Demna, who renewed his contract last year and announced in March that he would be moving to Gucci—another brand under the same Kering group—as Creative Director, still helmed Balenciaga’s 2026 Pre-Spring collection, drawing significant attention from both media and the public. The collection features 48 looks covering both men’s and women’s wear, and also debuts a limited-edition music collaboration with pop icon Britney Spears.
In the season’s press release, Demna stated, “This collection interprets the silhouettes, tailoring, and attitudes that define my aesthetic framework, merging classic pieces from my past 35 different collections, brand-new designs, and items from my personal wardrobe.” In other words, the Balenciaga 2026 Pre-Spring collection is not just a standalone line but a comprehensive anthology of the brand’s style under Demna’s decade-long creative leadership.
Demna also revealed that creating this collection felt like returning home after a long journey, rekindling his passion and deep affection for fashion and tailoring. “Throughout my career at Balenciaga and beyond, my work has revolved around fashion anthropology and dress codes, which is why I invited Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek to co-create the season’s visual campaign—their ‘Exactitudes’ photography series profoundly influenced how I perceive fashion.”
Among the 48 looks, Demna’s signature design elements are clearly evident: oversized, loose, and deconstructed suits appear in Look 1, 2, 3, 5, and 11, featuring adjusted waist proportions, elongated sleeves that obscure the hands, and massive shoulder pads resembling armor, projecting a commanding presence. Hoodies and layered baseball caps frequently appear in Look 7, 14, 16, and 20, injecting sporty vibes that blur the lines between formalwear, casual, and streetwear. Super oversized nylon jackets with occasional waist shaping show up in black and white in Look 27 and 36, creating sharp contrasts. Layering takes center stage in Look 38, 40, and 42 with over five to six layers resembling a mille-feuille, symbolizing Balenciaga and Demna’s endless exploration of clothing and impression.
Accompanying the runway show is the Balenciaga Music Britney Spears limited-edition capsule collection, discreetly featured in Look 40 and 26. It pays homage to the late ’90s and early 2000s pop queen Britney Spears with printed T-shirts. The balenciaga.com website launched a dedicated page linking to Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming platforms, offering a free exclusive playlist curated by Britney herself, featuring two remixes by musician BFRND of Britney’s classic hits “Oops!… I Did It Again” and “Gimme More.” The former has amassed 1.5 billion views on YouTube over 15 years, while the latter counts 390 million views.
Meanwhile, Balenciaga is set to hold a “BALENCIAGA BY DEMNA: Ten-Year Retrospective” exhibition at Kering Group’s Paris headquarters. The exhibition uses the Balenciaga 2026 Spring “Exactitudes” collection as its entry point and thoroughly explores the creative journey of Demna and Balenciaga over the past decade. The exhibition is free to visit but requires prior reservation via the official website: exposition.balenciaga.com. The exhibition runs from June 26 through July 9.
