Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 4 October 2026
About the release
One of the most iconic non-Bulls Jordan colourways comes back for Holiday 2026 — the Jordan 1 High OG 'Royal' (style code IQ5495-005). First released in 1985 as one of the four original AJ1 colourways alongside Chicago, Bred and the OG White/Black, the Royal has always sat quietly as the alternative to the more obvious Bulls colour executions. This 2026 pair marks the first proper High OG return of the Royal colourway since 2017 — a 9-year gap during which the only interim execution was 2023's suede-based 'Royal Reimagined' pair that drew mixed response from the AJ1 community.
Build-wise, this one keeps it classic. Smooth leather replaces the tumbled leather used on the 2017 pair (bringing the construction closer to the original 1985 execution), with the signature white midsole intact. Varsity Royal lands across the perforated toe box, the ankle collar, around the heel, the Swoosh, the Nike Air tongue label and the rubber outsole. Smooth black leather handles the base panelling. The Wings logo sits on the ankle, Nike Air appears on the tongue, insoles and outsole. Encapsulated Nike Air cushioning and a rubber cupsole keep the OG performance formula intact. The pair also ships in special packaging featuring Chuck Kuhn's 1985 photograph of Michael Jordan in a flight suit on a runway with an airplane in the background — wearing a fresh pair of the Royal AJ1.
Jordan 1 Retro Royal (2017)
The most recent traditional leather Royal AJ1 before this 2026 return
Shop Now →TL;DR – Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal' IQ5495-005 Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: Saturday 10 October 2026
- Model: Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG
- Colourway: Black / Royal / White (Varsity Royal)
- Style code: IQ5495-005
- UK retail price: £180
- US retail price: $185
- Sizing: Men's sizing
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers
- Original release: 1985 (one of the four original AJ1 colourways)
- Previous High OG retro: 2017 (with a 2013 pair before that)
- Key details: Smooth leather upper (not tumbled like the 2017 pair), Varsity Royal on perforated toe box / Swoosh / heel panel / ankle / Nike Air tongue label / rubber outsole, smooth black leather base, white midsole, Wings logo on ankle, Nike Air branding on tongue / insoles / outsole, encapsulated Nike Air cushioning, rubber cupsole
- Special packaging: Features Chuck Kuhn's 1985 photograph of Michael Jordan in a flight suit on a runway with an airplane, wearing the Royal AJ1
Release date and price
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal' releases in the UK on Saturday 10 October 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. UK retail is £180, with US retail at $185. Men's sizing.
Timing on this one is interesting. The 2023 'Royal Reimagined' pair sits well below retail on resale (regularly under $100 against a $180 retail), and the 2017 pair trades close to its original $160 retail. With supply of past Royals still floating around, this 2026 return is a signal that Jordan Brand is leaning on classic colourway equity for Holiday season rather than trying to drum up new hype — and the correction from tumbled leather to smooth leather (closer to the 1985 OG build) will matter to serious collectors even if casual buyers haven't been clamouring for another Royal release. Expect this one to perform well with purists and sit more quietly with the wider market.
Design and details
The Royal has always been the quietest of the four 1985 OG AJ1 colourways. No Chicago Bulls team identity, no 'Banned' narrative like Bred. Just a clean two-tone combo that stood on its own because the colour-blocking works. The 2026 execution leans into that minimalism, moving the shoe closer to the original 1985 build in the ways that matter most.
Smooth leather, not tumbled
The biggest and most meaningful change vs the 2017 retro. The 2017 pair used tumbled leather across the upper, which gave it a textured, more pebbled look. The 2026 pair swaps that out for smooth leather, bringing the surface finish much closer to the original 1985 execution. For collectors who felt the 2017 texture drifted from the OG feel, this is the correction. Combined with the signature white midsole, the pair reads cleaner and more period-accurate.
Varsity Royal colour-blocking
The hits land exactly where you'd expect them. Varsity Royal on the perforated toe box, the Swoosh on the sidewall, the ankle collar, around the heel panel, on the Nike Air tongue label, and on the rubber outsole. Smooth black leather fills the base panels. The Wings logo sits on the ankle, with Nike Air branding on the tongue, insoles and outsole. Nothing reinterpreted, nothing updated — pure OG colour-blocking faithfully executed.
The Chuck Kuhn 1985 photograph packaging
Where the drop earns a bit more collector weight than a standard AJ1 retro. The pair ships in special packaging featuring Chuck Kuhn's iconic 1985 photograph of Michael Jordan — the shot where MJ is dressed in a flight suit standing on a runway with an airplane in the background, wearing a fresh pair of the Royal AJ1 himself. Chuck Kuhn's photography sits amongst the most historically important imagery from Jordan's rookie era, and tying the packaging directly to it elevates this release above a straight colourway restock.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal' images
Credit: Nike / Jordan Brand
Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal Reimagined' (2023)
The 2023 suede-based 'Reimagined' Royal execution
Shop Now →The Royal AJ1's 41-year release history
The Royal is one of the four original 1985 AJ1 colourways alongside Chicago, Bred and White/Black. Without Bulls team identity attached, it's always functioned as the alternative pick — proof that an AJ1 doesn't need Chicago colours to become an icon. The 2026 return marks the fourth meaningful High iteration of the colourway in retro form:
1985 — Original release as part of the AJ1's launch run. 2001 — First retro, released as a mid-top rather than a High (modern collectors would complain today; at the time most were just happy to see the colourway back). 2013 — First proper High OG return. 2017 — Second High OG retro, this time in tumbled leather. 2023 — 'Royal Reimagined' pair that swapped the leather for suede — polarising reception from the AJ1 community, and resale values have reflected that. 2026 — This current return, correcting back to smooth leather and sitting as the first traditional leather High OG Royal since 2017.
The colourway has also appeared on the AJ1 Low (first in 2015, then in a 2025 limited '85' build), extending its reach beyond the High silhouette. Across the full 41-year run, this 2026 pair sits closest to the 1985 original in terms of material finish — meaningful even if the overall timing of the release feels less heat-driven than past Royal returns.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal' releases on Saturday 10 October 2026 for £180 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Men's sizing. Browse the full Jordan 1 High collection and the wider Jordan archive on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 1 'Royal' 2026 release date?
Saturday 10 October 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Men's sizing.
How much does the Royal AJ1 cost?
UK retail is £180. US retail is $185.
What's different about this vs the 2017 Royal AJ1?
The 2017 pair used tumbled leather across the upper, giving it a textured, more pebbled finish. The 2026 pair swaps that for smooth leather — bringing the surface finish much closer to the original 1985 execution. Everything else (colour-blocking, Wings logo, Nike Air tongue branding, white midsole) stays faithful to the original. The 2026 pair also ships in special packaging featuring Chuck Kuhn's iconic 1985 photograph of Michael Jordan in a flight suit, wearing the Royal AJ1.
Is the Royal AJ1 an original 1985 colourway?
Yes. The Black / Royal is one of the four original AJ1 colourways launched in 1985 alongside Chicago, Bred and White/Black. It's always been the quietest of the four — no Bulls team identity, no 'Banned' narrative, just clean two-tone colour-blocking that works on its own merits.
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