Devrimb from Getty Images Signature via Canva / BART
BART‘s annual holiday sweater is officially back for 2026, to the delight of local transit enthusiasts. But did you know that this massive tradition began as a tiny giveaway?
Now that the 2026 holiday sweater is officially on sale, we’re taking a look back at how it all started.
From a small giveaway to a nationwide trend
In 2021, BART made just five branded holiday sweaters to give away as novelty prizes for a BARTable giveaway. After riders caught on and asked where to buy them, the agency ordered a limited run of 150 sweaters for public sale… and they all sold out in 40 minutes.
Now, BART produces around 3,000 holiday sweaters each winter, which have been known to bring in more than $100,000 for the agency around the holidays, according to a BART press release. Proceeds support the agency’s work to provide safe and reliable rail service across the Bay Area.
After the success of the BART holiday sweaters, transit agencies around the country started to produce their own, including New York City’s MTA, Chicago’s CTA, and Philadelphia’s SEPTA.
And right here in the Bay Area, you can now get holiday sweaters from Muni, Caltrain, and SamTrans, too.
The 2026 BART holiday sweater
The 2026 sweater design is called the BART Holiday Frankensweater, a patchwork design that stitches together iconic visual elements from the past five years of BART holiday merchandise. It costs $49.99 and is available for purchase now.
“Riders have been asking us to bring back some of our older holiday sweater designs, and this year’s sweater does just that, making it both nostalgic for longtime fans and fresh for new customers,” said Erica Iñiguez-Diaz, Director of BART Customer Services.
Other seasonal items for sale include wrapping paper, BART holiday socks, a light-up necklace, and a sticker featuring BART’s adorable mascot, BARTy.
You can check out this year’s BART holiday collection at Railgoods.com.