New Balance 990v7 'Kool Grey': Everything You Need to Know

Update, 22 October 2026 – We finally have an official look at the New Balance 990v7. New Balance has shared the first images of the debut colorway, called 'Kool Grey'. Officially, it goes by Kool Gray with Calcium and Light Arctic Grey.

With the 990v7, New Balance opens a new chapter in a line that has been around since 1982. According to the brand, the goal was to strike the perfect balance between familiar and forward-thinking. The shoe had to feel iconic while still being unmistakably new. "It has to be a 990 without question," says Creative Design Manager Jean Khalife. Only when you look closer do the innovations start to show.

Most of those changes sit in the upper. The silhouette has been refined for a slimmer, more elegant look than the 990v6. The trusted mix of pigskin suede and breathable mesh stays, but New Balance has added tumbled leather accents for extra texture. The sway bars, the overlays running along the side, are now made of synthetic suede. In the 'Kool Grey' colorway, it all comes together in several shades of grey, finished with cream laces and pale blue accents.

Underfoot, the 990v7 also blends heritage with innovation. ENCAP and a CR heel counter provide support and stability, while a full-length dual-density FuelCell midsole delivers cushioning and energy return. That also confirms what was only a rumor before: the 990v7 runs on FuelCell.

The small details finish it off. The insole reads '990 v7' along with 'Established in 1982', and there's a small 'v7' tag on the tongue as well.

The New Balance 990v7 'Kool Grey' releases on 6 November 2026 at 10:00 CET via New Balance, priced at €250.

Joe Freshgoods Gives a Closer Look at the New Balance 990v7

Originally posted on 13 October 2026

Update, 13 October 2026 – After Rosalía last weekend, Joe Freshgoods is now showing off the New Balance 990v7 too, and in a lot more detail. In a teaser on Instagram, he gives a close-up look at a blue-grey pair, so the model's new build is finally easy to make out.

The upper mixes light blue-grey suede and mesh with darker overlays. The large "N" logo has a white outline, and the heel tab carries "new balance 990" branding. Cream laces and a light midsole with layered blue-grey tooling round out the look. Compared to the 990v6, the larger mudguard stands out, and the tooling underfoot has been updated too. It reportedly uses a softer version of FuelCell, but that hasn't been officially confirmed yet.

The 990v7 is part of the Made in USA line and is slated for Holiday 2026, with a debut expected in November. EU pricing and a style code haven't been announced yet.

Rosalía Spotted in the Upcoming New Balance 990v7

Update, 11 October 2026 – Rosalía has been spotted in the upcoming New Balance 990v7. The Spanish artist wore the model ahead of her appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend. New Balance first teased the 990v7 last month with billboards that quickly went viral. The sneaker is expected to launch before the end of the year.

Original post: 18 September 2026

The New Balance 990v7 is officially real: the brand confirmed the sneaker's existence with a tiny billboard on the corner of Hester Street and Lafayette Street in New York City. The image shows nothing but a silhouette, but it's enough to know that the New Balance 990v7 is actually coming.

With that, New Balance put a stop to a rumor that had been circulating for a while. Photographer and Loopwheelers founder Satoshi Suzuki had already shared images from a visit to the brand's Boston headquarters, showing NB chairman Jim Davis wearing an unreleased model on his feet. That model has now been identified as the successor to the 990v6.

A design in shades of grey

The New Balance 990v7 is built on the beloved 990 platform, but it clearly breaks from its predecessor. The rounded, streamlined silhouette of the 990v6 is almost entirely gone: the toe box is shorter, the body longer, and extra paneling and new overlays show up on the upper. In the shared images, the sneaker wears a grey, understated colorway that lines up with earlier Made in USA releases in the line.

New Balance hasn't shared a concrete release date, price, or style code for the New Balance 990v7 yet. Given the timing of the teaser, a release later this year seems likely, but that's not confirmed. As soon as more details land, you'll read about it here first.

Keep an eye on the release calendar so you never miss a New Balance drop, browse the sneaker search engine for more 990 models, and download the Sneakerjagers app to stay up to date.