If I’m honest, I own far too many pairs of shoes. Sumptuous suede loafers sit beside scuffed biker boots; delicate flats line up neatly next to sensible, seen-it-all-trainers. It sounds excessive, but when it comes down to it, choosing what to put on your feet is actually a pretty big deal, especially when you want your outfit to look as good as your feet are comfortable.

And more often than not, I’ve found that it's a pair of on-trend trainers that answers both calls without hesitation. Comfortable, functional and crucially—stylish—trainers have far transcended their purely practical roots, but not all trainer brands are created equal. With Salomon's gorpcore styles flocking the street-style scene, to retro, slimline designs from Nike x Jacquemus and Miu Miu x New Balance, some are far more in demand than others. So when we talk about investing in trainers that say "I'm in the know", you might want to know which brands to turn to first.

And with this, I offer you a helping hand. Having sifted through the ever-changing trainer landscape, I’ve uncovered the 11 brands everyone will be wearing in 2026. So, whether you’re partial to an edgy sneakerina or a chunky "dad" trainer, I’ve got you covered. Scroll down to discover the 11 trending trainer brands of 2026.

1. Adidas

Style Notes: Let's start nice and easy, shall we? When you think of top trainer brands, Adidas is one of the biggest out there. From the minimalist-favourite Samba to slightly more fashion-forward shapes like the SL 72 and the Tokyo, Adidas sits miles ahead of the competition when it comes to on-trend, crowd-pleasing trainers. And the best part? The collaborations. Teaming up with some of fashion's coolest brands (Wales Bonner, anyone?) over the years, its trainers consistently balance a streetwear vibe with wearability.

Shop Adidas Trainers:

2. Puma

Style Notes: We loved the Palermo, admired the Speedcat, and might have been slightly too afraid to try the ballet sneaker, but Puma has always been in the mix when it comes to trending trainers. With a high-performance motorsport mood running throughout, Puma styles have been the go-to choice of some of fashion's most stylish dressers for a while now. From Dua Lipa to Emily Ratajkowski and Jennifer Lawrence, they're also celeb-approved.

Shop Puma Trainers:

3. Nike

Style Notes: With many Nike styles having a major revival recently, it would be remiss not to include the brand in this roundup. Jordan 1 took the streetwear game by storm a few years back, but in 2026, it's the retro styles that are popular now. With Gwenyth Paltrow and Dakota Johnson both picking up the "dated" Cortez, it's clear Nike is where chic dressers turn when in need of a trending trainer hit.

Shop Nike Trainers:

4. On

Style Notes: Designed as the new generation of running shoes, On trainers have really taken off since the brand launched in 2010. The patented "cloud technology" (the unique holes running through the soles) creates a unique point of difference beloved by those who crave a functional shoe with a stylish twist. A staple in Jennifer Lopez’s everyday rotation, you’re in great company with these.

Shop On Trainers:

5. New Balance

Style Notes: By no means a new trainer brand (it was founded in 1906, after all), New Balance continues to dominate the trainer space, with its covetable styles consistently selling out. After reviving iconic retro silhouettes like the 530 and the 327, the brand has successfully cemented itself as comfortable and cool. And, in 2026, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fashion editor without at least one of these super-comfortable styles in their rotation.

Shop New Balance Trainers:

6. Dries Van Noten

Style Notes: Dries Van Noten trainers perfectly encapsulate everything the luxury fashion brand stands for. Playful, slightly avant-garde and undoubtedly chic, these minimal, low-profile trainers have become unexpected cult buys.

Shop Dries Van Noten Trainers:

7. Miu Miu

Style Notes: The crème de la crème of high-end sneakers, Miu Miu gets trainers right every time. Narrow, low-profile and retro in shape, every style becomes a cult favourite, and I’ve been desperately wanting to add them to my own wardrobe for some time. With an IYKYK polish, the coveted New Balance collaboration is consistently seen on the feet of the sleekest dressers around.

Shop Miu Miu Trainers:

8. Isabel Marant

Style Notes: With fashion leaning into a playfully nostalgic mood this season, this list would be incomplete without a truly special addition: Isabel Marant. Known for the Beckett (a part-trainer-part-wedge-heel hybrid), this revived icon has become Gen Z’s latest fixation. Edgy, divisive and undeniably (or deniably, depending on where you land) cool, fashion’s most creative are picking this statement sneaker to add an unexpected twist to their looks.

Shop Isabel Marant Trainers:

9. Salomon

Style Notes: A direct rejection of the slightly beige, clean-girl era of recent years, gorpcore-coded Salomon trainers are as comfy as they are cool. Finding firm fans in It girls from East London to L.A., these functional hiking trainers work with leggings and summer dressers alike.

