Copyright gqindia
It might not be 2026 just yet, but judging by what we've seen over the past few months, we have a pretty good idea of the 2026 sneaker trends that'll be taking over your FYP very soon. If 2025 was about playing it safe with its clean designs and its ultra-flat soles, 2026 is all about loosening up again. Sneakers are about to get louder, chunkier, and a little crazier. And honestly? We couldn't be more excited. The Chunky Comeback Chunk is back – but it's learned a few lessons since 2017. The era of big uppers and even bigger midsoles has returned, but this time around, everything feels a little more considered. Unlike the Balenciagas and Yeezys of yore, where colour combos were absolutely insane and designs bordered on parody, things won't be as in-your-face in '26. Just look at the New Balance Abzorb 2000 or Pharrell Williams' Adidas Adistar Jellyfish – expect brands to bulk up again, but with a little more restraint. Freaky Soles Experimental midsoles will also be one of the top 2026 sneaker trends to watch for. These are trippy units that barely look like they belong on this planet. The uppers on these silhouettes might seem low-key at first, but look down south and that's when things get really weird – warped foams, twisted traction, and sculpted geometry straight out of a fever dream. Nike's already kicked things off with the new Shox Z, but that's nothing compared to what's coming. The Fumito Ganryu x Puma Mostro XC and the Willy Chavarria x Adidas Megaride AG, both teased in Paris this summer, are proof that sole design is officially entering its surrealist era. Ballet Trainers While this year was all about boxing shoes and motocore, next year will belong to ballet trainers. Nicknamed the “sneakerina” trend, these pairs are built from soft, flexible materials but grounded with rubber soles so you can actually wear them on the daily. Expect luxury houses like Miu Miu, Loewe, and Louis Vuitton to double down, while sportswear giants such as Adidas, Puma, and Onitsuka Tiger follow with performance-led versions. It's the quiet counter to chunky energy – softer, sleeker, and surprisingly easy to pull off. And while most pairs have so far been released exclusively in women's sizes, expect guys' runs to start landing within the next few months. When cow print kicks first popped up, they were pure meme material. Sneaker guys wore them on TikTok just to go viral – everyone had a good laugh, and then moved on. But wait! The pattern's everywhere now, and suddenly, we want them all. Expect spotty suedes, hairy panels, and pony hair overlays to show up across everything from vintage trainers to brand new collabs. The look ties neatly into the Western revival that's bubbling up in ready-to-wear. And while zebra stripes and faux snakeskin are also coming in hot, cow print's the one to look out for in 2026. OK, so sneaker-mules have never actually been called snules before – so you heard it here first. Just like how labels couldn't stop dropping snoafers over the past year, snules are about to be the culture's next obsession. Half-closed, half-open, they're the easiest shoes you'll ever own. So who's jumping on the snule train? Smaller brands like Autry, Merrell, and Oakley are already in, while Maison Margiela x Salomon and Miu Miu x New Balance are next. Even Jordan's joined the party, recently unwrapping the Air Jordan Mule. And while Jumpman purists might've been icked out at first, one slip-on was all it took – there's no going back now. Sneaker-Boots Is it a sneaker? Is it a boot? Is it a… snoot? Sure, that doesn't sound quite as catchy as snules, but this mash-up will also be taking over next year. They're trainers that could probably survive a weekend in the wild. Big, beefy, and built for anything, they come fitted with waterproof uppers, rugged soles, and hiking-style laces. Basically, it's Gorpcore 2.0 – just a little less flex-y and a lot more functional. One of the best examples is the Nike Baltoro, a '90s grail that was recently revived by Stüssy, or the Clot x Adidas Pro Model, which reimagined the old school basketball shoe into something that looks ready to summit Ben Nevis. But it's not just sneaker brands joining the movement – traditional bootmakers like Diemme, Fracap, and Grenson are all hopping on the trend, too. Culty Brands Adidas, Asics, Jordan Brand, New Balance, Nike, Puma – yeah, we all know the big boys in the game. But the next wave belongs to the independents. Expect more niche brands to find their footing in 2026. These smaller labels might not be as hyped-up, but they're hungry, creative, and unafraid to take risks the heavyweights won't. Heard of CMF? Flower Mountain? OAO? Probably not – but that's about to change. They're part of a new gen of sneaker makers putting design and storytelling first. For an extensive list, check out some here. 3D-Printed 2.0 In 2025, 3D-printed sneakers were predicted to be one of the biggest trends of the year. It got off to a slow-ish start, but it's doubling down for 2026. Zellerfeld – the Brooklyn and Hamburg-based label founded by engineer Cornelius Schmitt – is leading the charge with fully recyclable, fully customisable trainers that are printed on demand, with no seams, no glue, and no traditional factory lines. Adidas just unveiled the Climacool Laced too, built from a single-piece synthetic lattice, while Nike's quietly working on its own 3D-printed stuff. The tech's no longer seen as gimmick-y – it's a genuine glimpse into what the future of the footwear industry could look like, and we're pumped. Adidas Jabbar Forget the Samba or the Gazelle or even the Handball Spezial – the Jabbar is where it's at now. Originally designed for basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in the '70s, this silhouette is gearing up to be Adidas' next big archival hit. It's a wee bit heftier than most of the label's vintage models, but it's still wrapped in that same lovely leather and suede. While it was originally designed for the hardwood, designers like Grace Wales Bonner and Willy Chavarria have taken a serious liking to it, each releasing their own versions over the past few months (with more on the way). Fear of God's Jerry Lorenzo has even teased a pair dropping next year, so consider the Jabbar's comeback tour officially underway. Air Jordan 6 2025 was a major year for Jordan Brand. Not only did we celebrate 40 years since Michael Jordan founded the imprint with Nike, but it also marked the 40th anniversary of the mythical Air Jordan 1. And even though that party's wrapping up, another one's already starting – the Air Jordan 6 is turning 35, baby! One of designer Tinker Hatfield's most distinctive and sculptural designs, the AJ6 is back in a big way. Expect collaborations that sneakerheads will be queuing overnight for and colour combos we never thought we'd actually see – like the long-rumoured ‘Reverse Infrared.’ Based on the unreleased ‘Infrared Salesman’ sample first teased in '99, it's finally landing 35 years later. Because patience is a virtue and all that. Virgil Abloh Archives And last but not least, one of the biggest 2026 sneaker trends will be the rise of Virgil Abloh Archives. In October, during what would've been the late creative master's 45th birthday, the “Virgil Abloh: The Codes” exhibition opened at the Grand Palais in Paris. Not only did it show off some of his most influential collections, it also offered a sneak peek into the future: the Virgil Abloh Archives x Nike Air Force 1. Unwrapped in a deep forest green, it's the first Virgil AF1 not released under his Off-White banner. Rather than stretching out the original Off-White partnership without him, the Swoosh and Abloh's estate seem to be shifting toward a collab dedicated to preserving his work properly. The Virgil Abloh Archives is overseen by his wife, Shannon – a move that gives the project authenticity and ensures it feels like a genuine extension of his legacy, not just another drop. And it won't be a one-off, either. The ‘Sesame’ is already in the works, and according to reports, a rework of the Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG ‘Euro’ is also on the way, now reborn as the ‘Alaska’. The pair's already been teased by Fragment Design founder Hiroshi Fujiwara, so consider it confirmed. Via gq-magazine.co.uk
