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Temperatures are dropping, the coats are coming out and your sneaker rotation is shifting with them. The sneaker trends of fall 2026 revolve around warm colours, tactile materials and silhouettes that can handle a downpour.
We've lined up the sneaker trends of fall 2026 for you. From chocolate brown to skate shoes, from suede to GORE-TEX: this is what you'll see on the streets this coming season.
Brown is the new black
If there's one colour fashion magazines, sneaker stores and brands agree on this season, it's brown. Not a single shade, but a whole family: chocolate, mocha, cognac, chestnut.
You'll see these tones on suede uppers, on leather overlays and even on the outsole, where a gum sole rounds off the warm look.
Brown is nothing new in the sneaker world, but the difference from a few years ago lies in how it's used. Where brown used to be mainly an accent, it's now the main colour of entire colorways.
Tonal brown, with several shades on one shoe, adds depth without looking busy. A light base with brown stripes and a gum sole is an easy way in, too.
Pair it with a wool coat, corduroy trousers or dark cuffed denim, and your outfit instantly gets that calm autumn feel.
Interestingly, while one fashion outlet recommends all-black for the colder months, another is putting black on pause. We think brown is mainly taking over black's role as the safe base colour.
It goes with almost everything, but feels less severe. And it doesn't just work on the shoe itself: clothing in camel, rust and sand ties in seamlessly too.
Accents: burgundy, yellow, pastel and anthracite
Brown carries the season, but it's not the only colour you'll come across. Anthracite and charcoal grey serve as a calm base for anyone who finds brown too warm.
The strongest accent colour is burgundy. Deep wine red is showing up at brands and retailers alike, and it really comes into its own on suede, where the colour gains extra depth.
Burgundy works remarkably well next to brown, grey and denim. It's bolder than a neutral shade, but never loud.
On top of that, a mustard or ochre-yellow colorway stands out among all the earth tones and still feels autumnal. If you prefer something subtler, go for soft pastels as a detail, on the heel or in the branding for example.
The idea behind it is simple. A neutral base with one standout colour makes a sneaker versatile. You'll wear it with a dark autumn coat just as easily as with a light sweater.
Suede, tweed and satin: texture wins
With an autumn sneaker, it's not just about colour but also about how a shoe feels. Suede is once again the material of the season.
Soft, matte and with a retro feel that suits the current preference for classic shapes. It catches the light differently from smooth leather, which makes even a simple colorway look richer.
Woolly and woven fabrics are showing up too. Brands are experimenting with tweed and tapestry uppers, sometimes with deliberately worn-in details or studs.
At the same time, some stylists are heading in the opposite direction, towards satin. After the rise of satin ballet flats, they expect shiny fabric to gain ground on sneakers as well.
That sounds contradictory next to rough suede, but it fits a bigger story: the sneaker is increasingly a garment you choose by material, not just by brand or model.
A practical note for anyone living in Northern Europe: suede and rain are not friends. A good protective spray beforehand prevents stains and saves you a lot of frustration in November.
Animal print: the exception to the rule
While many stylists are skipping loud prints this season, one pattern is holding its ground: animal print. Leopard, zebra and snakeskin keep turning up in sneaker collections.
The difference from previous years lies in the execution. Animal print increasingly appears as a material rather than a print, for example on pony hair or brushed suede.
That ties it seamlessly to the texture trend. You see the pattern, but you feel it as well.
In autumn, leopard works best in brown and cognac tones. It stands out, but stays within the season's warm colour palette. Snakeskin feels a little cooler and pairs well with grey, black and denim.
Pair it with a calm outfit in solid colours so the shoe remains the only statement. If you prefer something subtler, choose pony hair in a solid colour or a sneaker where only an overlay or the heel features an animal pattern.
Slim, low and retro
The low, slim sneaker with a thin sole remains a constant. Think of the terrace style with a T-toe, gum sole and narrow last.
Old training shoes from the seventies are back on the shelves as well. They're easy to wear with a skirt, wide-leg trousers or simply straight jeans.
Still, something is shifting. The most popular terrace model of recent years is being explicitly benched by some stylists for now.
That doesn't mean the silhouette is disappearing. We rather see the shape spreading across other, lesser-known models. The slim look stays, the uniformity goes.
Anyone choosing a low retro sneaker this season is more likely to do so in an unexpected colour or a less obvious model.
