Nike and the Museum of Modern Art are heading back into sneaker territory, and this time, they are putting a distinctly colorful spin on one of the Swoosh’s more unconventional silhouettes. The upcoming MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 brings together the museum’s design-focused identity and Nike’s experimental footwear history across two women’s styles scheduled for Fall 2026.
Rather than reaching for a familiar Air Force 1 or Air Jordan, the collaboration turns its attention to the Air Rift 2, a split-toe runner with an unusual shape and plenty of personality. Official product images have now surfaced on Nike’s website, offering the clearest look yet at what appears to be a two-pair pack built around bold color, subtle co-branding and the silhouette’s original design language.
A New Chapter in the Nike and MoMA Partnership
The MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 continues a relationship that has become increasingly interesting for sneaker and design enthusiasts. Nike and MoMA formally announced an official partnership in 2024, with the arrangement centered around exclusive product launches. That relationship has already produced colorful accessories and special footwear releases, with the Air Rift 2 marking a more significant step for the partnership.
The collaboration also follows an earlier connection between the two names that sneaker fans will remember. In 2018, Virgil Abloh’s Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low “MoMA” became one of the most coveted museum-linked Nike releases, with pairs distributed through MoMA. The upcoming Air Rift 2 takes the partnership in a different direction, however, moving away from the straightforward cultural recognition of the Air Force 1 and toward a silhouette that feels inherently experimental.
The Air Rift 2 Gets a Colorful Makeover
First introduced in 2002, the Air Rift 2 was developed as a follow-up to Nike’s original Air Rift from 1996. The design retained the defining split-toe construction that gave the original model its distinctive appearance while presenting it as a new iteration of Nike’s unconventional running-inspired footwear.
After being shelved for more than a decade, the Air Rift 2 returned this spring, putting the long-overlooked silhouette back into the conversation. Its unusual proportions make it an especially fitting choice for MoMA, whose relationship with Nike has increasingly explored the intersection of everyday objects, design and culture.
For Fall 2026, the MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 arrives in two very different colorways. The first, listed as “Hyper Verde/Cyber-Light Fuchsia,” places vivid green at the center of the design, with pink and yellow accents creating a bright, almost graphic finish.
The second version takes a darker approach. A primarily black upper provides the foundation, while neon yellow, light blue and small pink details add contrast. The result is less saturated than its green counterpart but still carries the energetic character shared across the collection.
MoMA Branding Stays in the Details
Instead of dramatically altering the Air Rift 2’s construction, the collaboration appears to use color and branding as its main design tools. MoMA branding is incorporated into the lace panels and insoles, giving the shoes an unmistakable connection to the museum without covering the silhouette in logos.
Stitched Swoosh detailing appears across the upper, while the insoles feature a repeating MoMA pattern. Translucent outsoles also add another collaborative touch, with MoMA branding divided across the two shoes.
That relatively restrained approach makes sense. The Air Rift 2 already has enough visual character to stand on its own, so completely redesigning the silhouette could easily distract from what makes it interesting in the first place. Instead, MoMA and Nike treat the shoe as a canvas, allowing the colors and smaller details to create the distinction.
A Wearable Design Object
There is something particularly appropriate about MoMA working with the Air Rift 2. The silhouette has always occupied an unusual place in Nike’s footwear catalog, thanks largely to its split-toe construction and unconventional proportions. It is not the kind of sneaker designed to disappear into an outfit.
The MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 leans further into that quality. The bright palettes make both versions feel more like deliberate design pieces than conventional retro sneakers. One is loud and saturated, while the other uses a black foundation to make its fluorescent accents stand out.
That contrast also gives the two-pair collection a sense of balance. Rather than producing two nearly identical colorways, Nike and MoMA have created options that approach the same silhouette from opposite directions.
Release Details and What to Expect
The MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 carries the SKUs IR8669-001 and IR8669-300, with a retail price of $130. Both pairs are expected to release in Fall 2026, with September currently being reported as the anticipated launch window. The collection is also expected to be offered exclusively in women’s sizing.
The collaboration is not expected to end with the Air Rift 2. A MoMA x Air Jordan 1 has reportedly been lined up for Spring 2027, although official imagery has not surfaced at the time of writing.
For now, the MoMA x Nike Air Rift 2 provides an intriguing continuation of a partnership that is becoming increasingly comfortable operating outside the boundaries of traditional sneaker collaborations. With its unusual silhouette, vivid colors and museum-inspired detailing, it could be one of Nike’s more distinctive Fall 2026 releases.
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Featured image: Nike
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