Leggings feel somewhat anonymous in autumn and winter. Hiding under roomy jumpers and voluminous puffers, they aren’t given the opportunity to reach their full styling potential until spring and summer as a transitional trouser. Though when these warmer months arrive, it’s not usually the first thing most of us are considering. If you’ve let leggings become an afterthought, these summer leggings trends give credit to just how well they adapt to warm-weather wardrobe requirements—so much so that they deserve their own trend analysis for 2026.

Summer leggings are different from the long black pairs and stirrup leggings of seasons past. In 2026, they’re proving to be shorter, low-waisted and brighter in colour, making them all the easier to work into your current outfits. While it’s true they grace our looks with a more laid-back filter, they’re not impossible to dress up. There is no shortage of athletic-inspired outfits, but it’s just as easy to add a pair of heeled sandals or a nice top to turn leggings into an elevated basic. That’s especially true when you’re searching for shoes to wear with capris or parsing through the best sandals to wear with leggings this summer.