Footwear trends that will shape the market in 2026

City-to-trail is no longer a niche, but a permanent fixture in the order. This is not only evident from the ISPO OrderInsights summarized by Regina Henkel. but a look at the new collections also makes it clear: leading brands are increasingly developing models that work between city and trail. Great examples come from Danner 's collaboration with Snow Peak, from ICEBUG, On or LOWA with the new Skyterra series. Lightweight hiking and trail running silhouettes are everywhere in the SS2026 collections. Functional, robust and with an urban look.

Mariell Bjuhr, Product Developer at ICEBUG, explains:

'The trail running scene is growing and more people than ever are venturing out on the trails, training for a marathon or taking part in trail races in their region. This trend is also reflected in the fact that the big brands are increasingly focusing on trail running compared to the past. With many people living in the city, there are more and more crossover products for the transition from road to trail to meet this demand.

Multifunctionality is indeed becoming the new standard: the boundaries between categories such as running, hiking, urban and travel are becoming blurred. Alongside ICEBUG, brands such as Salomon, La Sportiva and Adidas Terrex have long since initiated the trend that will continue to dominate the industry next year: Urban-oriented all-rounders with a cool look, high-tech soles and weatherproof uppers that are not only suitable for adventure, but also the best basis for achieving new sporting goals.

Minimalism, closeness to nature, healthy feet - Barefoot models are celebrating a slow but sure comeback. A look at the new collections from Vivobarefoot, Wildling Shoes and Viking promises a new way of walking and living for 2026.

After all, it's not just about style, but also about health, nature and the associated lifestyle. Admittedly, high-fashion brands such as Balenciaga and Margiela in particular are fueling the trend with their all-time classic "Tabi".

Ludvig Fauske-Palmer, Product Manager Performance Footwear at Viking, shows:

For us, this is no longer a trend, but a conscious lifestyle choice.

Tone-on-tone instead of an explosion of color: the trend is moving towards neutral color palettes in white, sand, olive and anthracite. The focus is on texture, structure and material contrasts: mesh meets leather, knit meets high-tech foam. This not only underlines the functionality of the shoe and puts the focus back on outdoor footwear, but also makes a statement with stylish restraint.

Even more iconic hiking and running silhouettes from the 80s and 90s get an update in 2026. Sustainable production and high-tech materials are being used to rethink popular shoe classics. An explicit recognition value has already helped one or two brands to survive the market crises of recent years and position themselves among young target groups with high fashion standards. Because: GenZ loves good stories and how could storytelling be easier?

Compared to previous approaches, there is now a greater focus on repairability and durability. With repairable components and free replacement services, many shoe brands are setting a clear counter-trend to the throwaway mentality in 2026. Replaceable cushioning, modular soles, materials that can be remelted: What used to sound like DIY is becoming the new design strategy. Footwear from shoe brands such as Danner should last an eternity and significantly reduce the industry's ecological footprint.

In addition to interchangeable components as a sustainability strategy, circular thinking in design and construction also leads to mono-material models, i.e. shoes made from just one material. This means that they are actually recyclable and meet the strict new EU requirements. Bio-based materials are also gaining in importance. Brands such as Allbirds, Viking and Vivobarefoot are replacing synthetic components with algae, hemp, eucalyptus or sugar cane, setting new standards in terms of sustainability in 2026.

Mariell Bjuhr, Product Developer at ICEBUG, explains:

'The use of more sustainable materials is becoming more widespread, including the use of bio-based components in midsoles and other technical elements

The innovations for 2026 are mostly under the surface: technologies such as Viking's aerogel insulation for winter and year-round shoes, carbon plates in the soles of trail models such as the Arc'teryx Sylan 2 or 3D-printed, customized soles in the performance sector may not be visible, but they make a clear difference. This serves the overarching trend of combining function and technology in the design process.