We went to The Running Event and previewed next year’s shoe trends and the hottest shoe releases from Nike, Saucony, Brooks, and more
- The Running Event features next year’s shoe releases from Brooks, Nike, Hoka, and more.
- We’ve got tentative release dates, along with a little road testing to give you a sneak peek on how they ride.
- Next year’s running trends: making stability cool and bringing minimalism back.
Like that marathon you signed up for six months ago, the new year is coming in fast — and there’s so much to look forward to in terms of footwear.
I flew to San Antonio, Texas, for an ultra-worthy two days of gear previews at The Running Event trade show. Fuelling between brand appointments with Vermont creemees at the Darn Tough booth, double shots of espresso from La Sportiva, and a decadent hot chocolate from Skechers, I absorbed all I could to tell you about the most exciting shoe releases of the New Year.
This list is not definitive, which means there’s so much more to look forward to next year (i.e., Brooks Ghost 18 in May and Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 in February). These 20 models are the standouts I can and want to share with you now. Here’s your 2026 running shoe preview.*
Summer 2025/Autumn 2026 shoe releases
January: Asics Gel-Nimbus 28
Asics didn’t want to change the plush, soft underfoot cloud-like experience. Upgrades include lighter weight with a high stack height (43.5mm in the heel). The Gel-Nimbus 28 weighs almost 30g less than the previous iteration.
Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite
Mizuno’s Hyperwarp collection showcases three types of racing shoes. One thing I noticed previewing the shoes: Mizuno has done away with the funky geometry we saw on its Wave Rebellion Pro. The new crop of racing shoes have standard shape that’s more heel-striker friendly.
I’m shining a light on the Hyperwarp Elite, the brand’s standard marathon shoe. (Its Hyperwarp Pro is a more cushioned racing experience targeted at 4-plus hour racers.) The Carbon Wave Plate is sandwiched between Enerzy XP PEBA foam and Enerzy XP TPEE foam. With a volatile combination like that, it’s no wonder its G3 outsole is supremely textured for grippy traction. Out January, price TBC.
Nike Structure Plus
The Structure Plus, which I’ve been running in for the past month, makes me excited to go for a run. A key feature: a top midsole layer of ZoomX, the PEBA midsole in Nike’s racing shoes. A flat and concave medial and lateral sidewalls help with guidance. The stack is 42mm in the heel. The shoe is also lighter than the Structure 26.
February: Brooks Glycerin Flex
I had to wake up bright and early for Brooks’s private unveiling before the floor was open, but it was worth the rise and shine. The Glycerin Flex blends a soft ride without feeling like a max-cushioned behemoth; it has the same DNA Tuned foam as the über-plush Glycerin Max. The standout feature is the Midfoot Flex Zone; the idea is to feel unconstrained and in control. This feature allows your forefoot and heel to naturally separate.
La Sportiva Prodigio 2
The La Sportiva team took cues from the Prodigio Pro, which was included in our 2025 Shoe Awards. The Prodigio 2 has a more accommodating fit with a wider platform in the forefoot and higher instep. The responsive nitrogen-infused EVA supercritical foam is also softer. The rocker is further forward, with more cushioning in the forefoot. The shoe is approximately the same weight and same stack height (34mm in the heel, 28mm in the forefoot) as the previous iteration, with 4mm lugs on the outsole for reliable grip on the trails.
Saucony Endorphin Azura
The Endorphin Azura is the plate-less child of the Endorphin Speed. The shoe has more stack with a 40mm heel and 32mm forefoot. It has the same Pwrrun PB midsole, making the Endorphin Azura an excellent choice for up-tempo, fast days. E-commerce editor Ali Ball has been running in the shoe for the past couple of weeks. Its rocker geometry and super foam platform make it race-worthy and great for training days when you want the bounce of a super shoe minus snappy rigidity of a carbon-fibre plate.
Merrell Agility Peak 6
Merrell’s do-it-all trail shoe now has a higher stack (32mm), which translates to more cushioning. But that doesn’t mean you don’t feel connected to the ground as you run. Merrell implemented more grooves on the midsole and enhanced lug positioning on the outsole that won’t collect mud. And with 5mm lugs, this shoe has bite. And the half rock plate provides protection underfoot.
Skechers Aero Razor
Inspired by the Razor 5, the Aero Razor is over 30g lighter. It’s also more compliant; instead of an H-Plate the shoe has an H-Wing that’s nylon-based. The wing assists with stability and propulsion. The outsole has sticky Goodyear rubber. You can wear it as your de-facto training shoe that’s versatile for fast days, too.
March: Hoka Mach 7
You read that right: We’re finally getting a Mach 7. It’s no secret our editors and testers loved Hoka’s Mach 6 and previous Machs, so there’s a lot riding on this long-awaited release, but I have high hopes that lucky number 7 will deliver. Why? The Hoka team reassured me there’s no major updates; why change something runners love? One improvement that has me excited to test this trainer out: stickier outsole rubber. No more slipping and sliding when the forecast is rainy and tempos runs are on the docket.
