The Nike Air Max2 CB ‘94 “Varsity Royal” Is Returning In 2026

Digging into the archives.

Matt Varga July 22nd, 2026 (updated)

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Nike Basketball’s 1990s designs have a habit of sticking around in the ether. A shoe like the Foamposite has never truly left the consciousness, and while silhouettes beside it haven’t had that always-on strategy, if the Uptempo hasn’t been in rotation, it’s been the Zoom Flight ’95, the Air Penny, or plenty of icons in between.

The Nike Air Max2 CB ’94 has been in steady rotation as a Retro, especially in its “Black/Purple” colorway, nearing half a dozen distinct bring-backs for that particular pair. Still, the real ones know that there are plenty of options that have gone unexplored as Barkley’s silhouette has lived on; a return for the “Varsity Royal” checks off a long-awaited one. Last released in 2004, it’s filled with the same expressive compositional notes that the model has always championed, coated in a sporty, classic blend of blue, black, and white.

The Nike Air Max2 CB ’94 “Varsity Royal” releases on August 14th for $160.

WHERE TO BUY

Mens Nike Air Max2 CB 94

SKU: IX4182-010

RETAIL PRICE: $160

RELEASE DATE: Aug 1, 2026

US 08/01/2026 Saturday

Retailer	Release type	Status
Nike SNKRS	Standard	Check Site
Sneaker Politics	Standard	Check Site

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.