I Could Easily Earn a PhD in Forecasting Nail Trends—8 Manicures I'm Anticipating to Take Off in 2026

      A quick humble brag: I have a unique talent for predicting nail trends. It genuinely excites me to explore the season's most stylish manicures and anticipate what will be popular next (thankfully, it’s part of my job!), and I’ve hit the mark on several occasions. For instance, jelly bean nails for summer, rum raisin nails for fall, and nail crowns whenever you want to radiate a touch of elegance. If you're looking for a design that's chic, trendy, and not basic, trust me—you've found the right place. As you might expect, I've been contemplating 2026 nail trends well before the new year arrived. After saving countless Instagram photos, screenshotting lesser-known Pinterest gems, and consulting reliable experts about their current favorites, I’m now ready to share my predictions. Scroll down for the eight trends we will likely see emerge in the coming months. Don’t say I didn’t give you a heads-up!

      **Milk Bath Nails**

      "I believe we will see a lot of milk bath nails (replacing the popular soap nails)," says nail artist Fariha Ali. "In my opinion, milky white will be the new soft pink." You heard it here first! Both shades are certainly classic, but Ali anticipates that oat or almond milk tones will gain more popularity—largely due to Pantone's Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer. "People are yearning for the soft life now more than ever, and with that, we’ll likely see many soft whites," she adds. Additionally, sheer gel polishes are becoming increasingly refined with streak-free finishes that offer the ideal amount of opacity. "This will ensure that the 2026 sheer-white manicure looks far superior to those from 2019 and complements virtually any outfit or style," notes Ali.

      **Y2K Mauve**

      This doesn’t mean pink is "out." Rather, "I think Y2K mauve pinks are making a comeback," Ali points out. I tend to agree since we witnessed rum raisin shades (cool-toned berry mauves) dominate this fall. It’s definitely a cozy choice for the chillier months, but it’s quite versatile for year-round manicures. Just ask nail artist Coca Michelle, who utilized a rum raisin shade for one of the nail designs at Grace Ling’s spring/summer 2026 show. "It can convey grunge yet still appear chic and mysterious," she previously shared with WWW about this trend.

      **Built-In Pearl**

      I know, I know—a pearlescent, glazed-donut manicure may not seem particularly innovative. However, according to Ali, you no longer require chrome powder to achieve the viral, Hailey Bieber-approved look. "I see more of it integrated into the polish instead of a chrome layer or glitter topper," she explains. It seems that virality fosters innovation, and the new iridescent polishes demonstrate that this design trend shows no signs of slowing down.

      **Waterdrop Manis**

      Speaking of product innovations, Ali notes that cat-eye technology (polish with magnetic pigments) has also evolved significantly. "The latest versions feature smaller pigment sizes, which, when activated, resemble a drop of light trapped beneath your nails," she describes. Enter the waterdrop manicures. According to celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec, who recently attended the 2025 Tokyo Nail Expo (one of the world’s largest nail festivals), these magnetic nails, devoid of visible glitter particles, are set to gain popularity.

      **Back to Nature**

      Regarding nail art, both Kandalec and Ali expect natural elements to become prominent, especially materials like marble, opal, and geodes. By subtly layering various tones or glitters, you can craft designs that are "less flashy but total conversation starters," notes Ali. She has also observed a rise in tone-on-tone color combinations (imagine white-on-white marble designs), evoking a sense of quiet luxury, along with a "back to nature" color palette featuring soft neutrals and muted pinks.

      **3D Gummy Nails**

      Textured nail art was one of the standout trends Kandalec noticed at the Tokyo Nail Expo, particularly a gummy-like 3D finish. "3D gummy nails have been trying to rise in popularity for the past few years, but I believe this will really take off," she shares, mentioning that sheer, jelly neon shades will be extremely trendy as we transition into spring and summer. If 2025 was characterized by molten manicures (think 3D chrome layers), then 2026 will embrace a fun, candy-like vibe. I’m personally excited to try this out.

      **Rich Brown**

      A deep chocolate brown is arguably the most sophisticated winter shade, both in fashion and beauty. Picture suede coats, cashmere sweaters, luxurious hair colors, and, of course, rich, moody manicures. While it's undoubtedly stylish for the colder months