In terms of fashion, 2026 is all about joy, colour and experimentation. The new wave of creative directors that started their tenures last year are now in full swing in their respective houses, and there's been a notable shift in the last 12 months in style, moving from a period of heavily influenced by quiet luxury, minimalism and restraint, into one that is bolder, more playful and equally more vibrant. As such, we've noticed prints are much more widely embraced than they were a while ago.
Don't get me wrong, lots of people have long loved a print. Polka dot skirts were a breakthrough trend last summer, florals will always have their place in spring, and gingham is a classic check for the warmer months too. This being said, even those that don't consider themselves necessarily a maximalist are showing interest in certain motifs. For minimalists out there a little nervous of a veering too print heavy, soft pretty polka dots on black, white and brown tones are perfect. Adding to this, 'deck chair stripes' feel a safe way to play with pattern, without being too garish.
But for those more open to colour: psychedelic prints, particularly Pucci ones in a delicious spectrum of fuchsia pink, turquoise blue and a very specific '70s shade of citric orange, are trending since last year's Euro Summer movement. Adding to this, I recently wrote about the comeback of Y2K surfer style (I could wax lyrical all day about how the film Blue Crush will inspire our wardrobes this summer), which has inspired the return of the hibiscus floral print. As we transition to autumn, it's clear that plaid will be a stand-out trend come September, with Chloé, Burberry, Chanel and Simone Rocha all presenting collections that heavily included check prints. And this is just a few of the prints I've noticed growing in popularity, see the others below.
5 Prints That Are Trending In Summer 2026
1. Groovy, Psychedelic Baby
Style Notes: One of the boldest—and perhaps most exciting—print trends of the last 12 months is the Pucci summer in 2025. Hailey Bieber was photographed in a yellow and green Pucci set, and, naturally, the rest of the internet's cool girls caught on. As such, we've seen a rise in '70s (and '70s inspired) psychedelic prints across everything from mesh tops, mini skirts, capri pants and bandanas. Goodbye, quiet luxury!
2. Surfer Girl Hibiscus Florals
Style Notes: This is a fun one. If you're already established in the world of florals in summer, then I dare you to venture into one of the more striking flower-power prints: the hibiscus floral. This tropical flower motif is very 2000s surfer girl-coded, think the type brought to you by Roxy, Billabong and Animal in 2004, so embrace with swimwear as well as dresses, tops and the like.
3. Deck Chair Stripes
Style Notes: Whilst stripes will always be a classic trend, the Breton did fall out of favour (just a little) for a while. It appears to be making a comeback though, but instead of the classic and white, in a more joyful colour palette. Red with pink, green and blue—anything goes! Adding to this, the stripe trouser is one of *the* standout trouser trends of spring/summer 2026. From jeans to harem pants, they're hard to escape!
4. Don't Be Sad, Be Plaid
Style Notes: As mentioned, checks will be a key print trend come autumn, but it seems some high street stores particularly are jumping on this even earlier than September. I would always associate plaid with the '90s grunge movement, and whilst this has flutters of nostalgia for this aesthetic (we all remember tying checked vintage shirts around our waist just a few months ago, don't we?) this feels genuinely new and different. Plaid on frothy ruffled dresses at Chloé and Simone Rocha, checks on tailoring and embellished tweed at Chanel, a much more 'feminine' and elevated version of checks are on the way.
5. Spot On
Style Notes: Off all the prints on this list, polka dots are probably the most wearable. Pretty and pared back when in soft neutral tones and small, or more adventurous when in larger or in bolder tones, there are a lot of options out there. My advice is to wear one polka piece, or do a matching set, and let that be the pièce de résistance of the look. Too many different dotted prints, or when worn with another pattern like, say, stripes, can be visually arresting.