Shop Salomon Trainers:

10. Asics

Style Notes: 2026’s answer to the chunky trainer? It has to be Asics. Blending comfort, support and statement style, Asics marathon-running styles have stepped firmly into everyday-wear territory. So whether you’re a Pilates princess or an actual runner, the brand has you covered.

Shop Asics Trainers:

11. Veja

Style Notes: Classic, consciously crafted and French, Veja quickly became one of the most popular non-sports-related trainer brands in the UK. With a royal seal of approval (Catherine, Princess of Wales and Meghan Markle are fans), the pared-back styles have become modern classics. With a commitment to sustainable manufacturing, they're a solid choice for the eco-conscious amongst us. Plus, with on-trend colourways and modern shapes in the mix, there are fresh options for 2026.

Shop Veja Trainers:

It feels like every summer, heels come back into footwear fashion. Strappy or thong, block heel or kitten, sandals of varying heights and styles become a new go-to for daily wear. But let's be honest—sometimes, comfort has to be prioritised. After all, a day of running around town is not best paired with a heeled sandal (unless you've fully adapted into Carrie Bradshaw.) Thankfully, trainers continue to be not only sartorially appropriate, but also highly stylish, meaning you can turn to these trusty shoes even on the warmest days.

While we're all for backing the best trends, here at Who What Wear we like to focus the spotlight on styles that are true classics. Trainers are one of those pieces where investing in the most versatile, timeless styles will serve you so well. Just look at some of our favourite influencers, who've proven over the past few years that trainers can go with everything from jeans to skirts all year long. The key, I think, is to focus on finding the right colour.

From my extensive scrolling on social media, I think I've distilled down a list of the five truly classic trainer colours that work particularly well in summer, but will see you through the cold months, too. From the go-to white sneaker that will go with every breezy summer dress to the pop of vibrant green that will brighten up your neutral linen styles, these are the colours to look out for this season.

1. White

Style Notes: A crisp white trainer is truly a summer essential. This easy, super versatile flat will go with everything from shorts to patterned summer dresses, so just focus on finding the silhouette that suits you best.

Shop the Look:

2. Blue

Style Notes: If you're looking to your footwear to inject a little colour into your daily summer wardrobe, consider opting for a blue style. Electric or navy, a blue trainer is surprisingly versatile, and looks especially good when paired with white or neutral clothing.

Shop the Look:

3. Black

Style Notes: Black trainers are tied with white styles as arguably the most refined of the trainer colour options. Paired with tailored linen trousers or dresses, you'll have a look that's understatedly put-together enough to wear out to a nice dinner, but they'll work equally as well paired with shorts and a sweatshirt on a beach walk.

Shop the Look:

4. Green

Style Notes: Green has popped up on my feed so much over the past few months, but it really is a classic. If you don't want to go for a full-on green, opt for a white style with green detailing—that style always manages to have an effortless, subtly retro feel that never goes out of style.

Shop the Look:

5. Grey

Style Notes: While I love Amaka's head-to-toe grey ensemble, the best thing about grey trainers is the fact they go with pretty much everything. Consider what colour clothing you tend to gravitate towards to figure out out if you want to go for softer hues or darker tones.

Shop the Look:

When Emma Watson and Meghan Markle wore a pair of trainers by the conscious French brand Veja, it quickly became one of the most talked-about sneaker brands in the UK. The classic white basket trainers (made from recycled plastic bottles and wild rubber) feature the distinctive V logo in varying colours on each side. Kate Middleton has also given her seal of approval, along with celebrities far and wide, from Reese Witherspoon and Emily Ratajkowski to Katie Holmes.

Kate Middleton wearing Veja trainers.

Emma Watson first wore the trainers back in October 2016, but it wasn't until 2018 when Meghan Markle wore them that the simple lace-ups started gaining such widespread popularity. And with the Duchess of Cambridge having worn them repeatedly since 2023, the popularity of these understated, sustainable trainers has only grown. Much like other classic trainers (think Adidas Sambas and Converse), these have rapidly become a staple for when you need a comfortable yet stylish pair of shoes. Plus, these sneakers are so minimalist in design that they work with every type of ensemble—from midi dresses to straight-leg jeans.

Kate proving they look great with cropped trousers.

The Veja V-10 leather trainers arrived on Net-a-Porter in early 2017 and became the second and third best-selling pieces globally (only beaten out by a Gucci T-shirt) the same week they launched. The real impressive feat, though, is that they remain a popular product till today, so it's no surprise I see them on socials constantly, on the feet of editors and influencers alike.

