Summer is peak drop season, and this week is loaded. The sneaker releases landing across July 2026 range from the year’s biggest collab to a couple of quiet retro-runner sleepers that’ll be gone before most people notice — and, true to 2026, the heritage plays are as hyped as the headliners. There’s a genuine collab grail, a resale-proof headliner, and enough easy retro cops to keep everyone happy — plus a fistful of low-profile makeups riding the year’s biggest trend. Here’s everything worth knowing this week: what’s dropping, what it costs, and how to actually land a pair.
Note: Exact drop dates and prices confirm on Nike SNKRS, adidas CONFIRMED and at individual stockists — always check the app the morning of. Treat the timings below as your week-ahead radar.
This week’s headliners
Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low “Pink” — The summer’s marquee drop, and the one everyone’s setting alarms for. Cactus Jack’s reverse-swoosh formula on a soft pink Low is exactly the kind of instant-sellout, instant-resale heat that defines a season. RRP around £145; expect a SNKRS raffle and a hefty premium after. This is the week’s must-enter.
Off-White x Air Jordan 1 (return) — Virgil Abloh’s most important sneaker is back, and its return is a genuine moment. Deconstructed, text-tagged, era-defining — if it drops as expected, it’s the collector’s pick of the month, and one of the most significant retro releases of the year given what Virgil meant to the culture. RRP around £165, and destined to move well above it.
New Balance 993 “Purple” — The sleeper hit of 2026 and proof the heritage-runner wave has real legs. Made-in-USA quality, that clean 993 shape, and a purple hit that’s been all over feeds. RRP around £200, and worth every penny for the comfort alone. See why NB is on such a run over on our Market desk.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick After Brick” — A storytelling collab with real detail and a strong personal narrative. The 4 is having a big year, and this is one of its sharpest 2026 makeups. RRP around £190.
Also worth a look
- Puma Speedcat (new colourway) — The low-profile shape of the moment gets another drop. Around £100, and the easiest way onto the flat-sole trend. More on the silhouette on its model page.
- adidas Samba & Gazelle (summer colours) — Fresh seasonal makeups of the two terrace icons. Around £100 and £90. Still the most versatile money in sneakers.
- ASICS GEL-1130 (new makeup) — 2025’s best-seller keeps rolling out colours, still at a sane £110 retail. A guaranteed easy cop and an easy wear.
- Vans x Satoshi Nakamoto Era 95 — A left-field collab with a real story behind it. Around £80 and a fun, low-stakes pickup.
- adidas Taekwondo (new colours) — The next low-profile silhouette the fashion crowd is already circling. Around £90 and a proper early-adopter flex.
On the radar (later this month)
- World Cup 2026 boot drops — With the final at MetLife on 19 July, expect the tournament’s sharpest boot colourways to hit retail through the back half of the month. Our Culture desk is tracking the on-pitch heat.
- Bad Bunny x adidas — Benito’s next adidas chapter is edging closer. Not this week, but keep it locked.
Our pick of the week
If your budget’s doing the talking, the New Balance 993 “Purple” is the smartest buy on this list — heritage quality, everyday wearability, and none of the resale tax. If you’re chasing heat, it’s the Travis Scott AJ1 Low, no contest. And if you just want a guaranteed, no-stress cop that goes with everything, the ASICS GEL-1130 restock is the easy answer at a price that still makes sense.
How to cop
Go direct first — set up your SNKRS and CONFIRMED accounts, save your details, and enter early. For the hyped pairs, spread your net across stockist raffles rather than relying on one entry, and follow your local shops for links. Missed out? Buy authenticated on the secondary market and accept the premium. Our full where to cop guide breaks down the strategy that actually improves your odds.
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