The only sandals you'll need this summer (and every summer after)

Considering how the Nordics enjoy only a precious few months of reliable summer sun, we wear a surprising amount of sandals. As soon as it is dry enough (and there's little-to-no risk of frostbite), out come the Birkenstocks and the flip-flops. The latter has, by now, become something of a Scandinavian street style statement in its own right, spearheaded by Copenhagen Fashion Week regulars like Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimars. And that is before we have even touched on the closed-toe styles we happily paired with knitted socks well into autumn.

There is, it turns out, surprising versatility in what is ostensibly the most effortless category of footwear. No laces. Zero zips. I have, over the years, taken this philosophy perhaps further than most. Once the sun is out, sandals are my preferred outfit operandi. It is a conviction I stood by recently in Ireland, surrounded by tourists swaddled in down jackets and heavy boots, regarding my little leather thong kitten heel with visible concern. Us Scandinavians, it seems, do not feel the cold. And even if I did, I would not sacrifice a single day of sandals for it.

Below, the best sandals in every style worth knowing. From the platform to the jelly, the thong to the closed-toe, consider this your complete buying guide, updated for SS26 and beyond.

If there is one shoe that encapsulates the spirit of this summer, it is the platform sandal. The Y2K renaissance has been building for some time now (our shopping desk has been bookmarking Bratz-coded silhouettes since January) and the platform sandal is the most nostalgic revival to date. Beloved by our shorter friends for years, even the tallest among us are reconsidering the platform this summer. Nostalgia, it turns out, is a great leveller.

A word of warning before you shop: these are typical ankle-breakers. The higher the platform, the more your stability depends on the straps. Look for wider, sturdier fastenings that keep the foot secure rather than barely-there styles. As for the choice between wedges and flatforms, we do not discriminate. Both will have their moment this summer.

Related: The 9 spring/summer 2026 shoe trends to know (and shop) now

When it comes to strappy sandals, silhouette is everything. The styles we are spotting for summer 2026 are leaning decisively into the 1990s: sleeker, more minimal, and considerably less BoHo than the strappy sandals of summers past. That said, the strappier the better, as far as we are concerned. We want criss-crossing, ankle-wrapping, tie-friendly styles with a clean finish rather than the fringe-adjacent iterations that dominated a previous era.

It is also worth considering how the straps cut across the leg. A straight, thick wrap across the ankle is not particularly friendly for those of us with wider calves. Believe me, I am speaking from experience. The criss-cross across the bridge of the foot is a far more flattering proposition, elongating the leg rather than cutting it at its widest point. It is a small detail that makes an outsized difference.

Trying to summarise the closed-toe sandal is next to impossible. There are so many variations of the style – one for every wardrobe – that narrowing it down feels almost reductive. On one end of the spectrum, you have the sturdier styles: the Birkenstock Boston, for example, which you will find in most Swedish summer houses and which I, personally, will wear paired with a heavier sock months before and months after sandal season has technically come and gone. It is the sort of shoe we love precisely because it makes the look that much more interesting.

Then there are the more modern iterations: mesh uppers, leather slides, styles that sit closer to the minimalist end of the closed-toe spectrum. All have their place. The style we have our eye on this summer, though, is the braided sandal. Sleek and pastorally romantic, it looks fabulously considered nestled under a pair of light wash jeans or an A-line maxi skirt.

Can you even call a flip-flop a sandal? It is, we would argue, a category entirely in its own right. A perennial holiday staple, yes, but also – and this is the part that still catches us slightly off guard – a fully-fledged street style phenomenon. It was a few summers ago in Copenhagen that our most inspiring sartorial muses started showing up in flip-flops. With frilly dresses, oversized jeans, even suits. What had previously lived exclusively in beach bags began migrating into the city.

The Havaianas remains the reference point. Simple, unpretentious, and somehow exactly right regardless of what sits above it. That is the flip-flop's particular magic: it asks nothing of the outfit and somehow improves it anyway. For those looking to take the style beyond the beach entirely, a leather version erases the holiday connotation and makes the thong sandal a year-round proposition.

We have, admittedly, made a case for nearly every sandal on this list as a must-have for summer 2026. The wedge, though, is different. If we are being honest, nothing else comes close to its meteoric rise this season. What makes it particularly compelling is its versatility. Whether with a thong upper, a simple leather slide, or a wrap-around strap, it is the heel that does the work. It is also, as the evidence would suggest, the most efficient way to combine multiple sandal trends into one shoe. Wedge thong? Two trends, one purchase. Wedge wrap? Equally valid. The wedge is generous that way.

It is also, crucially, the most practical of summer's hero styles. Sturdy, comfortable, and built to survive the full gauntlet of the season: rooftop parties, sandy beach weddings... Even a midsummer lawn doesn't stand a chance.

Comfortable and stylish are not mutually exclusive concepts. The most comfortable sandals are often the most considered ones, and the details that make them easy to wear are the same details that make them worth wearing. There are two things worth looking for.

The first is the strap. Adjustability matters more than most people realise. Look for supple, soft leather or straps that move with the shape of your foot. The Birkenstock Arizona is a classic for a reason, and while we try not to repeat ourselves when it comes to brand recommendations, it earns its place in this edit without question.

The second is the sole. St. Agni may not look like a comfort sandal at first glance (the straps are deceptively delicate) but look closer and the sole tells a different story. Cushioned, cloud-like, and built for a full day on your feet. Comfort, as it turns out, is always in the details.