Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 7 October 2026
About the release
Jordan Brand keeps the holiday-themed Retro programme running with the Jordan 5 Retro 'Halloween' (style code HQ7978-001) — and the headline detail here is that this is the first adult Halloween colourway for the AJ5, with full family sizing across men's, women's and kids'. The pair takes a restrained approach to the theme: no obvious ghost graphics, no cartoon pumpkins. Instead the Halloween identity is built through almost-entirely blacked-out construction, Picante Red shark teeth as the only warm accent, and a layer of glow-in-the-dark detailing that transforms the shoe after dark.
Build-wise, premium black suede / nubuck covers the upper, with the tongue, laces, eyelets, mesh panels and TPU netting all kept tonal. Picante Red cuts across the signature shark teeth on the midsole, finished with black speckle. On the inner tongue lining, XXIII stitching in red adds a subtle collector detail. After hours is where the pair properly comes to life: green glow-in-the-dark embroidery on the tongue Jumpman logos, the heel '23' and the Nike Air branding, with a translucent rubber outsole that carries the same treatment underfoot. Original 1990 build details intact — net-inspired tongue and quarter panels, jagged midsole, bump-out collar, lace locks, Air-cushioned heel and forefoot.
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Shop Now →TL;DR – Air Jordan 5 Retro 'Halloween' HQ7978-001 Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- UK release date: Saturday 17 October 2026
- Model: Air Jordan 5 Retro
- Colourway: Black / Black / Picante Red
- Style code: HQ7978-001
- UK retail price: £190
- US retail price: $220
- Sizing: Full family sizing (men's, women's and kids')
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers
- Model milestone: First adult Halloween colourway for the AJ5
- Key details: Premium black suede / nubuck upper, tonal tongue + laces + eyelets + mesh + TPU netting, Picante Red shark teeth across the speckled midsole, XXIII stitching on the inner tongue lining
- Glow-in-the-dark details: Green GITD embroidery on the tongue Jumpman logos, the heel '23' and the Nike Air branding, plus a translucent GITD rubber outsole
- OG build retained: Net-inspired tongue and quarter panels, jagged midsole, bump-out collar, lace locks, Air-cushioned heel and forefoot (original 1990 construction)
Release date and price
The Air Jordan 5 Retro 'Halloween' releases in the UK on Saturday 17 October 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. UK retail is £190, with US retail at $220. Family sizing covers men's, women's and kids' — kids' pairs will come in at reduced tier pricing per Jordan Brand's standard structure.
Timing on this one is deliberate — landing exactly a week before Halloween weekend. Jordan Brand's holiday-tied releases have grown into a reliable annual rhythm over recent years, and giving the AJ5 its first-ever adult Halloween execution adds a layer of first-run interest on top of the usual seasonal demand. The glow-in-the-dark construction photographs exceptionally well on social — expect strong trade-through on both the on-foot and after-dark angles.
Design and details
Jordan Brand's smarter holiday executions tend to lean on restraint, and the 'Halloween' AJ5 is a textbook example. The entire shoe reads subtle, almost stealth by day — black suede, black netting, black tongue. The theme does its work through hidden details and material choices rather than printed overlays. After dark is when the shoe properly flips.
Blacked-out suede build with Picante Red teeth
The premium black suede covers the entire upper — toe, side panels, collar and all surrounding overlays. The tongue, laces, eyelets, TPU netting and mesh panels all stay tonal, meaning there's no visual noise competing against the key accents. The only daytime colour hit lands on the Picante Red shark teeth cutting across the midsole, finished with black speckle for a bit of grit. More Picante Red appears behind the tongue, where the XXIII stitching hides as a small collector detail that's easy to miss at first glance.
Glow-in-the-dark after dark
The Halloween identity properly reveals itself after dark. Green glow-in-the-dark embroidery lights up the Jumpman logos on both tongues, the '23' on the heel, and the Nike Air branding on the back. The translucent rubber outsole carries the same glow treatment underfoot — a huge visual payoff that turns the sole into a lantern once the lights go down. It's the kind of detail that sells itself on social: the shoe reads one way in daylight product shots and another entirely once lit under a UV lamp or in the dark.
Original 1990 build intact
Underneath the Halloween treatment, this is still a proper OG Air Jordan 5. The net-inspired tongue and quarter panels, the jagged shark-tooth midsole, the bump-out collar and the lace locks all honour the shoe's original 1990 design signatures. Air-cushioned heel and forefoot keep the comfort piece intact. For AJ5 purists, this means the Halloween treatment sits on top of a faithful construction rather than being used as cover for build changes.
Air Jordan 5 Retro 'Halloween' images
Credit: Nike / Jordan Brand
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Shop Now →AJ5 Halloween — a first-time execution for the model
Jordan Brand has delivered Halloween-themed Retros across other silhouettes before — the Air Jordan 11 'Halloween', various AJ4 and AJ1 treatments, Grinch-adjacent executions — but this 2026 release marks the first proper adult Halloween colourway for the AJ5. For a silhouette that already lends itself naturally to tonal, moody colour executions (the shark teeth midsole was practically built for it), it's a surprise it took this long. The restraint shown here — building the theme through material and glow treatment rather than printed graphics — also plays to the AJ5's design strengths rather than fighting them.
The family sizing rollout is another signal. Jordan Brand increasingly uses family-sized Retros to broaden the appeal of its holiday drops, letting the shoes travel across adult collectors and kid wearers alike. For a Halloween-themed pair in particular, kid sizing makes sense — a glow-in-the-dark sole is exactly the kind of detail that photographs well on younger wearers and extends the shoe's cultural life beyond the usual sneaker-first audience. Expect this one to move well across both adult SNKRS raffles and kids' sizing allocations.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 5 Retro 'Halloween' releases on Saturday 17 October 2026 for £190 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Family sizing (men's, women's and kids'). Browse the full Jordan 5 collection and the wider Jordan archive on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 5 'Halloween' release date?
Saturday 17 October 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Full family sizing — men's, women's and kids' all available.
How much does the Halloween AJ5 cost?
UK retail is £190 for adult sizing. US retail is $220. Kids' pairs will come in at Jordan Brand's standard reduced tier pricing.
What are the glow-in-the-dark details?
Four main GITD elements. Green glow-in-the-dark embroidery lights up the Jumpman logos on both tongues, the '23' embroidered on the heel, and the Nike Air branding on the back heel panel. The translucent rubber outsole also carries the GITD treatment — turning the entire sole unit into a visible glow element in the dark. It's a huge visual payoff detail that transforms how the shoe reads after hours vs during the day.
Is this the first Halloween AJ5?
For adult sizing, yes. This 2026 release marks the first proper adult Halloween colourway for the Air Jordan 5 silhouette. Jordan Brand has delivered Halloween executions on other models before (the AJ11 'Halloween' being the most notable) but this is a first-time Halloween treatment for the 5. Available in full family sizing across men's, women's and kids'.
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