A lightness, an elasticity, and an innate consciousness of the body. For Fall 2026, Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli examines the essence of the methodologies of Cristóbal Balenciaga, approaches inherently connected to his primacy given to humanity and the human hand, placing the human form at the center of a creative dialogue. In the 21st century, this approach is synonymous with the convergence of sports and technology: here, that ideology is translated across a spectrum of garments, street formal, TechWear, sports sartorial, a techno ballgown, for both womenswear and the début of Piccioli’s Balenciaga man. Luxury is expressed through comfort and ease, as a state of mind.

The spirit of Balenciaga is embedded in the actuality of modern life, its paradoxes. These shape the collection, and its representation through image. Launching January 15th 2026, the Fall 26 lookbook is photographed by Robin Galiegue in Paris, clothes captured in the street, the gym, the commute, at home. Expressive of a Balenciaga community, Fall 2026 is embodied and worn by a cast of unique individuals—actors, artists, musicians and models— Alice Da Luz, Benjamin Voisin, Eliot Sumner, Juyeon, Keith Powers, Laufey, Luther Ford, Sarah Catherine Hook, Achol Kuir, Agel Akol, Bai Ruien, Bebe Parnell, Cirillo Giuseppe, Chloe Oh, Dana Smith, Douta Sidibe, Edoardo Duse, Elliot Belot, Haojie Qi, Kai Wijers, Malin Rudnick, Ned Sims, Rachel Marx, Saar Mansvelt Beck, Saga Nyholm, Saliou Gueye, Sen Samysheva, Tariq Loo. They are new Balenciaga faces, expressive of a new Balenciaga culture.

For men, a refinement and shaping of a masculine wardrobe. Here, Balenciaga’s contemporary sportswear identity fuses with classical tailoring, inspired by pieces created by Cristóbal Balenciaga to wear himself. These appear in dichotomous hybrids that speak of a new intent—cashmere capes, car-coats in neo-gazar—combining the formal with casual, bringing occasion to the everyday.

A redefinition of the Balenciaga woman continues, yet her key character remains: a boldness, an uncompromising nature, a strength. Gestures of elegance reshape our everyday dress: opera gloves, cowled hats, delicate heeled shoes. Heightened, sometimes exaggerated, these gestures can recontextualize and reframe - combined with streetwear and sports pieces, they give a new grace; while antecedental silhouettes are reiterated in leather or sweat shirting, borrowing sophistication for both him and her.

Hierarchies are removed from dress. Clothes occupy distinct and divergent arenas of dress - tailored daywear, evening ensembles, street-inspired silhouettes and TechWear a new category of sportswear for Balenciaga simultaneously shaped by the house’s heritage of innovation, and its modern identity. ProBody performance fabric is engineered with technical invention—moisture wicking, breathable, antibacterial—into dynamic shapes. As with couture, these clothes become like a second skin. A collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA) spotlights this centrality of sports, the notion of activity and movement, as well as the dynamic energy and collective spirit inherent to basketball.

Accessories continue an air of refinement, alongside a dynamic energy. The Le City bag is proposed in a newly streamlined shape, its rectilinear silhouette sharply defined, its body emphasized. It is joined by Le 7, a new top-handle design with a zippered inner layer ‘dressed’ in nappa. Patinated jewelry in crystal draws direct inspiration from archival designs; Balenciaga’s 21st century signature is reflected in the Midnight Eyemask. The Comfy loafers have a cushioned lycra interior borrowed from sports shoes to lend formality a sense of the street, giving comfort a primacy; sneakers reflect a philosophy of couture not through disparate materiality, but a technical viewpoint. The flexible Ballet sneakers fold in half, hooked to secure; Pocket sneakers can be zipped to compact new proportion; and Jet sneakers are executed without weight. Underscoring the themes of the collection, a Balenciaga fitness mat expresses an awareness of wellbeing, of care.


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