The start of this year saw us all feeling nostalgic for the past, with 2016 trending hard on social media. Whether you chose to participate in the trend or not, your digital footprint most likely serves as a reminder of exactly where you were (and what you were wearing) a decade ago. Personally, I shudder at the thought. I was a teenager, fresh into my first summer of university, Topshop still reigned supreme on the high street, TikTok had only just been born, and I was proudly stomping around in boho sandals.
My go-to summer outfit? A white broderie anglaise babydoll dress, a frankly horrifying side part reminiscent of Justin Bieber circa Baby, and a pair of knee-high gladiator sandals from Topshop that, at the time, felt like the pinnacle of effortless summer style. Thankfully, I deactivated Facebook years ago, meaning the album titled ‘summer 16’ remains a relic of my boho sandal era – one that exists firmly out of sight, if not entirely out of mind.
And yet, in a turn of events, the boho sandal trend is back for spring/summer 2026. Think supple leather finishes, refined strappy silhouettes, neutral colour palettes and styling that pairs as seamlessly with tailored linen trousers as it does with floaty dresses and relaxed shorts.
Why are boho sandals trending for summer 2026?
We’ve had several seasons dominated by chunky sandals, platform loafers and trainer-heavy wardrobes, there’s a clear appetite for something lighter, flatter and more refined to freshen up our spring and summer wardrobes.
Design-wise, the new wave of boho-inspired footwear leans into practicality. In a season where sheer dresses, linen tailoring and relaxed silhouettes are everywhere, a simple flat sandal just makes sense. It works for the office, weekends, holidays, summer evenings, and more – no outfit overthinking required. Which, arguably, is exactly why they’re back: they slot seamlessly into how we actually want to dress right now.
From Roman sandals to embellished statement flats: Meet the 5 trends for flat boho sandals set to define summer 2026.
1. Flat strappy sandals in all shades of brown
