The adidas AE 2 Channels 80s Technicolor This Spring

The adidas Anthony Edwards 2 (AE 2) continues to settle into its role as one of the more visually confident signature models in the current basketball landscape. With the upcoming “Black/Multi-Color” colorway expected in Spring 2026, the silhouette pivots away from the softer, kids-exclusive pastel approach seen on the “Easter” release and leans back into a louder, game-ready expression.

At its core, this version feels like a counterbalance. The black mesh upper grounds the shoe immediately, allowing the surrounding accents — neon green tooling, hot pink framing, electric blue hits, and orange heel detailing — to feel deliberate rather than chaotic. Instead of spreading color evenly across the upper, adidas concentrates it along the sculpted side panels and outsole, emphasizing the AE 2’s aerodynamic shape and forward-leaning profile.

From a broader market standpoint, this colorway makes sense as part of a two-track strategy. Youth-focused releases are being used to explore softer palettes and seasonal storytelling, while pairs like the “Black/Multi-Color” reinforce the AE 2’s on-court identity. For a signature line still building long-term equity, that separation helps keep the model versatile without diluting its performance-first positioning.

Design-wise, nothing strays from the established formula. The AE 2’s streamlined construction, breathable upper, and aggressive traction setup remain intact, with the vivid outsole doing most of the visual heavy lifting. It’s a reminder that the shoe doesn’t need material experimentation or narrative layering to stand out — its shape and color blocking do the work on their own.

While adidas hasn’t confirmed a release date yet, the adidas AE 2 “Black/Multi-Color” is expected to arrive on adidas.com in Spring 2026, potentially serving as a more mature, high-energy alternative alongside the pastel-heavy “Easter” edition.