Summer 2026 Swimwear Trends: What Is In and What Is Out

Every year around February, the swimwear trend pieces start rolling in. Most of them are written by people who clearly have not tried on a bikini since 2019, recycling the same vague predictions about bold prints and sustainable fabrics. Helpful. So here is what is actually happening in swimwear this summer, based on what the brands are shipping, what is selling out, and what I have seen on actual human bodies at actual pools and beaches.

In: Strategic Cutouts

Cutouts have been building for a few seasons now, but 2026 is when they really hit their stride. The key word is strategic. We are not talking about Swiss cheese swimwear with holes everywhere. The best versions feature a single, well-placed cutout -- usually at the waist or between the bust -- that creates visual interest without compromising structure. L*SPACE and Frankies Bikinis are both doing this beautifully, with pieces that feel editorial without being unwearable. The trick is choosing a cutout that sits where you actually want attention drawn. It sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many brands get this wrong.

In: Metallic Fabrics

This is the trend I was most sceptical about and am now most converted by. Metallic swimwear sounds like it belongs in a music video, but the current interpretation is far more subtle. Think soft gold sheens, burnished copper, muted rose gold rather than full disco ball. Hunza G's Metallic Rosewood is the perfect example -- it catches the light without screaming for attention. Worn with bare skin and simple jewellery, a metallic swimsuit looks genuinely luxurious. The fabric technology has improved too; these pieces are not stiff or uncomfortable the way metallic swimwear used to be.

In: Crochet and Texture

Crochet swimwear keeps coming back because, honestly, nothing else photographs quite like it. The 2026 versions are tighter-knit and more structured than the bohemian iterations of previous years. We are seeing crochet used as panelling rather than whole garments, which solves the age-old problem of crochet bikinis being more decorative than functional. Pair a crochet-detail top with a solid bottom and you have a look that works for the pool and actually stays put in the ocean.

In: Colour Blocking

Mismatched tops and bottoms are no longer a styling hack; they are the whole point. Brands are releasing pieces specifically meant to be mixed across colourways -- a terracotta top with a cream bottom, a navy halter with olive bikini pants. It feels modern and intentional, and it doubles your wardrobe without doubling your spend. Monday Swimwear does this particularly well, with a colour palette that makes cross-matching almost foolproof.

In: The High-Waist Return

High-waist bottoms never fully disappeared, but they spent a few years being edged out by ultra-low-rise options. This summer they are back with conviction. The new versions sit slightly lower than the vintage-inspired high-waists of 2020 -- think just above the navel rather than full waist coverage. It is a more flattering, more modern take that works with both bikini tops and cropped cover-ups. If you have been clinging to your high-waist pairs, congratulations -- you are officially ahead of the curve again.

Out: Anything That Tries Too Hard

The overarching direction for 2026 is quiet confidence. Overly logo-heavy swimwear, extreme cutouts that sacrifice comfort for shock value, and aggressively trendy prints that date within a single season -- all fading. The women I see looking best poolside are the ones in beautifully simple pieces that fit properly and suit their colouring. That has always been the formula, really. The trends just help you refine it.