Sardine Manicure: The Unexpected Nail Art Trend of Summer 2026

The sardine manicure has emerged as a surprising nail art trend for summer 2026, following the fish's popularity in diets and fashion. Nail artists are creating designs featuring sardines and other fish, using techniques like magnetic polish and chrome to achieve realistic finishes. The trend was popularized by artists such as Jen Seales, who painted white, blue, and green fish on a sheer nude base, and @Aminails._, who experimented with pink cream and French manicure variations. Hang Nguyen, known as the Hang Edit, created a photorealistic take on the cardinal tetra fish, noting that the fish shape fits the natural nail perfectly. Dallas-based artist Cameron Short, also known as Really Niche Nails, drew inspiration from a Reddit post for her viral press-on fishing lure set, emphasizing her effort to create original work based on photographs of real lures. The trend reflects a broader fascination with aquatic themes, with shells also being popular earlier in the summer. The article was published by Vogue and invites readers to submit beauty trends to their senior beauty & wellness editor.