The Air Jordan 1 High OG "Royal" Returns October 2026

Jordan Brand is bringing back one of its most foundational colorways with the Air Jordan 1 High OG "Royal" on October 10th, 2026, and this time the release comes with special packaging that ties directly to one of Michael Jordan's most iconic early Nike photoshoots. Introduced as one of the five original Air Jordan 1 colorways in 1985, "Royal" has returned at key moments over the decades, with notable releases in 1994, 2001, 2013, and 2017, each one reinforcing its place alongside "Bred" as one of the defining colorways of the Air Jordan 1 lineage.

This iteration arrives in the standard High OG cut rather than the '85 shape, consistent with reports that the '85 line is currently on pause. Black leather covers the base of the upper, while Varsity Royal appears on the toe box, Swooshes, ankle, and heel. The blue leather carries a bit more texture than the 2017 version, particularly around the collar and back of the shoe, and white midsoles paired with Royal Blue outsoles complete the familiar look.

The packaging adds a layer of context that makes this release stand apart. Back in 1985, Nike brought in photographer Chuck Kuhn for a shoot with Jordan in Oregon, during which Jordan wore the Royal colorway rather than the Bulls-tied "Bred" pair. One image from that session, showing Jordan standing on an open road, later became widely recognized as the "Flight Guy" poster. Jordan Brand pulled directly from that shoot for the 2026 box, using the road photo across the outside and additional session images inside.