Three legends. Three more years. Guinness is running it back with Notre Dame and Joe Montana

Football season is once again bringing together some of the biggest traditions in American sports and beer, and Guinness is adding another chapter to its long-running relationship with Notre Dame. The iconic Irish beer brand is returning with a limited-edition Notre Dame Guinness Draught can while also extending its partnership with one of the Fighting Irish’s most celebrated legends, Joe Montana.

Guinness Notre Dame Joe Montana

For Guinness, the connection with Notre Dame goes beyond simply putting a university logo on a beer can. The partnership is built around the traditions, history and sense of community that surround college football, while Montana gives the campaign an unmistakable connection to one of Notre Dame’s most recognizable football alumni. The new three-year extension means fans will continue seeing Montana involved with Guinness football-season activations, fan experiences and community initiatives.

The 2026 campaign also introduces a new look for the annual Notre Dame Guinness can, featuring the Football Leprechaun mark for the first time. With the limited-edition Guinness Draught cans already reaching select markets, the release gives Fighting Irish fans another collectible way to celebrate game day while continuing a tradition that Guinness says is rooted in bringing people together. The partnership also extends into Guinness Gives Back initiatives, with Montana joining the brand in supporting local organizations and communities.

Here is the full announcement from Guinness on the extended Joe Montana partnership and the return of the Notre Dame limited-edition can.

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2026 // — College football is back, and Guinness has plenty to raise a pint to! The brewing Irish and the Fighting Irish are teaming up once again as Guinness extends its partnership with Notre Dame Athletics for another three seasons, remaining the Official Beer of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Alumni and Fans. Since first coming together in 2020, Guinness and Notre Dame have proven some partnerships are as natural as pints and football.

Guinness is also re-signing Notre Dame legend and longtime brand ambassador Joe Montana, building on a six-year partnership rooted in timeless traditions, bringing people together and giving back to the community.

“I’m excited to continue my partnership with Guinness for another three years and keep celebrating everything that makes football season so special,” said Joe Montana. “Guinness and I share a respect for tradition, a commitment to service, and, most importantly, a belief in bringing people together. Notre Dame is where so much began for me, and I’m looking forward to connecting with football fans this season because there’s nothing like raising a pint on game day.”

“Six years ago, we brought the storied brewing heritage of Guinness together with the Fighting Irish, and we knew quickly we had something pretty special,” said Karissa Downer, Director of Guinness in the United States. “We couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership with Joe Montana for another three years, because some traditions are just too good to stop. Notre Dame fans have an incredible respect for legacy and a real sense of community that feels right at home with Guinness and Joe. Football season is all about the moments that bring people together, from the first kickoff to the first poured pint. Here’s to great games, great company and making every gathering a little more legendary with Joe.”

To kick off the season, Guinness is reintroducing its annual limited-edition Notre Dame can, this year featuring the Football Leprechaun mark for the first time. The can celebrates a partnership between two iconic institutions with more than four centuries of history between them and will be available in more markets this season, giving even more Fighting Irish fans a new way to raise a Guinness on game day.

The new can is just the kickoff. Over the next three years, Guinness will continue creating memorable experiences for Fighting Irish faithful with Montana joining the brand to pour pints and connect with fans. Partnering with the Guinness Gives Back program, Montana will also team up with local organizations off the field to support the communities that have long supported Guinness.

The limited-edition Notre Dame Guinness Draught cans are available now in select markets while supplies last. Follow @GuinnessUS to keep up with all things Notre Dame and Joe Montana.

As fans raise a pint to the start of football season, Guinness encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly.

Related MyBeerBuzz Guinness coverage:
MyBeerBuzz has followed the Guinness and Notre Dame relationship through multiple editions of the Guinness Draught Notre Dame Go Irish cans, including the latest 2026 packaging, and previously covered Guinness and Joe Montana’s limited-edition Legends Lager, which connected the Hall of Famer’s Guinness partnership with a food-bank service initiative.

Fans can also read about the expansion of Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Chicago and explore the brewery’s experimental American beer program, including Guinness Draught Stout Notre Dame Go Irish 2026 Edition, Guinness and Joe Montana Release a Limited-Edition Lager, and Guinness Open Gate Brewery Hosts Grand Opening in Chicago

About Guinness North America

Established in 1759 when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin, the Guinness brand has spent over two centuries dedicated to crafting exceptional beer, driving innovation, and operating sustainably and responsibly. The iconic beer is brewed in 49 countries worldwide, sold in over 150, and brought to local U.S. communities with Guinness Open Gate Brewery locations in Baltimore and Chicago. Rooted in heritage yet fit for the modern age, the brand continues to do what it does best: bring people together. Using the four main ingredients of water, barley (malted & roasted), hops and yeast, Guinness delivers unique flavor that is undeniably the world’s most popular stout. More information can be found at www.guinness.com.

About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in nearly 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).

For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Notre Dame Global Partnerships

Notre Dame Global Partnerships (NGDP) manages the sales, marketing, sponsorship, multimedia rights, and branding services for the University of Notre Dame’s Athletics programs. Founded in 2018, NDGP is a joint venture between JMI Sports and Legends, formed to build integrated partnerships with industry-leading partners that share the University’s commitment to both academic and athletic excellence. Notre Dame’s status as one of the most recognizable and iconic institutions in collegiate athletics offers brands a unique opportunity to connect with fans, students, and alumni globally. NDGP is creating new and innovative partnerships that contribute to the University’s mission while also upholding its storied history and tradition.

zzubreebym