The Best Sneakers of 2026 (So Far)

Release Date: 05/10/2026
Price: $130

Is this shoe’s inclusion purely because of how it looks? Absolutely not. Are we prisoners of the moment for including it? Most likely, yes. But that doesn’t mean that the “Knicks” Air Force 1 Low doesn’t belong here. The Knicks are NBA Champions, so you really can’t tell me shit. Decked out in blue and orange tumbled leather throughout the upper, it featured a number of “NYC” hits on the heel and tongue, and boasts a beloved gum bottom outsole. A nod to Timbs? I’d like to think so. Don’t overthink this one, the Knicks won the title and the shoes made the list. —Ben Felderstein

Release Date: 04/10/2026
Price: $200

After numerous projects with Adidas, Palace kicked off its Nike partnership in late 2025 with a Total 90 collab followed by three colorways of the Air Max DN8. The partnership was significant for the London-based skate brand, however the sneakers didn’t exactly generate the kind of hype we’d anticipated based on the parties involved. That said, the Total 90 is somewhat of a niche indoor soccer sneaker, and the DN8 mass-market lifestyle runner that’s never really taken off on its own, so maybe it was just a matter of a lack of enthusiasm for the silhouettes. Enter the Palace x Nike Air Max 95. The Air Max 95 has arguably never been hotter, and it has a significant history in London, so there are no excuses here. And it mostly worked. Palace paid homage to the gradient design of the original Air Max 95 blocking, but flipped it sideways for an all new look. It hasn’t set the resale market on fire, but its New York release did get shut down by the cops. Regardless, it’s a unique and wearable sneaker, and captures a spot on our list of the best sneakers of 2026, so far. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: 02/13/2026
Price: $230

Little did we know at the time, but Jalen Brunson’s Kobes would go on to become more and more significant as the season went on. But before Brunson became NBA Finals MVP and the greatest Knick of all time, he was an All Star. Nike’s “Warning Label” All Star pack was the brand’s best All Star activation in years, bringing energy back to an event that was once a highlight of the sneaker calendar, but had fallen off in recent years. While the entire collection was strong, the clean standout was the low-cut, iridescent Nike Kobe 3 Low worn by Brunson. Not only was the sneaker great, it was also one of the best points of evidence of why Brunson should continue to lead the Kobe line, rather than have a signature series of his own. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: 01/23/2026
Price: $210

Action Bronson and New Balance have cooked up collabs that are among some of the best sneaker releases year after year. At the halfway mark in 2026, we got another banger from the two collaborators with their 1890 styles. In recent years, Action got to put his spin on the latest New Balance models, which made sense as to why they collaborated on the 1890 for its rollout this year. A total of three colorways released, and in true Action fashion, each version came with their own unique names, including “Cyborg Tears,” “Planet Frog,” and “Hornet Tusk.” This is one of the best releases for the year so far, and don’t be surprised if this collab ends up on the year-end list as well. —Victor Deng

Release Date: 04/30/2026
Price: $195

The Satoshi Nakamoto x Vans Era “Gems” may be the most surprising entry on this list, but given everything that’s come with its release, it earned its spot. The Los Angeles-based streetwear label’s latest project with the footwear brand drew huge crowds and rowdiness at launch which we haven’t seen in quite some time. The demand for the sneaker also shows on the secondary marketplace, with pairs reselling for an average of $989 on StockX. If this release is any indication, the hype surrounding Vans and its collaborations isn’t going to die down anytime soon. —Victor Deng

Release Date: 05/29/2026
Price: $180

It was evident that Adidas has been pushing hard on revitalizing the Megaride this year, which is a performance running silhouette that debuted in the early 2000s. A lot of the styles have been misses, but we can’t say the same about Kith’s interpretation of the shoe for its project with Leo Messi. The Leo Messi x Kith x Adidas Megaride F50 dons a blue color scheme on the upper that’s inspired by Argentina’s colors, and sits atop a Kith-branded Megaride tooling. Leave it to Ronnie Fieg to once again make a forgettable sneaker exciting. —Victor Deng

