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State of Sneakers: Spring/Summer 2026 — Industry Report
A scoring report on 15 sneaker brands, 2 retailers, and 7 product categories from a 20-year industry veteran. The numbers tell a different story than the headlines.
The sneaker industry feels healthier than it is. Running is up. Retros are moving. The trade show floors looked full. But the math says something different.
State of Sneakers: Spring/Summer 2026 scores 15 brands, 2 retailers, and 7 product categories on a 1-to-10 scale, weighted by revenue, producing an industry composite of 5.9. One company is the swing factor. One category is carrying the weight of the entire industry. And the Dick's/Foot Locker merger is working faster than almost anyone expected.
This is the first edition of a bi-annual report from Nick Engvall, the founder of The Sneaker Newsletter and a sneaker industry veteran with stops at StockX (employee #9), Complex, Finish Line, and Sole Collector. The next edition drops December 1, 2026.
Paid annual subscribers to The Sneaker Newsletter get this report free, along with every future edition.