Pierpaolo Piccioli made his debut as creative director for Balenciaga with The Heartbeat Summer 2026 collection. Cristobal Balenciaga’s spirit was resurrected in a Parisian salon, as the show recalibrated his iconic 1958 fabric into a Neo Gazar one for modern audiences.  A layer of the Getaria fragrance, named after the birthplace of the haute couture icon, lingered in the air as a renowned guestlist gathered to celebrate the Maison’s newest beginning.

Piccioli was inspired by the rhythm that beats beneath our chests. Balenciaga’s own heartbeat was conceived with Cristobal’s sculptable fabric which warped two textiles into one. Piccioli’s Neo Gazar incorporates a blend of silk and wool, allowing for a more tailored look. The collection comprises familiar styles–trousers, pant suits, evening gowns, but they appear in an untraditional form. Balenciaga focuses their approach on construction and artistic process–something that defines the house’s ideology. As for the guest list, one of the most notable VIP's was not a person but an accessory: the Le City bag worn by many attendees.

The collection brought back familiar styles like the sack dress and leather capes adorned with oversized glasses. Parting from the house’s previous grungey tone, Piccioli brought in new textures and vibrant colors. Feathered skirts, fuschia gloves and a sack-style pants suit shone, but the leather and baggy denim, a signature of his predecessor, appeared scattered across the show. Ultimately, Piccioli’s Balenciaga debut remained true to the fabric of the house’s identity while stepping into ‘neo’ terrain.