These Are the Best New Sneakers of 2026 (So Far)

A new generation of creative minds and IYKYK brands are rewriting the rulebook, bringing surprise and delight to the oversaturated world of the sneaker collab.Courtesy of the brands; Collage: Eva BaronThings are looking different in the sneaker world this year. The era of all-Air Jordans-everything is over, Travis Scott has become something of a one-trick pony, and pairs of OG Jordans are gathering dust on Foot Locker shelves. Years of oversaturation have finally boiled over. The resale market is in shambles. Some say sneakers are dead. They’re wrong. Sneakers aren’t over, and the best new releases of the year prove that tastes may change, but fun kicks are for the ages.In place of collabs between A-list designers and the usual suspects at the top tier of the sneaker hierarchy, it’s been a year full of thoughtful boutique outings from a new generation of big names. You no longer need a Swoosh or Stripes to make a big impression (though plenty of heat still comes from both houses), with some of the coolest kicks of the year coming from the unlikeliest places. It’s also no longer imperative to set your alarm for a branded app like SNKRS or CONFIRMED—in fact, sometimes your best shot at picking up one of the year’s coolest shoes is to find a store you can hit up in-person. There’s more scarcity, more IYKYK drops, and, above all, more surprises. That’s the theme uniting the best sneakers to drop so far this year—almost all of which took us by surprise in one way or another. What else will make part two of this list at the end of the year? We’re thrilled to say we have no idea, and we can’t wait to find out.New Balance x Miu Miu 530 SL DecoThe partnership between Miu Miu and New Balance has been a shining example of a luxury fashion house mixing it up with a sneaker brand, and this summer saw their best work yet: a sleek leather 530L launched just in time for Wimbledon.Nike x Peaceminusone Cryoshot CTR360 Maestri IIFootball sneakers (that’s FIFA, not NFL) have been among the defining trends in footwear this year, but a US-hosted World Cup will do that to the culture. The clear winner was Nike, which launched the boot/sneaker hybrid Cryoshot series with a grip of the biggest designers in the game, none of whom nailed the assignment better than South Korea’s Peaceminusone.Puma x Nahmias SpeedcatThe Chalamet seal of approval still counts in 2026, and rising streetwear juggernaut Nahmias has continued to ride that wave since debuting their unmissable Marty Supreme jackets last year. But don’t sleep on the work they’re doing with Puma, including this killer rendition of the ubiquitous Speedcat silhouette.Y-3 x Adidas F50 Beast “Wolf”Yohji Yamamoto’s F50 ‘Beast Pack’ changed the world of performance cleats when it first launched twenty-odd years ago. Adidas bringing the shoes back in a lifestyle silhouette for the 2026 World Cup was an inspired choice, and the Wolf colorway is still the best of the bunch.Willy Chavarria x Adidas Superstar “Compton Cowboys”Chavarria and Adidas have quickly become one of the most reliable and innovative partnerships in the business, but given the designer’s golden touch, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. These steel-toed Superstars—an homage to steel-toed boots worn by the legendary Compton Cowboys—are a perfect embodiment of that symbiosis.Nike Air Force 1 Low “NYC Knicks”Knicks in five.Asics x Studio Nicholson Gel-Kinetic SPAsics and Studio Nicholson broke the mold with this one, a wholly inventive take on Asics’ Y2K-inspired silhouette from Nick Wakeman’s vibey slow-fashion brand.Nike SB x Costco Kirkland Signature Dunk LowNever let it be said that Nike SB has lost its fastball. For two decades the youthful Nike sub-brand has been unafraid to get weird with it, and this 2026 Kirkland collaboration—available exclusively at Costco, naturally—is just the latest in a long legacy of unabashedly fun sneakers.OTW by Vans x Satoshi Nakamoto Era 95 GemsThe ascent of Vans to the top of the sneaker world has been one of the biggest surprises of 2026, with the skate shoe company consistently dropping some of the most exciting and innovative collaborations on shelves today. Their work with LA crypto-streetwear brand Satoshi Nakamoto has been a particular highlight, quickly becoming one of the most coveted sneakers of the year.Converse x Noah Louie Lopez 2 ProConverse and Noah are a match made in heaven, and their second riff on pro skater Louie Lopez’s signature sneaker resulted in that rarest of rare creations: a shoe you’d buy with the intention of wearing it until the soles give out.Thom Browne x Asics Gel-Kayano 14For his first-ever sneaker collaboration, Thom Browne linked up with Asics to create a sneaker that looks… exactly like what you’d assume an Asics joint designed by Thom Browne would look like. And you know what? It’s perfect. Sometimes it’s best to just give the people what they want.Nigo x Nike Air Force 1 Low '01Some drops are more hype-worthy than others. Nigo and Nike coming together for an Air Force One? That’s one of them. If there was one sneaker worth camping out for in 2026, this might have been it.3sixteen x Saucony Guide v7.3Defying all odds, 3sixteen and Saucony have, over the course of just a couple of collaborations, cemented themselves as a can’t-miss team in an oversaturated sneaker scene. The Guide v7.3 that dropped earlier this year has been destined for this list since it hit shelves.Union x Fragment x Air Jordan 1 HighUnion Air Jordan 1s have become the stuff of sneaker legend since they first launched in 2018. When you add a name like Fragment to the mix, you know it’s going to be a bona fide blockbuster.Auralee x New Balance 204LSleek brown suede, aged soles, a slimmed-down silhouette—yeah, this one is solid gold. Auralee hasn’t missed once since they began partnering with New Balance, and this is easily their best work to date.Sign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit.Tres Dean is a contributing writer for GQ specializing in sports, fashion, and the intersections between the two (which most often means covering sneakers). Outside of the going-ons of the sneaker world, he’s profiled athletes like Zion Williamson, defended the valor of reviled directors, and interviewed Travis Scott from the ... Read More