Innovation has always been at the core of Nike’s design pursuits. Their exploration of new technologies famously began with a waffle iron in the ’60s, and has evolved in many ways in the decades since. This year, the Air Liquid Max marks their next step.
Nike Air technology has been a core part of the brand’s identity since 1978, with the release of the Air Tailwind. Dreamt up by Frank Rudy, an aeronautical engineer, Air sole units come with a sealed bag to provide cushioning, which has been adapted and reimagined over the years to adjust comfort, fit, and resistance in these soles. Nike has introduced many upgrades and changes to Air over the years, and this week they’ve begun teasing the next evolution of their landmark technology, dubbed Air Liquid Max.
The new sneaker soles were teased yesterday, through rapper Yeat and longtime Nike partner Hiroshi Fujiwara, the founder and creative behind Fragment Design. Very little is known about what changes have been made to the standard Air bag for this new version, but aesthetically this might be their wildest change yet. The new Liquid soles are somewhat of a mashup between Vapormax, the first all-Air sole introduced in 2017, and the gigantic, bulbous air bags of the Air Max Scorpion. Without a clear look at the soles it is difficult to speculate, but a photo showing the bottom of the shoe (seen below) appears to show off many individual pods linked together to form a complex system of cushioning. Two colorways of the new model are seen here, the Fragment edition in triple black, and a vibrant “Green Apple” pair in the Yeat music video.
NIKE AIR LIQUID MAX RELEASE INFORMATION
Nike has not made any official announcements regarding their new Air Liquid Max silhouette, but we are expecting a debut around their Air Max Day celebration, on March 26th, 2026. The new model has been seen in two versions so far, a triple black Fragment Design edition, as well as a “Green Apple” colorway. Little is known about the new Air Liquid technology in the soles, but similar to past innovations, they will come with a hefty price tag of $230.
Nike Air Liquid Max
Color: Black/Chrome-Green Apple-Volt-Radiant Green-Clear
Style Code: IQ7634-001
Release Date: 2026
Price: $230
Fragment Design x Nike Air Liquid Max
Color: Black/Anthracite
Style Code: IQ8601-001
Release Date: 2026
Price: $230
Check out the early images below, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more of the latest sneaker news, release dates, and restock alerts.Â
