Six Key Men's Swimwear Trends For Summer 2026

Men's swimwear for Spring/Summer 2026 is defined by six key trends. The trends include military-inspired shorts, nautical stripes, co-ordinated sets, solid block colours, botanical prints, and retro sportswear styles.

Military Precision

The military look has marched from the streets to the shore. This trend adds a rugged edge to swimwear, ideal for those who feel exposed in minimal fabric. Sarah Gilfillan, a personal stylist and founder of Sartoria Lab, advises that busy patterns can add visual width for slimmer legs. She cautions against overly wide leg hems, recommending a slimmer cut instead. The ideal length is mid-thigh. For a subtler approach, solid khaki shorts work well and can be worn slightly longer, but never below the knee.

Nautical Upgrades

Nautical-inspired swimwear remains a classic for channeling Parisian cool. This season, the traditional Breton stripe is being reimagined with tilted, stacked, layered, or recoloured lines. Holly Blake, a stylist at the River Island style studio, identifies white striped shorts with bold vertical stripes as a major trend. She notes they pair easily with basic tees and sandals for a day-to-night look. Stripes also offer a flattering optical effect: horizontal stripes can add width for slimmer frames, while vertical stripes can elongate the body.

The Co-ordinated Set

A matching swim short and short-sleeve shirt set, known as a co-ord, is a key resortwear trend. Luke Todd, FashionBeans deputy editor, calls it a "foolproof" look for easy mornings. He stresses the importance of choosing colours that suit the wearer's skin tone since the outfit is worn all over. Back home, the pieces can be separated and styled with a white t-shirt or chinos to extend their wear.

Bold Block Colours

Solid colour swimwear ensures timeless photos and simplifies finding a flattering shade. Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore warns against black, which she says doesn't work in sunshine and can look unforgiving on exposed skin. For pale skin, she recommends deep green, burgundy, or navy. For darker skin tones, vivid shades like cobalt blue, lime green, sunshine yellow, or red are suggested to help the wearer stand out.

Botanical Blooms

Floral prints have become a mainstream menswear essential, particularly for holiday wear. Gilfillan advises scaling the floral print size to the wearer's frame: smaller prints for smaller frames, larger prints for larger frames. She calls florals an easy entry point for men usually hesitant about prints. For optimal contrast, those with pale skin should choose prints on a dark background, while those with darker complexions should opt for light backgrounds.

**Retro Sportswear Revival**

Nostalgic sportswear influences are making a splash in swimwear. Designers are updating old-school styles to avoid a dated look. Longmore suggests completing the aesthetic with retro sunglasses, citing James Bond as inspiration. These shorts often feature an A-line silhouette with wider leg holes. This cut is proportionally flattering, especially for those with broader shoulders, but a lined construction is essential for modesty.

Stylists consistently emphasize choosing styles and colours that complement the wearer's body type and skin tone for the upcoming season.