Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 17 April 2026
About the collection
This is a significant release. Grace Ladoja MBE, founder of the HOMECOMING Festival in Lagos, has become the first African woman to design a Nike Air Max Plus. The collaboration arrives as two colourways — 'Pan-African' and 'African Sunrise' — both releasing on 23 April 2026 for £175 each.
For Ladoja, this is a full-circle moment. She has been a long-time creative partner of Nike, but designing her own shoe is a different level. As she put it: "I've worked across many of Nike's projects, so designing my own shoe feels like a full-circle moment and reflects where I believe brands should be in design. Innovation, fun, strong references. To young creatives, keep going and trust your timing."
The Air Max Plus was chosen deliberately. The TN has a deep connection to identity and aspiration across African and diasporic communities, making it the right canvas for everything this project is trying to say. Both pairs carry six detachable charms and come with three lace sets.
Credit: Nike / HOMECOMING
TL;DR – HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- Release date: 23 April 2026 at 8:00 AM
- Model: Nike Air Max Plus (TN)
- Pan-African style code: IM4960-001 (Black / Red / Green)
- African Sunrise style code: IM4960-800 (Orange / Bright Mandarin)
- Price: £175 each
- Sizing: Unisex
- Where to buy: Nike and select retailers
- Includes: Six detachable charms and three lace sets per pair
- Historic note: First Nike shoe designed by an African woman
Release date and price
Both colourways release on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 8:00 AM via Nike and select retailers. Both pairs are priced at £175 in unisex sizing.
The collection debuted at the HOMECOMING Festival in Lagos earlier in April. The 23 April date marks the wider retail release for buyers outside the festival.
'Pan-African' colourway — design and details
Credit: Nike / HOMECOMING
The 'Pan-African' colourway (IM4960-001) pulls from the colours of the Pan-African flag. Black, red and green sweep across the TN's signature wavy upper in a gradient that feels both symbolic and direct. The mesh upper is woven in a tight construction inspired by the net sponges sold in Lagos markets, while the toe is finished in a darker dip referencing West African indigo dyeing traditions.
Six detachable charms come with each pair, including a gold map of Africa, the cowrie shell — historically used across West Africa as currency and a symbol of value — the Nigerian Eagle, a Nigerian map in green and gold, a HOMECOMING x Nike lucky coin and a black planet charm. Three lace sets allow buyers to personalise the look further.
'African Sunrise' colourway — design and details
Credit: Nike / HOMECOMING
The 'African Sunrise' colourway (IM4960-800) is built around the energy of Lagos at daybreak. Bright Mandarin and Safety Orange wash over the wavy upper in a fiery gradient that shifts across the shoe's layered cage structure. The same tight mesh construction and indigo-dipped toe treatment carry through from the Pan-African pair, keeping the two colourways connected by material storytelling.
The six charms repeat across this pair, including the cowrie shell, gold Africa map, Nigerian map, HOMECOMING x Nike lucky coin, eagle and planet. A small orange Swoosh contrasts the blacked-out heel, and the Tuned Air units underfoot maintain the silhouette's performance heritage.
Grace Ladoja MBE and HOMECOMING
Grace Ladoja MBE founded the HOMECOMING Festival in Lagos in 2017. Now in its ninth year, the annual event spans music, fashion, art, film and sport, and has become one of the defining platforms in the global rise of African creativity. Previous years have seen partnerships with Denim Tears, Stüssy and other major names alongside strong local talent.
Ladoja has been a Nike creative partner for years, but this collaboration marks the first time she has designed a shoe herself. That distinction makes it one of the more historically significant Nike collaborations of 2026. The choice of the Air Max Plus as the canvas is personal and deliberate, rooted in the TN's long-standing connection to identity and status across African and diasporic communities.
Why this release matters
The historical significance of this drop is real and specific. Grace Ladoja is the first African woman to design a Nike sneaker. That is not marketing language. It is a factual milestone, and the shoe itself earns the weight of that moment through the level of cultural detail in the design, from the mesh material referencing Lagos markets to the indigo-dip toe, the charm selection and the colourway choices.
Both pairs are strong on their own terms too. The Pan-African colourway is bold and symbolic. The African Sunrise is vivid and energetic. Together they give collectors a clear choice between two distinct moods while sharing the same design philosophy and construction story.
Where to buy
The HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus 'Pan-African' and 'African Sunrise' release on 23 April 2026 at 8:00 AM via Nike and select retailers. Browse the full Air Max Plus collection and all HOMECOMING x Nike releases on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When does the HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus release?
Both colourways release on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 8:00 AM via Nike and select retailers.
How much does the HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus cost?
Both the Pan-African and African Sunrise colourways are priced at £175 each.
What are the style codes for the HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus?
The Pan-African colourway is IM4960-001. The African Sunrise colourway is IM4960-800.
What charms come with the HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus?
Each pair comes with six detachable charms: the cowrie shell, gold map of Africa, Nigerian map in green and gold, Nigerian Eagle, HOMECOMING x Nike lucky coin and a black planet charm. Three lace sets are also included.
Who is Grace Ladoja MBE?
Grace Ladoja MBE is the founder of the HOMECOMING Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, and a long-time Nike creative partner. With this Air Max Plus collaboration, she became the first African woman to design a Nike shoe.
Why is the HOMECOMING x Nike Air Max Plus historically significant?
This is the first Nike shoe designed by an African woman. Grace Ladoja MBE's collaboration with Nike on the Air Max Plus marks a genuine milestone in the brand's design history, not just a colourway project.
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