2026 Shoe Release Calendar: Running Shoes, Work Boots & Upcoming Footwear

A shoe release calendar tracks upcoming footwear launches — when new models come out, what changed from the previous version, and whether the new version is worth buying or waiting for. Sundial's release calendar goes beyond a simple list of dates: every entry includes a buy recommendation, a confidence level for the release date, and a summary of what actually changed from the previous model.

Accuracy depends on the confidence tier shown on each entry. Confirmed dates come from official brand announcements or Sundial purchase orders and are highly reliable. Two-bar entries come from major retailer calendars or trade show announcements and are usually accurate within a few weeks. One-bar entries are estimates based on a brand's historical release cadence — they indicate roughly when to expect a shoe, but the actual date could move by a month or two.

We note the confidence tier on every entry so you can judge how much weight to give it.

Release confidence describes how reliable a date is and where it came from.

• Confirmed — From a brand announcement or a Sundial purchase order. Highest reliability.
• Retailer Confirmed — Appears in a major retailer's published launch calendar.
• Trade Show — Announced at The Running Event (TRE) or a similar industry event.
• Brand Communication — From a brand rep, not a formal public announcement.
• Estimated — Calculated from the brand's historical refresh cadence. Treat as a rough guide, not a confirmed date.

It depends on how soon the new version arrives and how meaningful the upgrade is. Every entry on this calendar includes a buy recommendation:

• Buy Now — The current model is excellent; the next version is too far away or not a significant enough upgrade to justify waiting.
• Wait — The new version is releasing soon and the upgrade is meaningful.
• Buy Previous Model — The predecessor is on sale and the upgrade in the new version is minor.
• Either — Both options are solid; there is no wrong choice.

Work boots and nursing shoes update on longer cycles than running shoes — typically every 18 to 36 months rather than annually. They are also almost entirely ignored by mainstream shoe media, which focuses on running and lifestyle footwear.

Sundial tracks work boot and nursing shoe releases because a meaningful portion of our customers are nurses, tradespeople, and warehouse workers who have almost no good sources for this information. We cover KEEN Utility, Timberland PRO, Thorogood, Wolverine, Dansko, HOKA's work line, and others.

We review all upcoming entries weekly and update within 24 hours of any confirmed date change. Major trade show season — The Running Event in December and various brand preview events in spring — tends to produce the most updates. Delay history is noted on each entry, so you can see when a date has moved and by how much.

The "what changed" section breaks down every meaningful difference between the new version and its predecessor — midsole foam, upper construction, outsole rubber, fit, weight, and drop. For work boots and safety footwear, it includes any changes to ASTM certification or safety ratings. The goal is to help you decide whether the change justifies buying the new version or whether the discounted predecessor is the better call.

Most entries are shoes Sundial carries or plans to carry. Some entries — particularly upcoming shoes with estimated dates — are placeholder entries that exist to answer the "should I wait?" question before the shoe is available to purchase. Every entry that Sundial currently stocks includes a direct link to the product page. Entries without a product link are either not yet released or not yet listed in our store.