In search of light, Balenciaga’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, presents the Winter 2026 collection titled “Clairobscur,” where he creates bold proportions to discover new dimensions. Marking his third collection and second runway show for the storied fashion house, Piccioli strayed from his previous interpretations of couture and athleticism, opting for an ultra-sleek streetwear theme with echoes of Cristóbal Balenciaga silhouettes.  

The collection, created in collaboration with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, set the tone of the show’s environment. A dark, black-out set lit by video panels featuring clips of Euphoria's forthcoming third season. Models of all ages donned shapely coats, pencil skirts, draped dresses, sweaters, and pochos. Reflecting the modernist silhouettes of the 1950s-60s, inspired by Cristóbal, garments were dramatized with exaggerated portrait collars, hoods, cocoons, and cuts that reveal skin.

Harkening to the High Renaissance artistic technique of clair-obscur, the show marked the first look at Piccioli’s concept of Balenciaga menswear. Loose-fitting trousers and structural coats created dual extremities, while prints from Euphoria were splashed throughout the collection. Referencing the work of his Balenciaga predecessors, including Demna, Nicolas Ghesquière, and Cristóbal Balenciaga, Piccioli’s Winter 2026 collection fuses generations, celebrating a collective power of unity. 

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