If an NYC It Girl Isn't Wearing Ballet Flats or Thong Kitten Heels, She's Wearing This Unexpected Sneaker Trend

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@lenafarl wearing animal-print sneakers
(Image credit: @lenafarl)
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Not suede, not satin, this unexpected sneaker trend is wild, cool, and ready to be worn with jeans, jorts, and midi skirts. Well, what is it? If you're an avid Who What Wear reader or have an eye for trends, you have a better chance of guessing the 2026 sneaker trend in question. If you said animal print, you'd be correct.

This spring, fashion people from NYC to London are clearing a place on their shoe racks for a pair of animal-print sneakers. Cow print made a name for itself last fall and stayed strong. Dalmatian print appeared earlier this year as an end-of-winter trend; thankfully, the spots plan on sticking around until at least summer. Adidas has paired its own stripes with those of a zebra. (Yes, I'm talking about the Japan sneakers.) Leopard print is featured frequently on low-profile sneakers for a sleek silhouette. I can't forget about Snakeskin. The geometric sequence of the print is, in my opinion, the most elegant of the animal-print shoe trend.

We are four months into 2026, and an It sneaker has yet to be identified. (Last year's, of course, was the classic black-and-white Adidas Samba.) Consider this my application to make animal-print the official It sneaker of 2026. So whether you're a Puma fan, a Nike follower, or an Adidas lover, you can count on your favorite sneaker brands to participate. Ahead, shop the best animal-print sneakers of 2026.

The Animal-Print Sneaker Trend 2026

On the Style Set

@lenafarl wearing animal-print sneakers

(Image credit: @lenafarl)

@maggie_mccormack wearing animal-print sneakers

(Image credit: @maggie_mccormack)

@sofiamcoelho wearing animal-print sneakers

(Image credit: @sofiamcoelho)

Shop the Best Animal-Print Sneakers

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Josephine Hadjiloucas
Josephine Hadjiloucas
Assistant Shopping Editor

Josephine Hadjiloucas is a New York–based writer. She first interned at Who What Wear UK in 2024 and later joined Who What Wear U.S. as an assistant shopping editor after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2025. When she isn’t covering the latest Gen Z trends or updating her under-$100 Nordstrom wish list, you can find her browsing the racks of NYC’s best vintage stores or rewatching Moonstruck for the 50th time. “Snap out of it!”