Nike’s Beloved Air More Uptempo Sneaker Is Making a Come Back for Its 30th Anniversary

A beloved signature basketball sneaker is set to return for its 30th anniversary next year.

According to Kicks Finder, the Nike Air More Uptempo ’96 will be reissued during the fall 2026 season. As noted in the model name, the boldly branded sneaker was first released in 1996 and was made famous on the NBA court by former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen.

The Air More Uptempo ’96 was the first Nike basketball model to feature full-length visible Air cushioning. Nike designer Wilson Smith decided to make this tech advancement the focal point of the sneaker, spelling out “AIR” in huge letters across the lateral and medial sides of the shoe. This aggressive design has become iconic in the three decades since its debut, influencing everything from Cactus Plant Flea Market and Supreme collaborations to Nike’s latest running breakthrough, the Vomero Premium.

Over the last 30 years, the Air More Uptempo ’96 has been reissued and restocked more than many comparable retro sneakers, with Nike often keeping the shoe available season to season. In 2024, Nike reissued the USA-themed colorway worn by Pippen during the ’96 Olympics. And in ’25, the low-top variation introduced on the ’23 Ambush collaboration continued to be released in new in-line looks.

While the Air More Uptempo ’96 is most closely associated with Pippen, the Air Uptempo line was popular with players across the league. Prior to the Air More Uptempo, the Air Uptempo ’95 was worn by Pippen, Kevin Garnett, Jerry Stackhouse and a young Kobe Bryant.

The Air More Uptempo ’96 is set to return to Nike’s Snkrs platform and select Nike Sportswear retailers during fall ’26. The style code for the original black/white colorway is FV2291-001and fans can expect numerous other styles to be released throughout the year. Retail pricing has not been confirmed. The ’23 iteration appears below, although the upcoming reissue is expected to match these original specs.