8 Blue Nail Polish Ideas for Summer

A blue glittery manicure. — @melanated.mani/instagram

While cherry red nails are a stunning summer staple, we encourage you to step away from the fiery hues in favor of something a bit cooler this season. This year, blue nail polishes are trending, and there's quite a variety to choose from.

Since many shades of blue polish exist, though, we figured it might be helpful to streamline the category for you. With that in mind, we chatted with nail artist and content creator Mutsa to discover the top eight blue nail polish ideas for summer 2026.

01 of 08

Iridescent Sea Blue

Manicured nails with glittery blue and green nail polish topper effect — Holo Taco

If you want to bring an ethereal, aquatic vibe to your manicure, opt for an iridescent sea blue polish. "It adds a fun wash of color and sparkle when worn alone, and it really pops when used as a topper," Mutsa explains. "It's the quickest way to give a solid blue polish a mermaid-core glow up."

02 of 08

Powder Blue

Take a break from classic pastel shades like light pink or butter yellow and give powder blue a try. "If baby blue had a cooler older sister, it would be powder blue," Mutsa says. "It's sweet with a little bit of depth, and it's a criminally underrated shade. If you're over white, lilac, or pink, consider switching to this shade."

03 of 08

Azure Blue

A closeup of a hand with blue painted nails holding a textured white object — Manucurist

Sinking a bit further into the sea, we have azure blue, a calm and cool shade reminiscent of a cloud-free sky. "Azure blue used to be very difficult to find in salons and on the shelves because it's such a popular shade during the summer," Mutsa says. "It's hard not to fall in love with this shade."

04 of 08

Poppy Seed Blue

A hand with bluepainted nails atop an arm — Cirque Colors

If you want a darker, moodier nail look this summer, Mutsa suggests picking up a bottle of poppy seed blue polish. "It's the ultimate cool-girl shade of blue," she explains. "It's a deep and smooth shade that reminds me of chic handmade ceramic dishes."

05 of 08

Sapphire

A hand with neatly manicured nails featuring a metallic finish wearing a denim jacket — @nailberry_ / instagram

For a more glamorous (and head-turning) dark blue nail look, reach for a bottle of sapphire polish. "It's a classic shade for maximalist caeruleaphiles," Mutsa says. "It's the kind of color that makes it hard to stop looking at your nails."

06 of 08

Squid Ink Shimmer

Hand with nails painted in a shimmering dark galaxyinspired design — @mooncat / instagram

Squid ink—a near-black shade of blue—is worth considering. "If sapphire is too bright for you, then consider a shimmery squid ink blue," Mutsa says. "It's a lusciously deep shade that's a mix of gunmetal and ink blue."

07 of 08

Deep-Sea Blue

Navy blue nails — @paintedbyjools / Instagram

Skip the glitter and dive to the deepest depths of the ocean with a deep-sea blue mani. "If you're not quite ready to give up black polish for the summer, but you're itching to try something slightly different, then deep-sea blue is a great alternative," Mutsa says.

08 of 08

Time for Teal

A teal manicure. — @melanated.mani/instagram

Teal and pink is a hot pairing right now, but no one says you can't wear the Y2K-chic blue shade all on its own! If you really want to stick with the dynamic duo, just throw on a pink dress or cocktail ring for the perfect match.