2026 could be a year of Royalty.
The beloved original colorway of the ‘Royal’ Air Jordan 1 is once again the subject of rumors. In the past few years, the ‘Royal 1’s return has been murmured by those in the sneaker space and beyond.
In December of 2024, Chase B shared images of what appeared to be an 85′ cut of the ‘Royal’ Air Jordan 1. Though those images took the internet by storm, nothing ever came of them.
Now, over a year since said pictures surfaced, the conversations surrounding a Royal 1 return have once again picked up momentum. Known sneaker-leaker zsneakerheadz has today revealed that the Air Jordan 1 ‘Royal’ is currently expected to release in the holiday season of 2026.
The return would make sense. Jordan Brand celebrated its 40th anniversary in style in 2025; one can only expect the celebrations to continue now. The Air Jordan x Union x Fragment collaboration is still scheduled to launch in February– said collection will also feature a Royal 1 with a subtle twist.
The Royal Air Jordan 1 is a beloved sneaker. It helped establish Jordan Brand off the court, and has sustained a legacy through it’s presence in pop culture and great retro releases. This rumored 2026 rendition will follow the trend, as it is rumored to release with the ever-beloved 85′ cut.
The return of the Royal 1 is currently rumored for Holiday 2026. It will mark the fifth time the sneaker receives the retro treatment.
Images of the 1985 pair courtesy of Jordans Daily
