1、Major brands continue pushing performance tech in road and trail shoes.

2、New midsole foams (beyond traditional EVA and PEBA) are becoming standard.

3、Sustainability and advanced manufacturing (such as mono-material 3D printing) are entering the conversation.

4、Innovation is happening not just in foam and plates, but in how shoes are made and how they interact with the runner.

Would you like a ranked list of the best 2026 running shoes by category (e.g., racing, trail, daily trainer)?