Nail The Perfect Summer 2026 Pedicure With These Trends

As spring begins to wind down, many are looking to trade their rain boots and sneakers for sandals and flip-flops. But it's not just your wardrobe that needs a summer refresh; with the changing of the seasons (and shoes) also comes a change in nail trends. It's time to put away the burgundies and mauves, and instead reach for lighter colors that are more appropriate for the warm weather. 

For summer 2026, we're seeing a pretty wide range of pedicure trends. There's something for everyone — whether you love bold pops of color, low-key neutrals, or fun iridescent shades. One thing that is consistent across this summer's top nail trends is a clean, high-quality pedicure (though that never goes out of style), and finding a good pedicurist is always a must-have. While we've discussed the summer nail color trends that will light up all your warm-weather manicures, it's time to ensure that your pedicures are just as summer-ready. 

While neutral tones and pastel colors were two of the pedicure trends we saw everywhere in spring 2025, they're making a comeback for summer 2026. White and nude are classic pedicure colors that never really go out of style, and you're sure to see them return in a milky, almost iridescent form. Nail artist Lori Banks told Who What Wear that cloudy whites and creams can look "elevated" and "clean" compared to your standard white polish. 

But, if milky white isn't your thing, there are other light colors you can choose for your pedi this summer. In addition to white, blush pink, pistachio, and sky blue are all having their moment. We've seen a lot of pistachio-scented fragrances flooding the market this year, and now, its color is dominating the spring-summer nail scene. While some associate pastel shades primarily with the spring season, in 2026, they'll continue through the hottest months of the year.

If you want a clean, simple, yet luxurious pedicure, look no further than the soap pedicure trend. While "soap nails" have been one of the biggest manicure trends of 2026, we're now seeing that same trend extend to matching pedicures as well. A soap pedicure is characterized by impeccable cuticles, short toenails, and super glossy, translucent pigments in soft pinks and other flesh tones. Soap nails are an easy way to look effortlessly high-end. 

But, if sheer polish is a bit too understated for you, don't worry — there are flashier polish options you can choose for your soap pedicure. A few years ago, we saw Hailey Bieber start the "glazed donut" nail trend, which featured a neutral polish topped with pearlescent powder. Now, in 2026, aspects of that trend are coming back for pedicures, with champagne chrome nails being the classiest take on the glazed donut nail trend. This summer, expect to see the return of chrome nails in neutral, versatile colors, like various tones of champagne, pearl, and white, for pedicures.

If you prefer to make a bold statement with your nails, don't fret — neutrals aren't the only pedicure colors of summer 2026. Red polish is also making its way back into the trend cycle. Although red is perhaps the most classic nail polish color, it does pop in and out of style every couple years. While 2024 saw the red French manicure emerge as a chic twist on the 'It' nail color, now, we're looking at coral and tomato red for our summer pedicures. As nail artist Sofiia Mazur told Allure, red "feels juicy and slightly moody," making it a perfect choice for a hot summer color.

But, if bright red is too classic for you, consider trying coral nails, the understated pink your next manicure needs. Not quite pink, red, nor orange, coral nail polish can give your pedicure a bit of intrigue without going overboard. Coral is like the older cousin of traditional pink — it still has a playful edge, but leans more polished and refined than girly.