Balenciaga’s Pre-Fall 2026 menswear collection marks a defining moment for the house as Pierpaolo Piccioli presents his first men’s designs for Balenciaga—and his second collection overall since taking the creative helm. The result is a confident, forward-looking statement that blends sportif ease, technical innovation and couture-level refinement, all filtered through Piccioli’s unmistakable sense of elegance.
A Dialogue With the House’s Past
Menswear at Balenciaga has always existed more as an idea than a legacy. Founded in 1937 by Cristóbal Balenciaga, the house only entered the menswear market commercially in 2004. When Demna designed his first men’s collection a decade ago, he famously referenced an unfinished camel overcoat Cristóbal had been working on for himself.
Piccioli now revisits that same camel coat—reimagined through his own lens.
“I did it because I like the idea of giving a sort of continuum to what has been done before,” he said, underscoring his respect for Balenciaga’s codes while asserting a new creative rhythm.
The gesture mirrors Piccioli’s broader philosophy since arriving from Valentino: evolution without erasure.
Sportif Foundations, Elevated
At its core, the collection reassures Balenciaga’s loyal male audience. Chunky sneakers, tracksuits, hoodies and logo T-shirts anchor the lineup in the brand’s streetwise DNA. Yet Piccioli pushes further, introducing luxurious leather, sculptural volumes and sharply tailored pieces that elevate the everyday.
“The vibe of reality and life,” Piccioli explained, describing a wardrobe meant to move seamlessly between work, workout and the city.
Shot on Paris streets, in the metro and inside a grand apartment outfitted with gym equipment, the lookbook reinforces that lived-in, urban realism.
Performance Meets Polish
Comfort is not an afterthought—it’s a design principle.
“If you don’t feel comfortable, you will never look cool,” Piccioli insisted.
Clinging technical garments—leggings, cropped tanks and catsuits—are crafted from moisture-wicking, antibacterial, high-performance fabrics, some even embroidered with sequins yet durable enough for intense movement. Leather jackets are engineered like windbreakers, while footwear blurs categories: a pliable ballerina sneaker with a rubber sole and men’s loafers featuring cushioned Lycra interiors akin to sports shoes.
Even sneakers tell a personal story. Piccioli, a longtime wearer of Balenciaga footwear since the Triple S era, describes the new Jet sneaker as ultra-light and genuinely sport-ready, despite its bold proportions.
Couture Shapes, Modern Attitude
Piccioli doesn’t abandon couture drama—he refines it. Opera-coat volumes reappear on bombers, cocoon silhouettes define pea coats with oversized buttons, and leather becomes a sculptural medium capable of bold form without heavy internal construction.
Collaborations With Purpose
Following Balenciaga’s tradition of headline-making partnerships, Piccioli introduces collaborations that feel strategic and elevated.
- With Manolo Blahnik, he explores refined, sensual footwear.“I think we can create a business with elegant shoes as well,” Piccioli noted, pointing to a more high-brow commercial vision.
- A capsule with the National Basketball Association (NBA) delivers jerseys, shorts, bombers and tracksuits—dropping immediately and reinforcing the collection’s sporty credibility.
With its freewheeling mix of athletic wear, couture references and real-life functionality, Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2026 menswear feels both immediate and enduring. Piccioli’s debut proves he has already found his footing at the house—honoring its past, energizing its present and confidently shaping its future.
In his hands, Balenciaga menswear becomes a study in movement, elegance and modern masculinity—rooted in reality, polished by couture, and unmistakably current.
