and ship shirts. These are the biggest Army-Navy orders, and they almost always involve unit insignia, crests, or ship names, which belong to the service. Have the unit get written approval from its branch's licensing office before printing, or work with a licensed vendor. Army personnel's own personal items are not treated as trademark use, but selling a run of shirts is. Patriotic designs. Flags, stars, and eagles without service marks. Our Veterans Day shirt guide covers the U.S. Flag Code and how flags on apparel are treated.

Blanks and pressing

Black, navy, and heather gray cotton tees cover both sides of the rivalry, and December means hoodies and crewnecks for outdoor watch parties. Gold prints well with DTF on black and navy, but use a full white underbase so it stays bright. Heavyweight fleece needs a longer pre-press to drive out moisture; the DTF temperature and time chart lists settings by fabric. Our fleece hoodie season guide covers which blanks hold a print.

Production timing

• Now to mid-November: quote unit, alumni-chapter, and watch-party orders; anything with service marks needs approval first, and West Point says its one-time approvals take two to six weeks.
• Mid-November: uniform reveals usually land; matching-theme requests follow.
• Dec. 1 to Dec. 9: final reorders and pickups before the Dec. 12 game.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Army-Navy Game 2026?

The 127th Army-Navy Game is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and airs on CBS. The 2027 game is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2027, in Philadelphia.

Can I print the Navy logo on shirts I sell?

Not without a license. The Navy Trademark Licensing Office requires approval for any use of the Navy name or marks, and its $250 crafter license excludes shirts, hoodies, and caps. Apparel needs a standard license, or a one-time approval for a non-commercial job.

Is "Beat Navy" trademarked?

A check of USPTO records found no live federal registration for "Beat Navy" or "Beat Army." Earlier applications were abandoned in 2021 and 2022. The services also protect common-law marks, so keep academy logos, mascots, and insignia off any shirt that uses the phrase.

Who licenses West Point and Naval Academy logos?

West Point's marks are owned by the U.S. Army, and its commercial licensing runs through CLC. Naval Academy athletic marks are licensed by the Naval Academy Athletic Association with Department of the Navy approval, and CLC renewed its agreement with the Naval Academy in 2025.

Can a military unit order shirts with its insignia?

Unit insignia are service marks. The Army and Navy licensing programs both offer paths for one-time or non-commercial approval, so the unit should get written permission from its branch's licensing office before a shop prints insignia, or order from a licensed vendor.

Where this fits in the DTF Database

For short-run rivalry orders, the DTF supplier directory lists shops that print gang sheets with fast turnaround. For trademark basics across sports and characters, see the licensed character and trademark guide.