The 2026 Nail Trends You Need To Know

Now that we’ve officially passed the halfway mark, we can start looking back at the 2026 nail trends that have dominated so far and reflect on the ones that will rule as we enter the second half of the year.

While seasonal styles will come and go, we’re expecting these trends to define 2026 and reign supreme – following in the footsteps of glass manicures, cat-eye nails and metallic chrome finishes. A great time for switching things up and trying something different from your usual signature style, get ahead of the game as an early adopter of these new nail aesthetics.

To help you choose your next manicure, we’ve asked some of our favourite nail artists to share their predictions for the biggest 2026 nail trends. Keep reading to find out which ones you’ll be see everywhere.

Pill nails

With abstract nail designs on the rise, now is a great time to take your manicure to new heights. Pill nails – as they’re affectionately known for their capsule-like colour combos – are the sophisticated way of amping up your next nail set. “Combining clashing colours and textures on a set really lets the creativity speak for itself,” says nail artist Freya Mills on the emerging style. “What I love most about pill nails is that they don’t just need to be one colour or one texture.” Whether you’re going for contrasting colours or textures (like cat-eye mixed with traditional gel polish), having fun is the aim of the game. “Invest in a good cat-eye gel, the finer the glitter particles, the better,” shares the nail artist on her tips for creating the perfect pill nails. “They create a glossy, luxe, velvet-like finish that contrasts beautifully with bold block colours. I also find that choosing similar shades for your solid colour and cat-eye really enhances the ‘pill’ effect.”