Australia’s high nail artists give their predictions.
If the ‘clean girl’ manicure has reigned supreme over the previous few years, 2026 is shaping up to be its considerate undoing. Across Melbourne and Sydney’s most influential nail studios, artists are describing a shift away from perfection and polish, and a transfer towards nail art that feels bespoke, private and experimental.
As far as fast-moving trends go, nails are a comparatively low-stakes method to experiment. You can commit to an almond-shaped, glazed donut mani one month and swap to a sq. French tip the subsequent. You may even chop and change between inventive 3D press-ons every single day, if you want.
Want to snoop inside the wonder regimes of different creatives? Head right here.
Of all of the nail trends that went viral in 2025, polka dot had been essentially the most contagious, with Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber all sporting variations of the design. Another memorable nail second got here in spring, when the web misplaced it over Phoebe Philo’s sheer, multi-coloured ‘Geode like’ manicure.
So, what do the subsequent 12 months have in retailer for us? According to 5 of Australia’s high nail artists, much less sweeping trends and extra individualism.
Craft is the brand new luxurious
In 2026, aspirational nail art is not about perfection or uniformity, it’s about artistry. Across studios, pre-made charms and flat finishes are being changed with sculptural, hand-built components and layered methods. This will imply a mixture of airbrushing, chrome, cat-eye gels, inks and flocking with 3D sculptural particulars like piercings and moulded varieties.
“There’s a strong shift toward valuing craftsmanship, originality and fully customised details,” says Valentina Dall’Acqua of Gothicwho specialises in maximalist nails. “I treat each set like art direction — wearable art that feels considered, not disposable.”
Roberta Beilharz runs Snack Nails in Melbourne and describes her personal work as “very textured and layered,” including that she’s much less in conventional prettiness than designs which can be “fascinating.”
While easy and shiny nails will at all times be a traditional, indicators of imperfection and human contact have gotten the brand new markers of luxurious. “I think a lot of inspiration with come from the natural world, [with] flowers, shells etc, but they will be abstracted and slightly weird,” Roberta says.
This may also be seen in easier units that includes small, intentional moments: a textured metallic accent, a delicate cat-eye shimmer, a raised gel element.
Mood-inspired nails
We would possibly lastly be seeing the tip of the glazed donut period. Now, viral nail trends are getting used extra as a gateway relatively than an endpoint. Rather than copying a single viral look, shoppers at the moment are combining references (like pastel grunge, fairy-core, summary nature, on line casino symbolism or cybersigilism) to create one thing bespoke.
As Caitlyn Iskra of Horni Nails places it, “nails are shifting from ‘look at this’ to ‘feel this’. I think we’ll see nail art treated more like design or jewellery — something curated, personal and meaningful rather than trend-driven.”
Caitlyn has additionally seen individuals turning into much less in what’s ‘in’ and extra in what felt emotionally resonant or identity-driven. Alisa Kah, a nail artist at Trophy Wife echoes this, describing 2026 as “a rebellion against the clean-girl aesthetic — less perfection, more personality and a bit of edge.”
Valentina believes Melbourne’s tattoo-influenced aesthetic can also be pushing nails in direction of futuristic, coded designs “that feel more niche and artistic rather than mainstream [and] trend-driven.”
Trophy Wife nail artist Tanya Farrant additionally predicts that inspiration will turn into extra summary, with shoppers requesting “vibes and emotions” relatively than literal references. “[I’m] excited to see how season three of Euphoria will affect this too,” she provides.
Negative house
Rather than full-coverage color, there’s a powerful transfer towards clear, sheer and milky bases paired with intricate element. Tanya of Trophy Wife is predicting an increase of experimental French ideas.
“Polka dots evolved [to] encapsulate sequins and gems towards the end of 2025, and I think French tips will have the same evolution, [with] deeper French and ornate details within it, but only on the tip, leaving the negative space bare,” she explains. It’s the nail equal of restraint with intention.
Personalised colors
A standard thread throughout all of the nail artists was a transfer in direction of color palettes that felt much less prescribed and barely ‘off’. It’s the Phoebe Philo impact in full swing. Think washed-out pastels, muted blues and greens, tarnished silvers, mauves, bruised pinks, matcha and moss tones.
“I think colour is moving into tones that feel lived-in and sensual,” says Caitlyn. “Less seasonal colour cycles, more warmth, imperfection and clashy palettes.”
Clients are additionally turning into extra knowledgeable about what colors fits them, or emotionally resonate. As Tanya notes, “Lots of people [are] choosing colours based on their ‘seasons’ [and] colour matching.”
Nail well being as standing, size as habitable
A quieter however vital shift is that nail well being is turning into a part of the posh expertise, with nail artists providing extra training and tailor-made companies. According to Tanya, this appears to be like like “inclusivity relating to nail habits like choosing and biting, by providing routines to assist negate sore cuticles and nails.
Further to this, there’s a continued transfer towards sensible, wearable shapes that assist having-a-life-core. “My clients don’t want to be restricted by the length of their nails,” says Roberta. Alisa agrees, noting that brief and rounded nails are “practical, low-maintenance, but still hot.”
Rather than dramatic size, Caitlyn says the main focus is on proportion, stability and how nicely the nails combine into somebody’s life-style. She’s predicting nails that really feel “strong, grounded and considered rather than excessive.”
For extra on nail trends in 2026, attempt this.