Art, fashion and theater at Louis Vuitton Cruise 2026 Show

Just a few weeks ahead of the famed Festival d’Avignon theater festival, Louis Vuitton took center stage in the historic Cour d’Honneur of the Palais des Papes to present the latest Cruise Collection by Nicolas Ghesquière.

Renowned for passionate drama, the historic setting was an invitation to explore the performative aspect of clothing, its inherent artistic value and its emotional power. 

In an entrancing chiaroscuro atmosphere, the silhouettes paraded among rows of plush seats, at the same time players and spectators. The 14th century gothic edifice provided a unique décor that stages fashion at the heart of a journey through time. Medieval mode meets tech futurist inspirations. Colorful geometric forms welcome heraldic motifs, sculptural cape dresses are illuminated by outsize Damier check patterns and flames. Dresses become contemporary armor, and short shift dresses reveal opulent embroidery. Shimmering threads echo mirrored inlays on hybrid ankle boots, becoming bold statement accessories. Metallic effects blending gold and silver run through a collection designed to capture both natural light and the glow of the spotlights. 

Every detail refines the allure of a new character. A pair of studded boots conjures both the imagination of musketeers and the spirit of glam rock idols. Louis Vuitton’s heroines play with their clothes to transform themselves—at times romantic in long, ruffled dresses that gracefully drape their bodies, then bold and conquering in corolla skirts with undulating cutouts. Lustrous yet comfortable, cable knit pieces contrast with leathers and fresco-inspired motifs. Standout bags include the new LV Biker, hand-painted versions of the Alma, and artisanal wooden baskets created in collaboration with French artist Thomas Roger, each bag accentuates the silhouette of these characters. In the hands of these bold muses, they become the finishing touch of ensembles that blur the lines between fiction and reality.