Notace Michi 1
I went for a couple test runs in the Notace Yama T1 earlier this fall. The trail shoe is the closest to being barefoot without being a Vibram FiveFingers. Inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of simplicity and function (the Notace development team is located in Japan), the brand wants to be your haven in a sea of ever-growing maxed-out cushioned running shoes. The Michi has the same 15mm zero-drop stack height as the T1, but there’s 3mm more foam underfoot to provide more support on pavement. A wide toebox and durable ETPU foam makes this shoe minimal but mighty.
On Cloudmonster Hyper 3 LS
The Cloudmonster Hyper gets the LightSpray treatment like the Cloudboom Strike LS. This time, you won’t have to take shears to the heel collar for easier entry. I tried the step-in at On’s booth and was able to put on the laceless shoe almost effortlessly. The Cloudmonster Hyper 3 is lighter than it’s predecessor and has the brand’s Helion HF superfoam. Out March, price TBC.
April: Mount To Coast C1
The brand known for ultra road running is releasing its first super trainer, the C1. The shoe tops at 42mm in the heel. The plush trainer has a CircleCell layer of foam and a wider base and high sidewalls for a stable, locked-in fit. The TunedFit dual lacing system allows you to loosen or tighten area above your toes as you accumulate mileage. The shoe isn’t for racing— due to World Athletics guidelines on height (stacks must be 40mm or lower) but you use it for long runs, recovery runs, and cushioned tempo sessions. Out April.
Tracksmith Eliot Ryder
I received my Tracksmith email before I went through the convention centre doors: the Hare is releasing a max-cushioned running shoe. The vision behind the Eliot Ryder is ‘clean, not clunky’. That 45mm stack height hides a 25mm ATPU foam midsole. This portable foam is a nod to the Eliot Racer’s removable TPU sockliner. If there was an award at the trade show for thickest drop-in midsole, Tracksmith has no competition. The sleek super trainer is intended for everyday runs (and looks snazzy semi-formal street shoe).
Winter 2026 Releases
June: Saucony Endorphin Elite 3
The Endorphin Elite 3 has the same highly responsive incrediRUN TPEE foam that encourages aggressive racing with carbon plate and rocker geometry. But it’s more stable this go-around. Saucony filled in the cutout by the heel and the plate has more fluting for smoother heel-to-toe transitions.
July: Altra Torin ST
The Torin 9 is set for a July release and it is still the unicorn zero-drop trainer you know and love with an all-new Vibram outsole made for the road. But I must put the spotlight on the Torin ST. I can’t tell you how many times I had to ask the Altra team to repeat everything about this trainer. Yes, it’s actually the Paradigm, Altra’s plush zero-drop stability shoe. Yes, it has Altra’s guide rail system for medial support. Yes, Altra kept the Paradigm’s tooling: 30mm zero drop stack, Ego Max midsole. So what’s new? The Torin ST has an updated upper: more ventilation with a securer, comfier fit around the foot. Out July.
Salomon Aero Glide 4 Grvl
For road runners new to Salomon, the Aero collection is the gateway. Salomon is usually synonymous with trail, and though the brand has road shoes (the Aero Glide 4 is also set for release this month), its gravel models serve as the ideal bridge from road to trail, from road to Salomon. The Aero Glide 4 Grvl has the same stack height as its road counterpart (41mm in the heel, 33mm in the forefoot). It has a grippier outsole for running off road and bungee lacing. Out July 1.
August: The North Face Offtrail Ultra
The North Face’s athletes wanted a faster, lighter version of the Offtrail TR. The Offtrail Ultra has a dual density foam without any adhesives, which means no extra weight from shoe glue. Dreambound provides a soft, high rebound ride. The shoe has a climbing zone for more leverage under the toes (the team made this shoe imagining scrambling the Flatirons of Boulder, Colorado). An integrated gaiter allows for ease of entry without the frustration.
2026 Trends at The Running Event
Cushioning without the high stack
Shoes like the Brooks Glycerin Flex are proving you can have supportive cushioning without the pumped up stack. Brands like Topo Athletic and Notace are also deviating from the max-cushion route all together. The brands are releasing barefoot-like trainers, making them the minimalist outliers in a sea of max-cushioned supertrainers.
2. Super without the carbon-fibre plate
Plush bouncy shoes with super foams, like the Saucony Azura, Topo Athletic Specter 3, and Altra Vanish Pulse (out August), aren’t afraid to go plate-less. Let’s make non-carbon fibre races a thing!
Making stability sexy
Brands like Nike with its Structure Plus and Diadora with its Vigore V want to dismantle the belief that stability shoes are boring. These shoes feel fast and flexible, and deliver high rebound on the run.
Hyrox-specific shoes
Several brands, including Puma, have Hyrox-specific shoes coming out. While I’m a little Regina George about it (‘Stop trying to make Hyrox happen!’), it looks like this indoor fitness competition phenomenon is in fact a thing — and it’s obviously gaining traction enough to attract shoe brands.
From: Runner’s World US
