The Air Jordan 1 High "Royal" releases October 10th, 2026 for $185. The style code is IQ5495-005, available through Nike, Foot Locker, Finish Line, Shiekh, Hibbett, and DSG. Full family sizing is confirmed for the release.
This marks the colorway's first return since 2017. Black leather covers the base of the shoe throughout. Royal Blue hits the toe box, heel panel, Swoosh, and outsole for that classic two-tone contrast.
Unlike the 2017 pair, which used tumbled leather, this version switches to a smoother finish. That change brings it closer to the original 1985 build. A white midsole rounds out the rest of the design.
The real standout here is the special packaging. It features a young Michael Jordan wearing the "Royal" AJ1 alongside a matching Jordan Flight suit. That imagery dates back more than 35 years, based on one of his most recognizable early Nike shoots.
Jordan never actually wore this colorway during an NBA game. Even so, it's been one of the more respected original Air Jordan 1 options among collectors.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Royal”
"Royal" has never gotten the same love as "Bred" or "Chicago," but real heads know it belongs in that same conversation. It dates back to 1985, the same year Jordan first laced up with Nike. Quietly, it's held its own for four decades.
Also the same colorway already got a redo back in 2023 through the "Reimagined", done in suede instead of leather. Those pairs are sitting well under retail on the resale market right now, which makes this smooth-leather comeback feel like more of a proper redo.
Jordan Brand's clearly on a kick lately, digging back into the colorways tied to MJ's earliest Nike years. "Royal" slots right into that run. Pairing it with archival packaging like this is the kind of detail that makes a release feel less like a routine retro and more like an actual moment.
AJ1 hype has cooled off a bit these days and that's not the worst thing. It clears room for a true OG colorway like this one to actually get its due instead of getting buried under hype-driven noise.
