Summer 2026 is around the corner, and as temperatures continue to heat up, our shoe racks will gradually continue to change — so FN is forecasting the dominant footwear trends of the summer with the help of some industry insider insights.
On the dress shoe front, stylist Leon Gray, who works with ESPN host Malika Andrews, is excited to see a classic silhouette revived in inventive ways.
“Pumps have made a comeback, I think they went away for such a long time because it’s taken a minute for everyone to get back into dressing smartly for the office. There was definitely a period where I couldn’t find enough, and now there’s tons,” Gray said. “What I love about it is that designers are taking a really interesting approach to a shape that’s obviously been around forever.”
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Loewe‘s Origami pump is a standout example of this for the stylist, and he also loves the Khaite Bella slingback, which features a wedge-stiletto hybrid design — not to mention 18-karat gold on the heel. In general, he’s also a fan of the glove-like pump style with a high-cut upper that has taken over the dress market. When it comes to more everyday options, Gray mentioned the thong sandal trend and also pointed toward The Row’s slim, pared-back Canal loafer, the ultimate minimalist shoe.
Footwear can also be an understated way to experiment with pops of color. Gray has named lemon yellow his hero color of the summer, and believes something like a slingback or mule in the shade is an unexpected and more approachable way to wear a potentially intimidating hue.
Outside the luxury realm, Steve Madden is pushing thong styles, netted flats and platforms, whether it’s the brand’s Playing black suede wedge flip-flop style or its rhinestone-embellished Mino flat. The Tracie Jelly style, a kitten-heel thong sandal with a PVC upper, speaks to the continued rise of jelly footwear, considered a nostalgic style for many.
Steve Madden chief product officer Christina Ciglar told FN, “Steve Madden summer 2026 is defined by dopamine dressing, popping the collection with high-energy styling on modern silhouettes while also channeling a nostalgic throwback to our heritage. Inspired by the street style of our customer, their effortless mix of trend and personal expression continues to shape our perspective.”
Another category that we can expect to keep going strong is Western boots. Michael Petry, footwear industry veteran and creative director of country star Lainey Wilson’s boot brand Golden West, believes that summer truly kicks off with the start of festival season. Case in point, the Desert Flower shorty style, which is done in soft sand suede and features a muted floral pattern, dropped around the time of Coachella. While he emphasized the importance of short styles in summer, the brand, which drops a new boot every month, will switch things up.
“We’ll do short and tall. I think there’s a good balance that we want to yin and yang,” Petry said of Golden West’s summer plans. “The current trend is more toward tall boots. So it’s, how do you materialize those things to make them look summer? Is it in a sand suede, or is it in a lighter color, or even a lighter-weight leather, like a washed buffalo? So you want to take some of your heavier-weight leathers that you do in fall, winter and even early spring, and then just reintroduce those styles in lightweight palettes and lightweight colors.”
In the sneaker realm, Petry predicts performance styles from major athletic brands will do well given the World Cup is taking place this summer, but at the same time he believes the fashion trend of low-profile sneakers will be relevant as well. He’s a fan of the new Onitsuka Tiger x Versace collaboration, which includes a sneaker and a loafer, calling it “killer.”
Gray also sees the minimalist sneaker maintaining its power, though he prefers them styled with pieces like miniskirts or shorts, rather than a higher-volume outfit featuring something like wide-leg pants.
Whether you’re toying with a brightly colored heel, putting on a chunky throwback style or keeping cool in a thong sandal, summer can be a good time to experiment with fashion. Petry’s approach to the upcoming season is rooted in enjoyment.
“I think summer should be a lot of fun,” he said. “That’s how I always look at summer like — let’s not take this too seriously.”