Release Date: 06/13/2026
Price: $355

The revitalization of “Bin 23” this year through the Air Jordan 3 is one that honors the essence of the series while giving fans a new colorway to look forward to. It’s a Pinot Noir-inspired sneaker that pays tribute to Michael Jordan’s affinity for wine. Premium details like suede uppers, wax stamp seals on the tongue, lasered “Nike Air” branding on the heel, and suede dust bags are also presented. We should mention that this pair is also limited to just 2,300 pairs. —Victor Deng

Release Date: 02/09/2026
Price: $160

Bad Bunny kicked off 2026 with a list of accomplishments that includes an Album of the Year Grammy, Super Bowl halftime performance, and the release of his first original signature sneaker silhouette, the Adidas BadBo 1.0. And now that sneaker has earned a spot on our list of the best sneakers of 2026, so far. The global superstar had already established himself as a player in the collaborative sneaker space with his prior Adidas work, but a new silhouette is something that rarely happens outside of the professional sports world. After being teased for nearly a year, and wearing the model during his Puerto Rican residency, the BadBo finally dropped the day after the Super Bowl, selling out quickly and cementing its place in sneaker history. The design gives off equal parts ‘90s basketball and ‘00s skateboarding with its chunky (but not overly so) upper, suede overlays, and inner bootie. It’s not easy to get fans to buy in on entirely new designs, but Bad Bunny has proven now that he can take his Adidas line even further. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: 01/30/2026
Price: $130

Costco Dunk is an interesting one. At first, it didn’t seem real. A bit of AI. Then it was real. Then it flash dropped at select Costcos, gatekept by having to own a membership to the retail giant. It was a Kirkland x Nike SB Dunk—jersey material on the upper, membership card on the hangtag, Kirkland signature on the insoles. The Zoom Air unit even had the $1.50 glizzy on it. I don’t know how I feel about these. Part of them are cool, but part of me thinks you’ll never see people wear them. It was Nike trying to recreate the Ben & Jerry’s Dunk. Could they catch lightning in a bottle twice? Not really. But it’s a mainstream shoe if you see KFC Barstool make videos about it. Will it be on this list at the end of the year? TBD. But don’t hold your breath. —Matt Welty

Release Date: 04/08/2026
Price: $240

Melitta Baumeister getting a Nike collaboration is one of those moments that feels unexpected in the best way. Her take on the Vomero Premium is layered. In an interview with N04/ike, Baumeister said she’s very hands-on, usually doesn’t do mood boards, doesn’t work on a computer, and considers herself a “sculptural designer.” That approach comes through clearly on her Nike Vomero Premium, which is hand-painted in its design, meaning no two pairs are exactly the same. The idea happened while she was working on a clothing collection with a similar design language. I’ve seen this shoe in the street, and it’s a pair I always look at twice, which is funny because the campaign slogan, also written on the laces, is “Run Like No One’s Watching.” With an unorthodox design placed on a running shoe, drenched in bright colors and black paint, and eyes on the outsole that look back at you, this pair is quite literally a head-turner. Baumeister perfectly executed the story she wanted the shoe to tell; how people fear judgment and perception, but still want to be seen. This sneaker is exactly what many people look forward to in a collaboration today. People want nuanced storytelling, two worlds colliding, and a product that feels like art without losing the shoe. —Douglas Jase

Release Date: 05/29/26
Price: $155

It’d be easy to say “Oh look, it’s another Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low collab.” But the collaboration is still going strong—and this time, it’s one of the more exciting colorways. Instead of the traditional earth tones, Travis and Jordan Brand decided to go pink for their latest two-shoe pack. The theme for the styles wasn't exactly apparent either, but they have heart details on the tongue and insoles. The project’s response proves that the parntership has plenty of legs left, and it’s a solid switch-up from Travis’ typical Air Jordan 1 Low releases. —Victor Deng

