Sneaker culture has a funny way of repeating itself. Honestly, just when you think you’ve seen every possible variation of a "Bred" colorway or another "Reimagined" flip, Jordan Brand drops a roadmap that makes your wallet sweat.
We’re sitting at the start of 2026. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the SNKRS app or stalking the usual leak accounts like zSneakerHeadz, you know the schedule for men’s new jordan releases is looking stacked. It’s not just the sheer volume of shoes; it’s the specific silhouettes getting the "Big Retro" treatment. We are talking about the heavy hitters like the Jordan 4 and Jordan 1, but with some wild-card collaborations that nobody really saw coming a couple of years back.
The Big Returns: Jordan 4 and 5 Take Over
If 2025 was the year of the Jordan 3, then 2026 is definitely leaning into the aggressive lines of the Jordan 4 and the fighter-jet vibes of the 5.
Probably the most talked-about drop right now is the Air Jordan 4 "Toro Bravo" slated for May 2, 2026. People have been begging for this one. The last time we saw a proper Toro 4 was back in 2013, and those pairs are basically dust by now. The $225 price tag is a bit of a sting, but for that "all-red" suede look, most collectors are just going to swallow the cost.
Why the Jordan 5 "Wolf Grey" is the sleeper hit
On February 28, the Air Jordan 5 "Wolf Grey" is making a comeback. It’s been about 15 years since the 2011 release. You remember that one? It had the white contrast stitching and the icy soles that turned yellow if you so much as looked at a puddle. The 2026 version is sticking to that Light Graphite suede. It’s clean. It’s simple. It’s the kind of shoe you can actually wear without looking like you’re trying too hard.
Then you’ve got the Air Jordan 4 "Lakeshow" dropping right around All-Star Weekend (February 14). Since the festivities are in Los Angeles this year, Jordan Brand went full purple and gold. It’s got that Imperial Purple nubuck that looks premium, though some purists are already complaining about Mike’s shoes wearing the colors of a team he famously beat in '91.
Men’s New Jordan Releases: The 2026 Calendar So Far
Keeping track of these dates is basically a part-time job. Things shift. Shock drops happen. But as of mid-January, here is what the landscape looks like for the first half of the year:
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- January 17: Air Jordan 4 "Flight Club" ($225). This one is a Sail and University Red mix that feels very "vintage boutique."
- January 24: Air Jordan 9 "Flint Grey." A classic White/French Blue combo for the AJ9 fans (all six of you).
- January 31: Air Jordan 1 Low OG "Medium Olive" ($145).
- February 12: Air Jordan 1 High OG "All-Star" ($185).
- February 14: Air Jordan 6 "Reverse Infrared" ($210). This is basically a flip of the OG Black Infrared.
- March 13: Air Jordan 13 "Chicago" ($210). The White/True Red look that every 90s kid remembers.
- March 28: The Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 "Alaska."
That March 28 date is the one everyone has circled in red. The "Alaska" Jordan 1 is part of the ongoing Virgil Abloh Archive series. It’s essentially a white-on-white version of the deconstructed Off-White 1s we saw years ago. Retail is expected around $230, but good luck getting them for that.
The "Royal" Debate: Reimagined vs. OG Leather
We need to talk about the Air Jordan 1 "Royal." A couple of years ago, Jordan Brand gave us the "Royal Reimagined" in full suede. Honestly? It was a flop. You can still find pairs sitting on shelves or selling for way under retail on secondary markets. People wanted leather.
The word on the street—and by street, I mean the reliable insiders—is that the Air Jordan 1 High OG "Royal" in its original leather form is returning for the Holiday 2026 season. It’s a smart move. It’s also a bit of a "sorry" from Nike for the suede experiment. If you’ve been holding out for a crisp pair of black and blue leather 1s, your patience is finally paying off.
Collaborations and the "Aura" Factor
Jordan Brand isn't just relying on old colorways. They are leaning hard into the "Three-Way Collab" trend.
In February, we are expecting the Fragment x Union x Air Jordan 1 High OG. It sounds like a mouthful, and it’s going to be a nightmare to cop. This project reportedly features multiple colorways, including a "Sport Royal" and a "Varsity Red" version. When you put Hiroshi Fujiwara and Chris Gibbs on the same project, the hype is basically baked in.
Does the Jordan 4 have too much "Aura"?
There’s a lot of chatter about whether the Jordan 4 is being over-saturated. Between the "Lakeshow," the "Toro Bravo," and the "Flight Club" editions, Nike is milking the silhouette for every cent.
But here’s the thing: they still sell out. Every time.
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The updated shape, which they started using after the Nike SB Jordan 4 collab, makes them way more comfortable than the bricks we were wearing in 2016. That improved "toe-down" view is why people keep coming back.
What Actually Matters When You’re Buying
Look, the men’s new jordan releases game is different now. You can’t just walk into a Foot Locker at 10:00 AM and expect to see a pair of Retro 4s on the wall.
If you’re serious about picking up any of these, you've gotta be tactical. The SNKRS app is still the primary battleground, but don't sleep on the "Where to Buy" lists from sites like Sneaker News or Sole Retriever.
Authenticity and the Secondary Market
With the 2026 releases being so high-profile, the fakes are already hitting the market before the real shoes even have a style code. If you see "Toro Bravo" 4s for $150 on a random Instagram ad, just close the tab. Honestly, use common sense.
The prices for these retros are creeping up, too. We are seeing a standard $215-$225 for Jordan 4s and 5s now. It’s a jump from the $190 we were used to, but that’s just the reality of the market in 2026.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Drop Season
If you want to actually secure these pairs for retail, here is your blueprint:
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- Monitor the SNKRS Calendar weekly. Nike loves a good "Shock Drop" on Tuesdays or Thursdays around 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM EST.
- Focus on the AJ5 "Wolf Grey" (Feb 28). It has high demand but isn't as "bottable" as a Jordan 1 or 4, making it a more realistic target for manual buyers.
- Enter every raffle. Local boutiques like A Ma Maniere, Social Status, and Union usually run EQL raffles. They aren't perfect, but they beat fighting the bots on a standard release.
- Save for the Holiday "Royal" 1s now. By the time October hits, everyone will be trying to scrape together $180-$200 for those. If you start a "shoe fund" now, you won't feel the hit as hard.
The landscape for men’s new jordan releases is shifting toward higher quality and more frequent "OG" returns. While the prices are climbing, the attention to detail on these 2026 retros seems to be a step up from the mass-produced pairs of the early 2020s. Stick to the dates, watch the rumors, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll actually hit on the SNKRS app for once.