7 Summer Shorts Trends That Are Suddenly on Every Fashion Person's Radar

Shop the buzziest styles of the season, all in one place.

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Collage of influencers wearing shorts
(Image credit: @lucywilliams02; @cocoschiffer; @aimeesong; @annelauremais)
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As someone who grew up in Louisiana, lived in Los Angeles for a good chunk of time, and now lives in North Carolina, I'll never be one of those "I don't wear shorts" people. Shorts are one of the most essential of wardrobe essentials to me. That said, I don't mess around with dated shorts. I have my go-to classics and also selectively choose from the lineup of fresh shorts trends that come to be each summer. Care to join me on the latter?

May is when I really ramp up my shorts shopping, so I thought I'd share a timely edit of which trends are the buzziest for summer 2026. There happen to be quite a few shorts styles to choose from this season (more so than other years, for a matter of fact), so I had to narrow it down a bit to seven stand-out trends that are already going viral or are selling out more and more with each 70-plus-degree day. Scroll on to choose from everything from the shorts color that's a fashion-crowd favorite to the lengths that people are gravitating toward—and much more.

The Top Summer 2026 Shorts Trends

1. Bloomers

The 2026 version of the bubble shorts trend is bloomers. They're cute, they're fun, and they'll make your outfits cooler.

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Influencer wearing plaid bloomer shorts

(Image credit: @annelauremais)

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2. Red Pull-On Shorts

Pull-on shorts have become a wardrobe staple over the past couple of years, but if you want to look the most 2026, opt for a red pair.

Influencer wearing red shorts with a cableknit sweater

(Image credit: @aimeesong)

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3. A-Line Shorts

When it comes to mid-thigh and denim shorts, I recommend steering clear of fitted pairs and shopping for A-line styles instead. They're flattering and timeless.

Influencer wearing cut-off denim shorts with a white cardigan

(Image credit: @_imanirandolph)

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4. Micro Shorts

Teeny tiny shorts are back after the bermuda wave of summer 2025. The easiest, most low-key way to wear them is seen here on Coco Schiffer—with an oversized button-down.

Influencer wearing black micro shorts with a red button-down

(Image credit: @cocoschiffer)

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5. Polished Bermuda Shorts

If I'm going to wear bermuda shorts, they're not going to be sloppy ones. Luckily, the new wave of long shorts are tailored, which ups the polish of your outfits in an instant.

Influencer wearing denim bermuda shorts

(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

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6. Satin Shorts

Hang onto those satin shorts you bought last year—the trend is here to stay. While it was all about the short lace-trimmed styles last year (which are still cool), there's more variety this year, with tafetta and long lace-trimmed styles, as well as zippered ones, now in the mix.

Influencer wearing purple satin shorts

(Image credit: @styledsara)

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7. White Denim Shorts

I said it during Coachella and I'll say it again—everyone is suddenly wearing white denim shorts, and I've noticed that the best pairs are flying out of stock.

Influencer wearing white denim shorts

(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

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Allyson Payer
Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.