Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 26 June 2026
About the release
One of the most loved Air Jordan 3 colourways of all time is finally coming back. The 'True Blue' — a 1988 OG worn by Michael Jordan himself during his early Bulls years — returns for the first time in a decade. Last available in 2016, this 2026 retro is a faithful re-creation of the original colour blocking, with white leather, signature True Blue accents and the elephant print overlays that Tinker Hatfield made an AJ3 design hallmark. Style code IF4396-104.
The True Blue stands apart from most early Jordans for being one of the first MJ signatures that didn't lean on Chicago Bulls colours. Instead, it ran a clean white upper with that distinctive blue — landing somewhere between marine and navy — alongside red Fire Red detailing and cement grey elephant print. The 2026 retro keeps the original 1988 shape and proportion, including the Nike Air heel branding reintroduced on the 2016 retro. Browse the wider Air Jordan archive on Side Kicks for more.
UK release is Friday 3 July 2026 for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Full family sizing available.
TL;DR – Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: Friday 3 July 2026
- Model: Air Jordan 3 Retro
- Colourway: White / Varsity Red / True Blue / Cement Grey / Anthracite
- Style code (adult): IF4396-104
- UK retail price (adult): £190
- US retail price: $230 (adult), $155 (GS), $95 (PS), $80 (TD)
- Sizing: Full family — Men's, GS, PS and TD
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers
- Key details: White leather upper, cement grey elephant print on toe and heel, True Blue middle eyelet panel, sockliner, midsole stabilisation and Nike Air heel branding, Fire Red Jumpman tongue branding, lower eyelets and rear tongue, original 1988 shape and elephant print proportions, faithful re-creation of the OG
- Last release: 2016
Release date and price
The Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' releases in the UK on Friday 3 July 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. UK retail price is £190 for adult sizes, with US retail at $230. GS, PS and TD sizes come in below that — $155 / $95 / $80 respectively at US retail, with UK pricing in proportion.
Expect demand to be high. The True Blue is one of the most loved Jordan 3 colourways of all time, hasn't had a wide retail run since 2016, and the 2026 pair lands at a moment when Jordan Brand has slowed retro releases overall. Full family sizing means GS, PS and TD are also part of the rollout.
Design and details
For collectors, the True Blue's appeal comes down to two things — that it was an actual Michael Jordan player exclusive in 1988, and that it broke the early Jordan template of leaning into Chicago Bulls colours. The 2026 retro keeps both of those story points intact and re-creates the colourway faithfully, including some specific details that earlier retros got wrong.
White leather upper
The upper is built on white leather with cement grey elephant print overlays at the toe and heel — the same two-zone elephant print placement as the original 1988 release. Earlier retros caught backlash for elephant print that read too heavy or bulky compared to the OG, but the 2026 pair uses a finer, more proportional print that reads closer to the original. Properly executed.
True Blue placement
The True Blue accent colour sits across four spots — the middle eyelet panel, the sockliner, the midsole stabilisation hit and the Nike Air heel branding. The blue itself lands at a crisp marine-leaning tone rather than the lighter shade some earlier retros used, sitting right in the middle of the OG azul scale. It's the most important detail in the whole release and Jordan Brand has clearly paid attention to it.
Red accents
Smaller hits of Fire Red appear on the Jumpman tongue branding, behind the tongue, and on the lower eyelets. The red pulls in just enough to keep the colourway from reading as a flat white-and-blue execution, while still letting the True Blue lead.
Nike Air heel branding
The Nike Air heel branding returns. Jordan Brand brought it back on the True Blue for the first time since the 1988 OG with the 2016 retro, and that detail is kept intact here. For Jordan collectors, the Nike Air branding (versus the more modern Jumpman heel hit) is one of the most important authenticity markers on any AJ3 retro.
Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' images
Credit: Jordan Brand
The True Blue story
The Air Jordan 3 was the silhouette that changed Michael Jordan's signature line. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the AJ3 introduced visible Air cushioning, the elephant print panel work and the Jumpman logo — three details that became defining hallmarks of the entire Air Jordan franchise. The True Blue dropped as one of the original 1988 colourways and quickly became one of the most recognisable in the silhouette's run.
It's also one of the few early Jordan colourways that didn't lean directly on Chicago Bulls reds and blacks. The cleaner white and crisp blue palette gave it a different cultural life — collectors gravitated toward it for that reason, and it became a staple far beyond Bulls fan culture. Reissues have come in 2001, 2009 (an international exclusive that never reached the US), 2011 and 2016. The 2016 release was the first to bring back the original Nike Air heel branding.
The 2026 retro lands a decade on from the last wide release. For longtime collectors, it's another shot at one of the catalog's most loved colourways. For a younger audience, it's a proper introduction to one of the most iconic non-Bulls AJ3s ever made.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' releases on Friday 3 July 2026 for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Full family sizing — Men's, GS, PS and TD all available. Browse the full Air Jordan 3 collection and the wider Air Jordan archive on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' UK release date?
The Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' releases on Friday 3 July 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers.
How much does the Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue' cost in the UK?
UK retail price is £190 for adult sizes. US retail is $230 (adult), $155 (GS), $95 (PS) and $80 (TD), with UK pricing for kids sizes scaled accordingly.
What is the style code for the Air Jordan 3 Retro 'True Blue'?
The adult men's style code is IF4396-104. The colourway is White / Varsity Red / True Blue / Cement Grey / Anthracite.
When was the Air Jordan 3 'True Blue' last released?
The last wide release was 2016, which brought back the original Nike Air heel branding for the first time since the 1988 OG. Before that, it had been retroed in 2001, 2011, and via a 2009 international-exclusive. The 2026 release is the first wide drop in close to a decade.
Does the 2026 Air Jordan 3 'True Blue' have Nike Air heel branding?
Yes. The Nike Air heel branding is included on the 2026 retro, in line with the original 1988 release and the 2016 retro. For Jordan collectors, this is one of the most important authenticity markers on any AJ3 retro.
Is the Air Jordan 3 'True Blue' available in kids sizes?
Yes. The 2026 release comes in full family sizing — Men's, GS (Grade School), PS (Preschool) and TD (Toddler). Each size run has its own pricing tier.
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