The Air Jordan 1 has cooled off significantly since its Pandemic-era peak of a few years ago. But can a return to one of its most popular OG colorways help the Jordan 1 once again take flight?
Jordan Brand is sure hoping so, as it prepares to bring back the legendary Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal on Saturday for a retail price of $185.
Here’s everything you need to know about the return of the Royal 1s.
When does the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal drop?
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal drops on October 10 for a retail price of $185.
Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal Release Details
| Model | Air Jordan 1 High OG |
| Release Date | October 10, 2026 |
| Release Time | 10 a.m. ET |
| Retail Price | $185 |
| Colorway | Royal |
| Where to Buy | SNKRS, Foot Locker, StockX, Finish Line |
The history of the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal
The Royals are an OG colorway of the Air Jordan 1 released in 1985. Designed by the legendary Peter Moore, it’s fair to say the Air Jordan 1 redefined athletic footwear and birthed sneaker culture as we know it.
Even if Jordan himself was initially ambivalent about the design — he famously told David Letterman on Late Night that he thought they were ugly — MJ said in his book “Driven From Within” that the shoe grew on him the more he wore it. He quotes Moore as saying that even if people were telling MJ that the sneakers were ugly at least that showed that people were looking at them, they were paying attention. Little did Jordan or Moore know what a phenomenon the Air Jordan would become.
However, before it became a pop culture phenomenon, the Air Jordan 1 had to perform on the court. Jordan reportedly loved the Adidas Forum prior to signing with Nike and according to Jason Cole’s excellent book, “Peter Moore Sneaker Legend,” MJ wanted his signature sneaker to be similarly low to the ground. As a result, Moore designed the Air Jordan 1 with its now-famous cup sole and as thin an Air unit as possible. The shoe also features a leather upper with multiple panels — in this case black and royal blue — and an outsole which WearTesters YouTube legend Chris Chase calls the greatest traction of all time.
Personally, this is one of my favorite colorways of the Air Jordan 1. I remember buying the 2001 retro on sale for $40 when I worked at Foot Locker back in the day. Sure I had to go down a size, but I made it work. The Royals have been retroed many times and in many forms and Air Jordan 1 expert mr_unloved1s — who has a new book out on the history of the Air Jordan 1 — posted a handy graphic showcasing the Air Jordan 1 Royal through the years.
The last time the Royals came out in its original form — obviously excluding the Royal Reimagined 1s a few years back — was in 2017. That 2017 retro currently has an average sales price of $214 over the last three months on StockX, while the 2026 retro is also available on the resale platform with an average sales price of $191. In between these two releases, Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 1 Royal Reimagined in 2023, which was a pretty universally accepted flop. That model — which replaced leather panels with suede — currently has an average sales price of $116.
Given the Royal Reimagined 1s’ underperformance just three years ago and the general downturn in interest in the Air Jordan 1 as a silhouette, it’s fair to wonder if this 2026 retro will sell out or sit on shelves. Nothing is a guaranteed sellout these days, it seems, but this is a historically popular colorway that has not released in its proper leather form in nearly a decade. In fact, Jordan Brand will nod to the colorway’s history by using the famed “runway” photo of Jordan himself wearing the Royal 1s on the packaging, as well as using catalog images of the 1985 1s as tissue paper on the inside.
So will this shoe sell out? It’s hard to say with any certainty that any Jordan 1 sells out in 2026. We’ve seen UNC 1s, Shattered Backboards and more sit on store shelves. But, if this is one of your personal favorites and don’t want to risk FOMO, I probably wouldn’t take a chance.
Best of luck to all looking to pick up a pair!
Where to buy the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal will be available in store and online at various outlets. These include:
Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal Release FAQ
When does the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal release?
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal drops on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET.
How much will the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal cost?
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal will sell for a retail price of $185.
What is the significance of the Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal?
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Royal is one of the original colorways of the Air Jordan 1 released in 1985.
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