Release Date: 02/14/26

Price: $205

When early images of the Fragment x Union x Air Jordan 1 collab surfaced, I remember seeing the comments. A lot of people thought it was “too repetitive,” and while you can argue that, I still think this pair knocked it out of the park.The Union x Fragment x Air Jordan 1 made subtle changes to both of its respective collaborations, and merged them together in the most tasteful way. For this colorway, it brought together Hiroshi Fujiwara’s 2014 Air Jordan 1 collab and the Chicago Air Jordan 1. One thing I’ve consistently noticed is that some of the best collaborations are the ones that don’t completely take away from either collaborator’s identity. That’s what makes this pair good, especially this colorway. In the middle of All-Star Weekend drops, which is basically the Super Bowl of sneakers, this pair was still heavily sought after. I feel like it was the most available, the most popular, and the one people naturally gravitated toward because it brought together two of the most popular Air Jordan 1s. Some may argue that the Royal colorway is better, especially with the aged blue laces added to it, but this one takes the crown and lands in the number four spot in our list of the best sneakers of 2026, so far. —Douglas Jase

Release Date: 05/01/2026
Price: $150

This might be a bit of an exaggeration because this is my favorite silhouette of all time, but Nigo finally getting his shot at an Air Force 1 felt like giving Thor his hammer. We all know Nigo created the Bape Sta and the tension that came with it between him and the Swoosh, but time and time again I’ve stressed how his lens for colors and materials helped the Air Force 1 take on an even greater form of expression. Nigo and Nike announced their partnership in 2023. The project started with one of many Air Force 3 collaborations, and although Nigo is a great designer, those sneakers honestly looked better on him than anyone else. Now we’re here with his Air Force 1 collab, and this one did just about everything right. It brings back the 2001 cut, adds premium patent leather, and the colorway nods to his Japanese retail shop, Nowhere. The pair also carries small details that reference his Last Orgy 2 column. This collaboration intrigued me the same way the Infinite Archives x Air Jordan 17 did. It was one of the nerdiest sneakers you could get, it looks great on feet, and with its limited release and archive-heavy references, it's something that’s set up to age beautifully. This shoe already feels like one of those pairs people are going to keep talking about. Nike teased a multi-continent, multi-seasonal tour with Nigo, and I’m excited to see what comes next. —Douglas Jase

Release Date: 04/03/26
Price: $230

Bringing back a sneaker as significant as Virgil Abloh’s Air Jordan 1 collab is someting that could go terribly wrong. There’s always risk involved when bringing back such a beloved sneaker, but the stakes were especially high here. For one thing, it’s only been eight years since it originally dropped—that’s not very long when it comes to sneakers being retroed for the first time. For another, Abloh’s untimely passing presented an entirely new set of sensitivities and complications around such a project. However, Nike, along with the Virgil Abloh Archive—led by archivist Mahfuz Sultan—pulled it off in a way that felt not only acceptable, but like a necessary and fitting tribute to Abloh and his legacy. The subtle replacement of Abloh’s former brand “Off-White” with his own “V.A.A.” branding was the perfect update, as was the choice of the all-white colorway of the collab thanks to it being the original version that was designed for The Ten project. All that, along with the worldwide activations, adds up to not only one of the best sneakers of 2026, but one of the most meaningful. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: 05/22/26
Price: $230

Nigel Sylvester’s current run is undeniable. The BMX rider’s “Brick by Brick” Air Jordan 4, which was voted by us as the 2025 Sneaker of the Year, was a hard act to follow, but the new “Brick After Brick” managed to not only hold its own but, some may argue, is even better than the initial version. It’s essentially a reimagined take on the classic “Fire Red” colorway with subtle changes to the red hue to look more like an actual brick and the idea of “stacking bricks.” We also must mention the rollout for the sneakers, including the installation of a giant brick dropped atop a BMW and launching a mobile game that allowed fans to win a pair for free. With all that being said, Sylvester’s “Brick After Brick” Air Jordan 4 takes the crown as the best sneaker release of 2026 thus far. —Victor Deng