The Maison's latest Cruise collection, a historic blend of fashion and tradition, will make its debut on May 22, 2025, at the UNESCO World Heritage site
Louis Vuitton will host the Cruise 2026 show at the magnificent Palais des Papes in Avignon, continuing its long history of blending fashion with cultural narrative. The presentation, which is scheduled for May 22, 2025, will honour Gothic magnificence, heritage preservation, and the enduring spirit of travel. This architectural wonder, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most important historic sites, has been selected by artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière to serve as the dramatic backdrop for his most recent vision. The 14th-century palace will host its inaugural fashion show, furthering Louis Vuitton’s constant dialogue between the past and present, design and destination.
Louis Vuitton organises shows around the world in globally renowned locations and architectural masterpieces, paying tribute to local craftsmanship. The House has, among others, organised its shows at the Bob and Dolores Hope Residence by John Lautner in Palm Springs; at the Oscar Niemeyer Museum of Contemporary Art in Niteroi; at the Miho Museum by I.M. Pei near Kyoto and at the Salk Institute in California. This new stop particularly echoes Louis Vuitton’s first Cruise show at Place du Palais in Monaco, as well as the show at the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul de Vence.
True to Louis Vuitton’s tradition of supporting local heritage and community projects in the cities that host its Cruise shows, the House will contribute to the funding of a lighting project for the Palais des Papes, which is globally recognised for its historical and patrimonial value. This project, which aims to enhance the monumental architecture and ensure the safety of the roadways around the square, involves illuminating the facades of the buildings facing the square, including namely the Palais des Papes, the cathedral, the Petit Palais, the Hôtel des Monnaies, and the Hotel Calvet de la Palun.
The Cruise collection will be available in November 2025 in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.
Built in less than twenty years from 1335, the Palais des Papes is the most important Gothic palace in the West: with 15,000 sq m of floor space and 25 venues open to the public, it is also the stage for cultural events of universal renown, such as the Festival d’Avignon, initiated by Jean Vilar in 1947, and major contemporary art exhibitions: Picasso, Botero, Eva Jospin or, in this exceptional year of celebration of Avignon’s 25th anniversary as European Capital of Culture in 2000, Jean-Michel Othoniel, with ‘OTHONIEL COSMOS, ou les Fantômes de l’Amour’, a tour of 250 works, most of them never before exhibited in France, which will take over no fewer than 10 heritage sites in the city of the Popes from June 2025 to January 2026.
As part of Terre de culture 2025, the city of Avignon is offering an exceptional programme of artistic and cultural events on the theme of curiosity(ies) and in December will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of its historic centre being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, around the emblematic monument of the Palais des Papes.