MIAMI — Vice Nights are back and Culture is no more (at least for now).
Formally unveiling Saturday their City Edition uniforms that will be worn 23 times the balance of the season, the Miami Heat have returned to their ultimate blast from the past, the iconic Vice Nights black-and-pastel jerseys previously worn in 2018-19 — the best-selling jersey in the franchise’s 38 seasons.
“This was our most successful uniform campaign to date,” said Michael McCullough, the team’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We want to honor the past.
“This is the one that the fans have been asking us to bring back more than any other.”
The jerseys and accompanying Vice court will debut this season at Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Kaseya Center, with related merchandise on sale at Monday night’s home game against Cleveland.
Unlike last season, when the Heat wore dual alternate jerseys, there will be no “Culture” jerseys this season.
Asked whether Vice is over after the current campaign, McCullough said, “We have incorporated that into our identity. So whether it’s on a uniform or not, these colors are part of who we are. And we have the flexibility to use those now for promotional campaigns, for marketing, for whatever we want.”
McCullough also stressed that the colorway as a Heat original.
“We have successfully been able to make those colors kind of ours, despite what you see from lots or other teams in our market and other markets, who have incorporated the colors, shall we say.”
According to the team, “Since its debut, over 90,000 Vice Nights jerseys have been sold through the Miami Heat Store across 96 countries, underscoring the global reach and enduring popularity of the design.”
Heat guard Tyler Herro models the team’s 2025-26 City Edition Vice Nights jersey. (Miami Heat courtesy)
In addition to the move from last season’s return of the white Vice jersey, this season’s black version again features details in blue gale and laser fuchsia.
The 2025-26 City Edition uniforms differ from the original Vice Nights versions only with a patch commemorating the 20th anniversary of the franchise’s first championship in 2006. That patch is being worn on all versions of the Heat’s uniforms this season.
“We always want the fans to have the same thing that the guys wear,” McCullough said.
Unlike the team’s previous Vice court, this one will have the lettering of “Heat” at center court instead of “Miami.”
“We wanted to go in a different direction this year and to focus in on our nickname,” McCullough said.
The Heat have been careful over the years not to term the uniforms “Miami Vice” in deference to the trademark of the television series that ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989, ending at the close of the Heat’s debut season.
For those seeking to go back into their wardrobe rather to a retail outlet, McCullough confirmed the newly released Vice Night are unchanged from the original with the exception of the 2006 championship patch.
“It’s the same jersey, made by Nike,” McCullough said.
The lone player remaining on the roster from the original Midnight Vice campaign is team captain Bam Adebayo.
McCullough declined to say if this season would be the final iteration of the Vice uniforms.
So they could be back? “That is true,” he said.
In all, the uniforms will be worn 16 times at home, seven times on the road.
Vice Nights merchandise will first be placed for sale at Monday night’s home game against the Cavaliers.
The commemorative patch to be worn on Heat uniforms this season, (Miami Heat courtesy)
Games the Heat will be wearing Vice Nights uniforms this season: Wednesday vs. Cavaliers, Nov. 17 vs. Knicks, Nov. 19 vs. Warriors, Nov. 29 vs. Pistons, Dec. 6 vs. Kings, Dec. 21 at Knicks, Dec. 27 vs. Pacers, Jan. 3 vs. Timberwolves, Jan. 4 vs. Pelicans, Jan. 15 vs. Celtics, Jan. 17 vs. Thunder, Feb. 8 at Wizards, Feb. 21 vs. Grizzlies, Feb. 24 at Bucks, Feb. 28 vs. Rockets, March 6 at Hornets, March 14 vs. Magic, March 19 vs. Lakers, March 21 at Rockets, March 30 vs. 76ers, April 4 vs. Wizards, April 7 at Raptors and April 10 at Wizards.