Free the Youth’s Air Jordan 16 Releases in August
What to know
ClosetKept AI- Free the Youth x Air Jordan 16 releases August 1, 2026 via FTY, followed by Nike SNKRS on August 15.
- Metallic Silver colorway with shroud removal reveals Picante Red and Total Orange accents.
- Retail price: $250. Style code: IV7638-001.
- First global collaboration between Ghanian creative agency Free the Youth and Jordan Brand.
UPDATE 7/27/26: Another in-hand look at the Free the Youth x Air Jordan 16 is here, along with an updated release timeline. Pairs are now expected to drop initially from FTY on August 1st, this Saturday, followed by a wider release from Nike’s SNKRS app on August 15th. New campaign and in-hand photos are below for a closer look.
ORIGINAL STORY:
After an exciting 2025 that saw Ghanian creative agency Free the Youth team up with Jordan Brand for activations and friends & family sneakers, the label will make their global debut this Summer with a special release of the Air Jordan 16.
Free the Youth is on the rise right now, breaking into the sneaker world in 2025 through a new relationship with Jordan Brand. Founded in Ghana in the mid-2010s, FTY planted its roots in streetwear and fashion, but has since grown to become a wide-ranging creative agency. Their debut with Jordan Brand came in early ’25, when they participated in a London event for the Jumpman’s 40th anniversary. This was followed by their first sneaker, a special edition Air Jordan 1 Mid made exclusively for friends & family of the brand. Now, they are cooking up their first global releases, which includes the criminally underrated Air Jordan 16. Rumored to release this Summer, their take on the shrouded high-top sneaker comes in a metallic silver finish, and with the shroud removed, unveils colorful accents in Picante Red and Total Orange.
FREE THE YOUTH X AIR JORDAN 16 RELEASE INFORMATION
The first publicly available collaboration from Free the Youth and Jordan Brand is currently expected to release on July 17th, 2026. Featuring an unusual, often overlooked Jumpman model, the Air Jordan 16, FTY will color the model in a Metallic Silver palette, adding accents in bright red and orange tones. Pairs will be available from both Nike and select retailers for $250.
Free The Youth x Air Jordan 16
Color: Metallic Silver/Total Orange-Picante Red
Style Code: IV7638-001
Release Date: August 1, 2026 (Free The Youth)
Release Date: August 15, 2026 (SNKRS)
Price: $255
Check out the mockup images below, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more of the latest sneaker news, release dates, and restock alerts.
UPDATE 6/17/26: Our first look at the new Air Jordan 16 collaboration from Free the Youth is here, showing off plenty of details and the shoe’s packaging. The new photos also give us a look under the AJ16’s hood, showing off a printed layer with a skyscape and rainbow feathered wings. The release has not been announced yet, but is still expected on July 17th.
