Was This the Biggest Week in Sneakers of 2026?

Big Sneaker is all revved up for the holiday rush. These are the five best new drops.Photos: Courtesy of Reebok, Converse, Adidas; Collage: GQAs we inch towards the end of the year, there’s always a massive holiday rush in the sneaker industry (in addition to, well, everywhere else). Annual seasonal drops like the reliable Black Friday and Holiday XI launches from Jordan Brand, plus every major label trying to end the year on the highest note possible, make November and December some of the most exciting times to be a sneakerhead. To be fair, 2026 certainly still has some gas in the tank—plenty of us are already looking ahead to the return of the “Space Jam” Air Jordan 11 next month. Still, this week stands out even in an already crowded release calendar—in fact, I’m inclined to say it’s the biggest and best week of sneaker releases this year has had to offer so far.Nike and Adidas lead the way with collaborations from massive designers and some up-and-comers alike, including one release that makes a strong argument for being the best sneaker of the year. Reebok’s gradual revitalization takes a massive step in a fun, innovative new direction. And over at Converse, one of the most reliable celebrity designers in the footwear world is dropping some of his best work yet. Start drafting an apology letter to your credit card for everything you’re about to do with it—these are just a few highlights from the biggest, boldest week of sneakers in 2026 yet.Courtesy of AdidasAdidas x Invincible Samba Dress ShoeWho said anything about Samba fatigue? Turns out all it takes to make one of the most gen-pop shoes of the last decade feel brand new is a take like the one offered this week by Adidas Consortium collaborator Invincible, a Taiwanese brand that’s quickly establishing itself as a can’t-miss partner for the Three Stripes. Alongside a stellar line of apparel the brand has savvily outmaneuvered any semblance of cultural exhaustion with one of Adidas’s signature silhouettes by keeping it simple: They’ve outfitted the silhouette in a premium black unstructured leather and, bafflingly, a dress shoe sole rather than the Samba’s traditional gum rubber. With perforated Stripes and detailing that mimics those found on dressy leather brogues, it’s an instant contender for sneaker of the year…even if it just barely qualifies as one. This one goes on sale on November13, but with a catch—it’s an Asia exclusive. Pray to the resale market gods.Courtesy of NikeNike x Union Dunk Low ‘Fatigue’Nike has been struggling to find their next big-name collaborator, but in the meantime, some old favorites are still holding strong. One of those names is Union, the Los Angeles-based boutique founded by streetwear giant Chris Gibbs. This week, the brand is offering a buzzy iteration on the classic Nike Dunk that comes in a luxe brown suede and a heel-less mule silhouette. Like the Invincible Samba, the MO here is that all it takes to make an old shoe feel new again is a left-of-center take. These are dropping via SNKRS and Union on November 13, for $130 a pop.Courtesy of ReebokReebok Question Mid RecodedThrough Reebok’s ups and downs over the last decade, there has been one shining constant: Allen Iverson, the greatest athlete they’ve ever had on their roster. AI’s shoes are always in style, so if the brand simply brought back the original Question Mid silhouette for the shoe’s 30th anniversary, it’d be noteworthy enough. This year, though, they’ve taken the shoe to a new and fairly innovative space, refitting it with modern performance enhancements, making it court-worthy for the first time in decades. Sure, you can still wear them with oversized tees and baggy shorts. But for the first time in ages, the Question could also make it back onto an NBA court (or at least the pavement at your local park). It’s priced at $170 and is available now via Reebok and select retailers.Courtesy of ConverseConverse 1908 x Tyler, the Creator Bronco Boot LowEver since he first inked a deal with Converse in 2017, Tyler, the Creator has been one of the best celebrity collaborators in the sneaker biz. This has only become more true since the launch of the 1908 Project last year. The endeavor has seen the pair diving deep into Converse’s archive to revive everything from classic nautical boating shoes, to a jogging silhouette that hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. Ahead of Tyler’s annual Camp Flog Gnaw festival last year, he and Converse launched their best work at the time: the Bronco Boot, a canvas and rubber-toed banger of a sneaker-boot. This year, they’re running it back on a low-top Bronco Boot silhouette—once again ahead of the festival, where we’ll likely see Tyler wearing them. Think of it as the Doc Martens 1461 to the original Bronco Boot’s Doc Martens 1460. Coming your way in four earthy colorways, these are on sale now via Converse.Courtesy of AdidasAdidas x Rick Owens Springblade BootsSpeaking of Converse and boots: One of the biggest sneaker stories of the year has been Rick Owens’s return to Adidas after a fruitful stint over at Converse. The designer’s much-anticipated return collection launched this week, with these stunners at the center of the capsule. Debuting on the runway at Paris Fashion Week this past summer, Owens’s Springblade boots are a showstopper of a return. The shoe’s upper is made from a loose textile that fits up over the ankle and a leather toe cap, but the real heat comes in the return of the Springblade sole Owens and Adidas first debuted over ten years ago. They retail for a crazy $850, and can be purchased via the Adidas Confirmed app. Rick’s gonna Rick!Sign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit.Tres Dean is a contributing writer for GQ specializing in sports, fashion, and the intersections between the two (which most often means covering sneakers). Outside of the going-ons of the sneaker world, he’s profiled athletes like Zion Williamson, defended the valor of reviled directors, and interviewed Travis Scott from the ... Read More