Skate is back, and so is canvas
One of the clearest shifts in the sneaker trends of fall 2026 comes straight from the skate park. Skate shoes with a Y2K feel are quietly returning: slip-ons, vulcanized soles and the familiar checkerboard pattern.
Brands like Vans lead the way, but high-fashion labels are releasing their own skate silhouettes too. Sometimes with a surprising twist, such as woven tapestry uppers and studs.
The simple canvas sneaker is also making its return. After a minimalist runway show by an Italian fashion house, the classic low canvas sneaker is firmly back in view, including among a young generation of style icons.
The beauty of canvas: it's understated, affordable and goes with everything, from a cashmere sweater to a plain white T-shirt.
It may well be the most striking shift of the season. After years of chunky soles and technical runners, part of the market is deliberately choosing simplicity. A flat sole and a fabric upper, that's all there is to it.
Ready for the outdoors: trail and hiking
Gorpcore isn't going anywhere, it's growing up. Trail runners and hybrids between a running shoe and a lightweight hiking shoe remain popular in the city.
They feature a sturdy sole with grip, often water-repellent materials and technical details such as quick-lace systems. Exactly what you need on wet streets and bike lanes.
What's changing is the colour palette. Where trail shoes used to be mostly bright and sporty, you now see them more and more in earth tones, olive, silver-grey or black.
That makes them fit an everyday outfit better and a mountainside less. Brands like Salomon, Merrell and the outdoor lines of Nike are cleverly tapping into this.
GORE-TEX: dry feet without compromising on style
If you live in Northern Europe, you know: there's no such thing as an autumn without rain. That's why the range of sneakers with a GORE-TEX membrane keeps growing. You can often recognise them by the 'GTX' in the model name.
The membrane sits between the upper and the lining. It keeps water out while letting water vapour escape from the inside. That way your feet stay dry, even if you cycle through the rain for a while.
For a long time, GORE-TEX was mainly something for hiking and trail shoes. That has changed. Alongside trail runners, skate shoes, high-tops and classic basketball models are also getting GTX versions, often with a lined collar and a chunkier sole.
That way you don't have to swap your favourite shape for a hiking shoe as soon as it starts raining. Brands like Nike, Salomon, adidas and Vans now offer GTX variants in their collections.
One caveat: a membrane doesn't make a shoe invincible. Water can still get in through the ankle opening, and a suede upper can get wet and stained on the outside. So protecting it with a spray is still smart.
Visually, GTX sneakers fit right into the autumn trends. They often come in earth tones, olive and grey, and pair easily with a parka or rain jacket.
Embellished, shiny or not at all
At the other end of the spectrum is the embellished sneaker. Rhinestones, studs and other details turn a simple sneaker into a statement.
The trend started on the catwalk and is slowly filtering into broader collections. It's not an everyday look, but it is a way to make a calm outfit more personal with a single piece.
Notably, stylists say some things are on their way out: mesh, metallic finishes, loud all-over prints and the sneakerina, the cross between a ballet flat and a sneaker that was everywhere last year.
Prints aren't vanishing entirely, though. Animal print, the checkerboard of skate shoes and the structure of tweed and tapestry take their place. This season, pattern comes from material rather than print.
Hybrids: between sneaker and slip-on
A smaller but interesting movement is that of the hybrid shoe. Sneaker-loafers, slip-ons with a sneaker sole and comfortable slides you wear after training or on a Sunday are increasingly finding their way into the sneaker world.
They show how blurred the line between a sneaker and a 'smart' shoe has become.
How to wear the autumn trends
Want to get on board with the trends without replacing your entire wardrobe? Start with colour. One pair of brown, beige or burgundy sneakers instantly makes your existing outfits more autumnal.
If you go for suede, pair it with wool, corduroy or chunky knits. A skate or canvas sneaker works best with straight or wide denim.
And a trail or GTX sneaker goes well with an oversized jacket and cargo trousers, even if you never climb that mountain.
And of course: boots
When it gets properly cold and wet, you can always reach for a boot. A yellow Timberland, a classic Dr. Martens or a cosy UGG fits right in with the warm colours and rugged materials of this season.
More autumn inspiration
Curious which models are already available in these colours and materials? In our sneaker search engine you'll find a wide range of autumn-ready sneakers.
The sneaker trends of fall 2026 mainly show that there's room for different tastes: warm and soft, rugged and technical, or simple and classic.
