A Runway Like No Other: Louis Vuitton Turns History Into Haute Couture At The Cruise 2026 Show

In the centre of Avignon, France, Louis Vuitton showcased its Cruise 2026 collection, showcasing an incredible confluence of fashion and history. Once the seat of the Catholic Church, the 700-year-old Palais des Papes opened its imposing Gothic doors to the world of high fashion for the first time. And it was quite the premiere.

With a vision that was equal parts imagination and elegance, artistic director Nicolas Gihesquère, who is renowned for turning famous architecture into spectacular runways, took over the Cour d’Honneur. The palace was cast in a mystical glow thanks to the assistance of renowned stage designer Es Devlin, whose clients include Beyoncé, U2, and the Super Bowl. Models moved like ghosts of art through the stone courtyard on an elevated, lit runway that pulsed with light.

This wasn’t just a fashion show; it was performance art. And that was exactly the point.

The whole idea was reflected in the clothing. A dialogue between past and present and the future was sparked by futuristic accessories, draped silks that shimmered beneath Devlin’s lightscape, and sculptured jackets with theatrical flares. The modern outlines, references to mediaeval drama, and undertones of ecclesiastical grandeur were all skilfully combined. As if taken straight from the stage of a cutting-edge play, each glance conveyed a narrative.

Medieval silhouettes took on a captivating theatrical edge in the opening looks of Nicolas Ghesquiere’s latest presentation — channeling knightly influences emboldened by glimmers of metallic detailing.

Sculptural lines, romantic tapestry-inspired prints, and gilded accents echo through Nicolas Ghesquiere’s latest collection, with new takes on the Alma handbag evoking relics of a reimagined past.

Steeped in quiet drama, the new collection writes a modern fairy-tale narrative through sculpted proportions, avant-garde shapes, and glistening embellishments.

The ultimate muse was the Palais des Papes in Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage site that receives more than half a million tourists each year. Its massive towers, frescoed interiors, and vaulted ceilings served as a reminder to visitors that art in all its manifestations is ageless. Additionally, the venue selection emphasised the collection’s deeper meaning for Louis Vuitton, a company that has long encouraged and welcomed artistic expression.

 

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Actress Sophie Turner, fashion designer Jaden Smith, and French First Lady Brigitte Macron were among the prominent visitors seated on the shimmering platform, and they all gazed in wonder as the performance progressed. It resembled a scene from a dream more than a fashion show. A moment that went beyond fashion weeks and trend predictions was produced by the fusion of performance, architecture, and couture.

 

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Louis Vuitton’s Cruise shows have never been just about the clothes—they’re about experience. From Barcelona’s Park Güell to New York’s TWA Flight Center, Ghesquière has consistently turned architectural marvels into runways. But with the Palais des Papes, he may have reached new heights. Here, clothing wasn’t just worn—it was performed.

The Cruise 2026 collection reminds us that fashion has the power to be more than fabric and fit. It can be a form of storytelling. It can shift perception. It can be, quite literally, a stage.

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As the show closed and lights dimmed on the ancient walls, one thing was clear: Louis Vuitton had not just made history—they had dressed it.