Retro release dates are announced, leaked, moved and cancelled all the time. Rather than keep a calendar that goes stale within weeks, this page explains where release dates are actually confirmed, what the jargon on release calendars means, and how to give yourself the best chance on launch day. For the retros already in our database, see the Air Jordan, Kobe and heritage collections.
Where a release date is really confirmed
A release is only confirmed when the brand itself lists it. For Nike and Jordan Brand that means the upcoming section of Nike's SNKRS app and launch pages; adidas uses its Confirmed app and launch calendar; other brands post launches on their own sites and social channels. Large retailers also publish launch calendars once they have stock allocated.
Everything before that stage is a leak or a rumour. Sneaker news sites and leak accounts often report colorways months early, sometimes with a target season. They are useful for knowing what might be coming, but dates reported this way regularly slip, and some pairs never release at all. Treat a rumoured date as "possibly around then" and wait for the brand listing before planning your budget around it.
Release calendar terms
- OG colorway — the colours the shoe originally launched in. Retros of OG colorways are usually the most in-demand.
- Retro — a reissue of an older design. Materials, shape and cushioning can differ from the original pair, sometimes noticeably.
- Protro — Nike's "performance retro": an older design reissued with updated cushioning and materials so it plays like a modern shoe. Most associated with Kobe Bryant's line.
- GR (general release) — produced in larger numbers and sold widely. Easier to buy at retail, although popular GRs still sell out.
- Limited / QS (quick strike) — smaller production runs, often sold through draws or a short list of retailers.
- Draw or raffle — instead of first-come-first-served, buyers enter during a window and winners are picked at random to buy a pair.
- Restock — a later release of more pairs of a shoe that already sold out. Rarely announced far ahead.
- Shock drop — a release with little or no advance notice.
How to prepare for a launch
- Set up accounts early. Create the brand and retailer accounts you plan to use, and save your size, shipping address and payment details ahead of time.
- Know your size in that model. Retros can fit differently from the brand's current shoes. Check the listing's size chart and our sizing helper before launch day.
- Enter more than one draw. If a release runs through draws, entering through several authorised retailers raises your odds without costing anything.
- Note the launch time. Launch times are set by each brand and retailer and listed on the release page; check the time zone.
If you miss the release
Popular retros often sell above retail on the resale market straight after launch. Prices can soften once the initial demand passes, especially for general releases, while limited pairs may hold or rise. Before paying a premium, compare recent sold prices, read the seller's feedback, and use our authentication checklist. Our resale value bands give indicative ranges for the collectables we track.