Top 2026 Trainer Trends to Shop Now at ASOS, H&M and M&S

Brendan Dunne, senior director of customer community and engagement at StockX, put it plainly: "Chunky trainers are officially over — in terms of everyday styles, at least (as ever, at the gym, anything goes)." What's replacing them is a family of slimmer, dance-inflected, often surprisingly elegant silhouettes that have moved swiftly from the spring/summer runways — spotted at Balenciaga, Etro and Miu Miu — down to the high street rails at H&M, ASOS and M&S. Here are the five trainer trends worth knowing for 2026.

1. The sneakerina

The single biggest trend label of the season comes from Tiffany Hsu, chief buying and group fashion venture officer at Mytheresa, who called the sneakerina "the hottest trainer trend to know for 2026." Her definition is precise: "This more refined, fashion-forward take on the classic sneaker blends casual comfort with elevated, chic details, making trainers versatile enough to pair with both relaxed and tailored looks." The momentum, she argues, is consumer-led: "Brands like Jimmy Choo, Chloé, and Dries Van Noten are leading this movement, introducing soft pastel shades, elegant materials, and unique design touches that feel fresh and modern." At the accessible end, the COS Suede-Nylon Ballet Trainers capture the same spirit: the suede-nylon mix reads as quiet luxury, the streamlined shape stays resolutely current. Think of it, as one description put it, as what happens when a ballet flat and a retro runner have a very chic baby.

2. The jazz shoe trainer hybrid

If the sneakerina is the trend with the luxury endorsement, the jazz shoe hybrid is the one with the most interesting design provocation. Woman & Home describes the silhouette precisely: "Taking the softness and slip-on practicality of the classic 80s dance shoe and pairing it with the slim, retro look of low-profile trainers, this smart-casual style is ideal for styling with everything from jeans to dresses." Metro named the jazz shoe as the standout trend for spring/summer 2026, framing it as a ballet-influenced trainerina silhouette. The appeal is in the contradiction: a shoe with the ease of a dance studio warm-up flat but the visual grammar of a contemporary trainer. H&M's trainer-sandal hybrid sits at the more experimental edge of this category, demonstrating how far the hybridisation logic can stretch on the high street.

3. Low-profile vintage runners and slim silhouettes

Before the sneakerina had a name, the underlying shift was already visible in resale data. The New Balance 204L, a slimline runner, is currently the brand's number-one best-selling new model on StockX — a telling signal from a platform that tracks genuine consumer demand rather than editorial preference. Dunne frames the broader picture: "Low-profile vintage runners will continue to be popular in 2026. These slimmer, nostalgic silhouettes offer a clean, minimalist look that fits seamlessly into day-to-day wardrobes." Woman & Home notes that slim low-profile trainers "featured heavily on the spring/summer runways," confirming the trend has runway credibility as well as street traction. River Island's high-street lookalike for Isabelle Marant's slim brown suede trainers is one practical high-street translation; the Anthropologie Maeve Low Profile Trainers, available in six shades, offer the same streamlined ease with the versatility to work with wide-leg trousers, denim cut-offs, or a full dress.

4. Retro runners and high-profile collaborations

The slim silhouette story has a more elevated, collectible dimension running alongside the high-street picks. Nike's collaboration with Jacquemus on the Moon Shoe was one of the defining slim-silhouette moments of recent seasons, and Nike's own distribution strategy signals where the trend is heading next: the Moon Shoe retro is expected to see wider, non-collab distribution in 2026, making the shape accessible beyond the drop-culture bubble. The upcoming Onitsuka Tiger x Versace collaboration adds further weight to the retro-runner moment, bringing a house known for maximalist glamour into contact with a trainer brand whose DNA is deeply rooted in classic Japanese sportswear. The Steve Madden Artiste in pale blue sits at the high-street translation of this energy: its shape taps the retro-sport revival while the pastel colourway keeps it seasonal and fresh.

5. Satin, shine and elevated materials

The material story running through all of the above trends is a move toward finishes that feel deliberately non-athletic. Metro identifies satin and shine finishes as a distinct 2026 trend in their own right, and the Marie Claire edit reinforces this: the adidas x Wales Bonner Karintha Sequin and Satin Sneakers represent the luxury end of the spectrum, while Saint Laurent's Lewis leather and suede sneakers point to a broader appetite for crafted, premium materials on trainer lasts. Leather, suede, suede-nylon mixes and sequin finishes are all part of the same impulse: treating the trainer as an object worth making beautiful, not just functional. Soft pastels are the colourway most associated with this shift; Hsu specifically named pastel shades as a key introduction from Jimmy Choo, Chloé and Dries Van Noten. White remains a reliable anchor, with Woman & Home noting that white trainers "offer brightness to your look" and remain a strong spring/summer choice for anyone building from a neutral base.

The direction of travel in 2026 is unambiguous. Slim, refined and dance-inspired silhouettes have consolidated their position across luxury, contemporary and high-street retail simultaneously — a rare alignment that tends to signal a trend with genuine staying power rather than a seasonal spike.