Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Royal' release date IQ5495-005

One of the challenges of Nike, Inc.'s perpetually booming retro business is the risk of overdoing certain styles with excessive reissues. And while it's set to come back for the first time in nearly a decade, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Royal" could potentially fall into this category if the sneaker's recent history is any indication.

Official e-commerce images from JD Sports show the upcoming 2026 Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Royal in detail. The pair retains the two-tone, black-and-royal blue color blocking that's made it such a hit over the years, as well as its signature leather construction. Once rumored to receive Jordan Brand's meticulously engineered 1985-inspired Air Jordan 1 '85 build, it's now confirmed that the Royal style will spot the sneaker's more standard Retro OG shape and construction.

What makes the arrival of this reissue particularly head-scratching is that the same colorway was rereleased just three years ago in 2023 - albeit in a suede-based Reimagined form - and ended up being heavily discounted at Nike outlets. Even now, the '23 Reimagined iteration, which retailed for $180, can be purchased from resale sites for less than $100. 

Given the Reimagined version's polarizing material change from leather to suede, it's understandable that it didn't catch on with consumers quite like the original did. But look even further back to 2017, when the Royal Air Jordan 1 received its most recent traditional leather reissue. Recent sales on platforms such as StockX show the '17 version frequently sells for under $200, which isn't far off from its $160 retail price. 

With an abundance of supply on the secondary market and lower-than-usual resale values, it's hard to pinpoint exactly why Jordan Brand determined now was the right time for a reissue, but serious fans of the sneaker will likely welcome it with open arms regardless.

The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Royal will be released on Oct. 10 for $185 from Nike's Snkrs app and select Jordan Brand retailers. The Black/Royal-White colorway has a style code of IQ5495-005.