These 5 sneaker styles will dominate the streets in 2026

As much as I love all types of shoes, and will probably never even think that I own all the pairs I “need,” sneakers are the single essential footwear item in my wardrobe. I wear them almost all the time, for walks, coffee dates with friends, casual trips to the office, and even nights out when I simply do not have the energy to deal with heels, the truth is that I rarely do. Given that I live in sneakers for most of the year, I follow sneaker trends with the same enthusiasm football fans reserve for Sunday matches. This December was no different, when I decided to take a closer look at what awaits us in the year ahead. Judging by the countless sneaker styles that marched down the runways, the coming year will be anything but dull. It promises to be exciting, eclectic, and delightfully unusual.

Below, we bring an overview of the models that will dominate trends in 2026.

Related: These 7 shoe styles are taking over 2026

#1 Retro sneakers with thin soles

Slim silhouette sneakers with thin soles have been reigning over the streets for quite some time now, arriving as a welcome refreshment after the era of dad sneakers known for their bulky look and massive soles. Retro-inspired sneakers, reminiscent of old football models, have also taken over the runways, dominating spring/summer 2026 collections. Dries Van Noten, Simone Rocha, Jacquemus, and Prada are just some of the major fashion names that presented their own versions of this popular style. In the year ahead, we will wear them in color or elevated with a metallic finish.

#2 Sneakers with a metallic sheen

After patiently awaiting its grand return, the metallic sheen is back on sneakers for the spring/summer 2026 season. While silver finishes, as seen at Maison Margiela and Simone Rocha, will dominate footwear trends, copper-toned variations such as those by Wales Bonner will be more than welcome as well. It seems that 2026 will be the year of statement sneakers, as with a pair like this, there is truly no need to think about other fashion accessories.

#3 Hybrid sneaker models

Fashion already gave us a preview of hybrid sneaker models this spring, which will take over the streets in 2026. Sneakerinas, a whimsical combination of sneakers and ballet flats, have led the trend, but it appears that this surprisingly popular style, featured in collections by Miu Miu, Wales Bonner, and Cecilie Bahnsen, was only the beginning. For the upcoming spring, fashion houses went a step further, “mixing” sneakers with virtually every type of shoe, from ankle boots and ballet flats to loafers, sometimes merely borrowing details from other silhouettes. Onitsuka Tiger did exactly that by adding boot-like straps to its classic yellow sneakers.

#4 Boxing sneakers

After years of being considered relics of the past, boxing sneakers made a strong comeback as early as the spring/summer 2025 season. Adidas’ Japan model, originally launched in the early 1960s, became one of the most sought-after sneakers of the year, while Dior and Stella McCartney also offered their own interpretations of this once-reviled style. The potential of this unusual model was recognized by other brands as well, such as Jonathan Cohen and the fashion house Celine, whose creative director Michael Rider included boxing sneakers in several different colorways in the spring 2026 collection.

#5 Sneakers with floral motifs and embellishments

As with other shoe styles we will be seeing frequently in 2026, maximalism will also shape the look of sneakers in the upcoming warm season. In addition to bold colors adorning footwear, on-trend sneakers will stand out with floral motifs and unapologetically eye-catching embellishments. Following this direction, Alessandro Michele presented a retro thin-soled sneaker adorned with delicate beads and funky floral motifs in his vision for Valentino, while Simone Rocha embellished her popular Crocs models with crystals. In 2026, we treat sneakers as true fashion accessories.