Michael Jordan’s 2026 Air Jordan 11 Space Jam: First Photos

Jordan Brand has released an Air Jordan 11 each holiday season since 2009, and this year’s turn on the tradition will bring back the most beloved of all the sneaker’s colorways.

The Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” has now been revealed in photos for the first time ahead of its December release. As shown by the Instagram user @fkzdrop, this year’s retro appears to feature similar construction to the 2016 pair more true to the model’s original specs. Key differences arrive in the application of the no. 23 on the heel rather than the no. 45 used a decade ago and “Varsity Royal” Jumpman logos in place of “Concord” purple. A translucent blue outsole will also be used for the second time in a row to better prevent yellowing.

Jordan Brand has only released the Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” three times prior, not including a low-top version of the shoe in 2024. The version Michael Jordan wore in the film featured the no. 45 on the heel, which he played in upon coming back from his initial retirement, as well as “Concord” branding. But when Jordan Brand finally answered fans’ call to release the shoe in 2000, it swapped in the no. 23 and “Varsity Royal hits.”

Those same two details would return for the 2009 release, which kicked off the holiday Air Jordan 11 tradition. Jordan Brand then opted to go for movie accuracy by releasing the shoe with the no. 45 and “Concord” logos for the first time in 2016, and collectors still debate over which version of the sneaker is better.

Following that 2016 drop, then-Nike brand president Trevor Edwards said in the earning call for the third quarter of 2017 that it was the “largest and most successful shoe launch in the history of Nike.”

The Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” will release Dec. 12 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $255, which is up $20 from last December’s Air Jordan 11 “Gamma” release.