The Most Popular Sunglasses of 2026

Which sunglasses do people actually buy? Instead of guessing, we looked at the customer preferences of Eye-Shop over the past year. The results paint a clear picture of what leads in 2026: which brands, which shapes and which categories stand out. Below you'll see the data in detail — and what it means for your next choice.

The data in detail: brands, shapes, gender

Top 10 sunglasses brands

Top sunglasses shapes

Shape	Share
Square	43.0%
Oval	9.3%
Shield (mask)	8.5%
Round	6.6%
Cat-eye	6.5%
Pillow	6.2%
Aviator	5.2%
Wraparound	2.3%

By gender & category

Category	Share
Men's	33.2%
Unisex	29.9%
Women's	26.9%
Sport	8.1%
Kids'	1.5%

Methodology & source: The percentages are drawn from aggregate Eye-Shop customer preferences (sunglasses sales over the last 12 months), with no personal data. Search data from Google Search Console. Source: Eye-Shop.

1. Two brands dominate: Ray-Ban & Oakley = 46% of the market

The most striking finding: nearly one in two pairs sold belongs to just two brands. Ray-Ban remains the undisputed No.1 at 28.8%, with the timeless Wayfarer and Aviator never going out of style. Second is Oakley at 17.5%, thanks to its sport and Prizm lenses.

The full Top 10 brand ranking (popularity):

• Ray-Ban — 28.8%
• Oakley — 17.5%
• Gucci — 6.3%
• Miu Miu — 5.0%
• Prada — 3.4%
• Arnette — 3.2%
• Polaroid — 2.7%
• Carrera — 2.5%
• Vogue — 2.4%
• Emporio Armani — 2.1%

Together, the top 3 brands (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci) cover 52.7% — half of all sales in just three names. In women's luxury, Gucci and Miu Miu stand out.

2. The winning shape: square — and the return of retro

On shapes, the big winner is the square: on its own it covers 43% of sales, thanks to its flat, modern line that flatters almost any face.

At the same time, the return of retro is confirmed: cat-eye (6.5%) and vintage round (6.6%) together with aviator (5.2%) add up to around 18%, bringing back the mood of the '60s and '70s. For sportier looks, shield/mask styles are gaining ground (8.5%).

Top shapes (share):

• Square — 43.0%
• Oval — 9.3%
• Shield (mask) — 8.5%
• Round — 6.6%
• Cat-eye — 6.5%
• Aviator — 5.2%

Want to find the shape that suits you? See our guide on which sunglasses suit my face shape.

3. Men, women & unisex: the genders converge on style

Men's sunglasses have the largest share (33.2%), but the most interesting finding is unisex at 29.9% — proof that the genders are converging in their choices, with designs worn by everyone. Women's sunglasses follow at 26.9%, while sport holds a steady 8.1%.

• Men's — 33.2%
• Unisex — 29.9%
• Women's — 26.9%
• Sport — 8.1%
• Kids' — 1.5%

4. Demand is rising: +170% searches for "sunglasses"

Beyond sales, search shows an upward trend too: according to Google data, searches for "sunglasses" rose +170% over the last month, while "men's sunglasses" jumped +135%. In other words, interest in branded, authentic sunglasses peaks as the season gets going.

What it all means for your choice

• Playing it safe? Ray-Ban and Oakley are the safe, timeless choices the majority votes for.
• Want to stand out? Try cat-eye or vintage round — the retro trend is here.
• Luxury? Gucci, Prada and Miu Miu lead the luxury segment, especially in women's.
• Always with UV400. Whatever you pick, make sure it has full UV400 protection — it's the minimum safety standard.

See the whole collection in Eye-Shop's 2026 sunglasses — with 80+ brands, 100% authentic and a guarantee of authenticity. For more inspiration, see the hottest sunglasses for 2026 or the Ray-Ban vs Oakley comparison.

Source: Eye-Shop customer preferences (last 12 months) & Google Search Console.