And if that's not enough to make you want a pair, then you might change your mind after scrolling through our edit of the best Veja trainers. Plus, there's even a guide to how fashion girls are wearing theirs for outfit inspiration.

HOW TO STYLE VEJA TRAINERS:

Meghan Markle wore her Vejas with black skinny jeans, so now, we want to wear our Vejas with black skinny jeans, just as the Parisians do.

Katie Holmes pairs hers with blue straight leg jeans and a grey t-shirt for a perfect summer outfit or if you're in the butter yellow mood take inspo from a more recent summer ready look.

Doesn't Eunice make them look great with white jeans?

French girls approve.

SHOP VEJA TRAINERS

We bang on a lot about trainers here at Who What Wear, but we don't need to justify that. No longer for simply working out, sporty footwear is now just as commonplace during fashion week as it is at the gym. The phenomenon for cult sneaker styles is perhaps at its peak, but when it comes to styles fashion people actually wear on repeat year after year, there are some classic sneakers which a) you don't have to know someone to get hold of, b) won't cost the same as a museum-worthy art piece and c) will never date.

There's a reason, after all, why brands like Converse, and Adidas can now be considered iconic. Their designs have already stood the test of time, mostly because they're neutral enough to be worn with so many different outfits and styled up in so many different ways.

Below, we've pinpointed six styles and brands in particular that are not only super versatile but come in well under £150. These are trainers you'll undoubtedly wear down over many years, and then buy again—because they'll always be classically "cool". So, what's not to love? Keep scrolling and prepare to discover the best trainers you'll ever own—you're welcome.

The 6 Best Trainers for Women, Recommended by Editors:

1. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 70

Style Notes: Time has proven that Converse All Stars are one of the best trainer investments you can make. Minimalists love them, and it's no surprise since they go with basically everything and set off a simple outfit perfectly. The black pair are the shoes I've had for the longest, since they don't scuff as much as white trainers either.

Shop Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 70 Trainers:

2. New Balance

Style Notes: I tried to pick one key New Balance style, but it wouldn't have been an honest reflection. Fashion people love basically all New Balance styles, from the near-impossible to get hold of 530s to the much easier to find 327s, as well as the more pared-back Ct210s. If it has that slanting N, it works.

Shop New Balance Trainers:

3. Adidas

Style Notes: Adidas Gazelles, Campus and Samba trainers are all incredibly similar (although sneakerheads might disagree)— and all equally as classic. The Samba is currently so in demand thanks to recent celebrity endorsements that it's basically impossible to find them in stock. But the similar Gazelles are easier to find, and are having somewhat of a renaissance as well, thanks in part to Harry Styles choosing them for his on-stage shoe of choice.

Shop Adidas Trainers:

4. Veja

Style Notes: These sustainable trainers may not have been around as long as the other heritage sports brands on this list, but that doesn't make them any less classic. Vejas come celeb-approved, but at the heart of it they're just a really versatile, minimalist low-top trainer that goes with everything.

Shop Veja Trainers:

5. Reeboks

Style Notes: With a retro feel, Reebok's trainers always add a cool edge to any outfits. And you can be sure they'll continue too for years to come.

Shop Reebok Trainers:

6. Superga 

Style Notes: Hailed as the perfect trainer to wear with dresses (by many a fashion editor), Superga's iconic 2750 canvas lace ups are an essential for any good capsule shoe collection. They now also come in more resilient leather versions, and the chunkier 2630 style too. India proves above that they also look great with tailoring too— so there's really no excuse not to own them.

Shop Superga Trainers:

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

We've noted before that Emma Watson's fashion choices are inspiring not only because she has great style, but also because there's a message behind her outfits of choice. She's partnered with Zady to create a sustainable line of clothing, and now the actress is once again giving us major outfit envy, but with a special twist. Emma's sneakers are by one of our favourite indie brands, Veja.

The French line offers some seriously cool designs, and it's also committed to ethical production, something we're sure drew Watson to the shoes. Veja uses eco-friendly, socially conscious methods in Brazil to produce footwear that you can feel really good about wearing. And to top it all off, the minimalist sneakers have a great price point, too, so you'll want to pick up a pair now, (before you see them everywhere). 

Check out Emma's stylish and inspiring look below, and then shop a few of our favourite styles from Veja. 

On Emma Watson: Zady sweater; Veja V-10 Sneakers (£87).

Emma kept her fall look casual, styling her oversize sweater with white jeans and sneakers.

Shop Veja Sneakers: