BAPE Year of the Horse Tees: The 2026 Lunar New Year Guide

The BAPE Year of the Horse Tee 'Black' and the Year of the Horse Baby Milo Tee 'Black' are A Bathing Ape's zodiac tees for 2026, the Year of the Horse. They carry on the brand's habit of marking each Lunar New Year with a dedicated graphic, and they set the horse alongside BAPE's graphic language and its cartoon mascot, Baby Milo.

The BAPE Year of the Horse Tee 'Black' leads the capsule, and it sits inside the wider BAPE range live now at PUSHAS, where every piece is authenticated by hand.

The design story: a horse for 2026

Lunar New Year fell on 17 February 2026, opening the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. BAPE got there early. The brand's Japanese site confirmed that the Year of the Horse tees released on 1 January 2026, alongside its New Year launches, through official BAPE stores and the BAPE web store.

The capsule is built around two graphics, each offered in black and white. The Year of the Horse Tee sets a horse motif against BAPE's own graphic language, a bold statement about the start of a new year. The Year of the Horse Baby Milo Tee takes a lighter route: Baby Milo stands holding a carrot beside a horse, a small joke that anyone who has fed a horse will get straight away.

Together they give you a choice of mood. The standard tee reads graphic and direct. The Baby Milo version reads playful and a little nostalgic.

An annual ritual at BAPE

The Horse tees did not arrive out of nowhere. BAPE has made zodiac tees part of its Lunar New Year calendar, and in 2025 it released Year of the Snake tees, including a Baby Milo design with Milo dressed as a snake. The 2026 capsule follows the same format: one core zodiac tee and one Baby Milo tee, each in more than one colourway.

That rhythm is part of the appeal. Each year's animal only comes round once every twelve years, so a zodiac tee is tied to a specific moment in a way a seasonal logo tee is not. Collectors who picked up the Snake tees in 2025 have a clear next chapter in the Horse.

History and lineage: Nigo, the APE HEAD and Baby Milo

Nigo founded A Bathing Ape in 1993 in Ura-Harajuku, the backstreet pocket of Tokyo's Harajuku. The brand's name nods to the 1968 film Planet of the Apes and to a Japanese phrase about a bathing ape in lukewarm water, a wry comment on overindulgence.

Baby Milo comes from the same source. The character is named after the baby chimpanzee Milo from the Planet of the Apes films, and it has become BAPE's cartoon mascot, appearing on everything from tees to collectibles. Putting Milo next to a horse for 2026 keeps that cartoon spirit front and centre.

How it fits and wears

Both tees sit in BAPE's men's line, with a kids' version of the Baby Milo design released alongside. Detailed fit reports for this specific capsule are limited, so the safest move is to check your measurements against the size guide below before choosing. If you already own BAPE tees from recent seasons and like how they sit, that is your most useful reference point.

The black colourway is the practical pick for regular wear: it keeps the graphic sharp and hides the everyday marks that show quickly on white. To keep the print crisp, wash inside out on a cool cycle and skip the tumble dryer.

How to style it

The Year of the Horse Tee 'Black' works as the loudest piece in an outfit. Wear it with straight-leg denim or black cargo trousers and a clean low-top so the horse graphic carries the look. Under an open overshirt or a BAPE camo jacket, it adds a layer of detail without fighting the pattern.

The Baby Milo Tee 'Black' suits a softer, more relaxed approach: loose shorts, a cap and a simple canvas sneaker for warmer days, or wide-leg trousers and a varsity jacket once the weather turns. Around Lunar New Year, a touch of red in a cap, sock or bag ties either tee back to the season.

Who it is built for

Tee	Built for	The look
Year of the Horse Tee 'Black'	Fans who want a bold zodiac graphic on a dark base	Straight-leg denim, cargos, clean low-tops
Year of the Horse Baby Milo Tee 'Black'	Baby Milo collectors and anyone after a playful take	Loose shorts, cap, canvas sneakers
Year of the Horse Tee 'White'	Wearers who prefer a brighter, summer-ready canvas	Light denim, camo layers, white sneakers

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 6 October 2026. The Year of the Horse Tee 'Black' is live in 4 sizes, from S to XL; the White and the Baby Milo Tee 'Black' are in stock too. Every piece is authenticated by hand, so you can shop with confidence. The live listing shows the current price. Find the BAPE Year of the Horse Tee 'Black' here.

Before you choose a size, run through the complete BAPE size guide, and for more from the brand this year, read our edit of the BAPE pieces to know in 2026.

FAQ

When did the BAPE Year of the Horse tees release?

BAPE's Japanese site confirmed the Year of the Horse tees released on 1 January 2026 through official BAPE stores and the BAPE web store.

Is 2026 the Year of the Horse?

Yes. Lunar New Year fell on 17 February 2026, opening the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

What is on the BAPE Year of the Horse Baby Milo Tee?

The graphic shows Baby Milo holding a carrot beside a horse. The tee comes in black and white.

Do BAPE Year of the Horse tees fit true to size?

Detailed fit reports for this capsule are limited, so check your measurements against the BAPE size guide before choosing. If you like how your recent BAPE tees sit, use them as your reference.

Who is Baby Milo?

Baby Milo is BAPE's cartoon mascot, named after the baby chimpanzee Milo from the Planet of the Apes films. Nigo founded A Bathing Ape in 1993 in Tokyo's Ura-Harajuku.