Have sneaker collaborations jumped the shark? As brand team-ups become a marketing cheat code, there are more collaborations on the market than ever. The overabundance means there’s also even more filler than usual, which can make it difficult to focus on what’s really standing out in a saturated sea of collaborations. That’s where FN comes in, as we’ve cut through the noise to highlight the year’s best joint projects thus far.
The year’s top pairs include familiar faces like New Balance collaborators Action Bronson and Joe Freshgoods, Jordan Brand golden child Nigel Sylvester and the latest from global superstar Bad Bunny’s work with Adidas. There are also several newcomers in the mix including buzzy running brands such as Minted New York and Satisfy.
Unfortunately, it can’t be overlooked that female collaborators remain underrepresented, particularly in the first half of 2026. Teyana Taylor’s Concrete Rose Air Jordan 3 was one of the year’s most anticipated collaborations ahead of its release, but failed to make much sustained noise after it finally arrived at retail. And while Adidas continued its popular collaboration with Wales Bonner, none of the shoes managed to captivate fans the way her previous work had.
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For collaborations to remain impactful for the remainder of 2026 and beyond, they’ll need to be thoughtful and considered with more variation between brands and silhouettes alike. Rather than simply tap big names for co-branded designs, brands should continue to seek out partners that align with their sensibilities while also pushing them into new territory.
With roughly another six months left in the year, FN has compiled the collaborations that managed to move the needle from prerelease to secondary market success. These are the Best Nine Sneaker Collaborations of 2026 So Far.
Action Bronson x New Balance Abzorb 1890
Action Bronson is quickly becoming one of New Balance’s most prolific collaborators. The rapper-chef-television host has released more than a dozen sneakers with the Boston-based athletic brand, and this year, he was entrusted with introducing the Abzorb 1890 model. That came first with January’s “Cyborg Tears” colorway, which was followed in February by the “Hornet Tusk” variation and concluded with the surprise “Planet Frog” release in May. Altogether, the three-style collection makes for one of the year’s best projects, each delivering a distantly different look to offer something for a variety of tastes. His mishmashes of color aren’t for everyone, but they remain a welcome change of pace in an athletic footwear landscape saturated by neutrals.
Minted New York x Saucony Endorphin Pro 5
Minted New York and Saucony had worked together on a couple occasions prior to May’s chrome-covered Endorphin Pro 5 release, but the third time proved to be the charm for the east coast link-up. Using the Boston-based athletic footwear brand’s Endorphin Pro 5 race-day shoe as its canvas, Minted NY took metallic to new heights, coating the entire shoe in a chrome finish. It’s the sort of sneaker that is guaranteed to turn heads regardless of the setting you wear it in, and its rarity makes it unlikely anyone else will be turning up to your run club in the same pair.
Cecilie Bahnsen x Asics Gel-Quantum 360 I
We won’t go as far as to say that Cecilie Bahnsen and Asics can do no wrong together, but the duo hasn’t exactly missed yet, either. Collaboration after collaboration, Bahnsen’s floral spins on the Japanese brand’s tech runners sell out nearly just as quickly as they arrive — no matter how experimental they decide to get. Case in point is the most recent release, the Gel-Quantum 360 I, which features a slip-on construction and a clover-shaped cutout. If you get it, you get it and if you don’t, well, they’re probably already sold out, anyway.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 Brick After Brick
Nigel Sylvester’s latest collaboration, the Air Jordan 4 Brick After Brick, loses a few points for being a retread of one of 2025’s shoe of the year contenders, but it’s still very much one of the year’s best joint projects so far. For their second Air Jordan 4, Sylvester and Jordan Brand continued the story they started on the Brick by Brick by pulling some reference points from one of the model’s original colorways worn by Michael Jordan. While it’s not wholly original, the collaboration continues to set a benchmark for contextualization.
Bad Bunny x Adidas BadBo 1.0
Before the BadBo 1.0, Bad Bunny and Adidas had done it all — almost. Over the last five years, the Puerto Rican superstar had worked on Adidas sneakers ranging from trendy to obscure, applying his signature flair at every stop. And yet, it wasn’t until April that the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based sportswear company took its partnership with the artist to the next level by giving Bad Bunny his very own signature sneaker. The BadBo 1.0 features high-end materials and details which reference the Puerto Rico flag making it not just premium, but personal.
Joe Freshgoods x New Balance Abzorb 1890
Action Bronson wasn’t the only New Balance collaborator who put their signature spin on the Abzorb 1890. Longtime brand partner Joe Freshgoods also worked on the model, delivering three colorways inspired by rap music videos form the late 1990s and early 2000s. And like Action Bronson’s collection, the Joe Freshgoods set also included a third surprise style in an even more head-turning look. For a designer who’s always incorporated cultural storytelling into his product, the latest Joe Freshgoods project may be one of his best yet — and that’s saying a lot. The sneakers are psychedelic, with their tie-dye-like blends of colors and tones, yet remain grounded and highly wearable at the same time.
Costco x Nike SB Dunk Low Kirkland
The Costco x Nike SB Dunk Low is one of those link-ups that’s so unexpected, it just works. First, ignore the fact that Nikes typically aren’t even sold in Costco, or that most people who are stocking up on Kirkland gear likely aren’t the biggest supporters of their local skate shop. None of that matters because the Costco-branded Dunk Low, with its heather gray, sweatshirt-styled design, is a ton of fun. It’s reminiscent of Nike SB’s golden days, when the brand would reference iconic properties without actually getting them officially licensed — a practice which recently made Nike the subject of a lawsuit from 7-Eleven, but that’s a whole other story.
Satisfy x Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The marketing for the Satisfy x Adidas collaboration was polarizing, with some people opining that brands were trying too hard to cash in on running’s continuously growing cool factor. But regardless of your take on the rollout and its The Circle Pit event, it’s hard to argue against the collection’s trio of Adizero Adios Pro 4 colorways. Each pair featured a DIY gradient treatment leaving the left and right shoes slightly different, taking the project from an on-trend collaboration to a truly one-of-a-kind design.
Kidsuper x Bape Bape Sta World Cup
The KidSuper x Bape World Cup collection isn’t only one of the year’s best sneaker collaborations, but it’s also by far the largest. The set includes patent leather Bape Sta colorways for all 48 nations who participated in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Ten pairs were made available from launch, while the remaining 38 styles were accessible via preorder. It was an ambitious project, but one that proved to be one of the World Cup’s most exciting sneaker releases when all was said and done.
