Louis Vuitton heads to the South of France for its Cruise 2026 collection, where Nicolas Ghesquière continues his legacy of site-specific storytelling. This season, the historic Palais des Papes in Avignon provides the dramatic setting for a collection steeped in Gothic grandeur and futuristic elegance.
Image courtesy: Louis Vuitton
Amid the medieval grandeur, Ghesquière’s silhouettes are structured and sculptural, with baroque-inspired prints, shimmering metallics, and contemporary graphic motifs woven throughout. Jewel-toned hues lend the collection a quiet opulence, balancing its structured silhouettes and graphic details. The result is a vision of neo-gothic armor for the modern woman.
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
The bags, of course, tell their own story – equal parts wanderlust and savoir-faire. The iconic Alma appears throughout the collection in new fabrications that lend fresh texture and attitude to the familiar silhouette, including a newly introduced style that riffs on its signature curves. While monogram canvas makes a rare appearance, it’s far from dominant; instead, Ghesquière leans into rich leathers, gleaming metallic finishes, a touch of exotic skins, and baroque-inspired prints.
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Let’s unpack the standout accessories.
Alma
First introduced in 1934, the Alma remains a centerpiece in Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2026 runway lineup, presented in sizes ranging from BB to GM. This season’s collection showcases a variety of finishes.
Among the Alma stars are versions adorned with raised gilded embellishments in gleaming gold. Inspired by the intricate artistry usually found on rare book covers, these sculptural details lend the bags an almost regal quality. Instead of the usual key clochette design, some larger styles feature matching floral bag charms. Meanwhile, the smaller offerings come with reinforced leather corners and chunky chain straps.
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
Image courtesy: @lbrrdd
Complementing these is a single statement Alma crafted from paneled exotic skins, combining crocodile and ostrich textures for rich tactile luxury.
Finally, the classic Monogram canvas also makes a refined appearance. Mirroring the fabrication of the Monogram canvas Speedy Trunk, this design is rendered in canvas, elevated with reinforced metal corners, and finished with black leather details in place of traditional Vachetta.
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Alma Redesigned
A fresh take on the Alma silhouette arrives with Ghesquière’s latest reimagining. In a bold departure from the classic double-handle design, this iteration features a single wristlet strap, hand-held on the runway, along with an attached loop chain. Additionally, the new design boasts a more arched shape than the original, evoking the curves of a cathedral window, while retaining the wide zip-top opening that defines the classic. Three distinct styles made their runway debut in several sizes and finished with unique textures and details.
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
First, a pristine white leather version with an intricately mirrored floral motif, blending earthy neutrals with vibrant pops of green.
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Next, a sleek black leather iteration injects edgy sophistication. It features round gold and silver-tone studs arranged in a diamond pattern, framing Louis Vuitton’s iconic Monogram flower.
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Rounding out the trio is a graphic two-tone checkerboard design in black and white patent leather, with the circle loop strap.
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Speedy Trunk
It wouldn’t be an LV show without the iconic Speedy – and this season it arrives in the Speedy Trunk style. Taking on a hard-case form, the design was showcased in the compact size 20, as well as larger variations. Crafted in an ornate gilded finish – the same opulent design seen in the Alma lineup – the bag features reinforced leather corners and an S lock closure. Each metallic gold offering was elevated with either deep teal or black leather accents.
Another standout iteration appeared in a metal-like finish, complete with raised Monogram detailing, black leather trim, and reinforced metal corners.
Camera Box & Bag
Striking the fine line between luggage and handbag, the Camera Box Bag completes the trio of ornate gold and teal gilded designs alongside the Alma and Speedy. On the runway, it was styled hand-held by its top handle and also features a short chain strap for versatile wear.
The more structured Camera Box shares the metallicized construction characteristic of the Speedy Trunk. Crafted from what appears to be aged metal with raised Monogram details, this ornate vertical mini trunk is trimmed with sleek black leather accents.
Petite Malle
Ghesquière’s signature Petite Malle is elevated this season with luxurious ombré exotics – likely crocodile or alligator, adding a rich tonal depth to the trunk-inspired silhouette. Departing from its usual long shoulder strap, this iteration features a sleek chain finished with a leather shoulder section, and was styled handheld on the runway.
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
Side Trunk
Following suit, the Side Trunk also receives the exotic treatment, reimagined in delicate ostrich skin in a beige shade and finished with gold-tone hardware.
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Another more pared-back iteration offers a minimalist, almost trompe-l’œil effect, with streamlined construction and minimal hardware. Departing from the original’s contrasting Monogram canvas and Vachetta trim, this version opts for smooth tonal leather throughout, including a matching S-Lock, for a sleek, monochromatic look. It was presented in a rich, deep beige, soft cream, and pale blue.
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
LV Twist & Twist West
A decade after its Cruise 2015 debut, the LV Twist returns to the runway — reimagined in high-shine exotic finishes, including standout takes on the sleek Twist West silhouette. This season, the line features glossy crocodile, alligator, and lizard skins in rich ombré and saturated tones. Tonal hardware and tactile top handles replace the traditional chain strap on select styles, giving the design a sculptural, evening-ready edge for Cruise 2026.
Image courtesy: @lbrrdd
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Express Bag
First seen on the Fall-Winter 2025 runway, the Express Bag returns for Cruise 2026. Echoing the silhouette of the Speedy but with a more elongated and relaxed feel, this all-leather design was presented in a compact size in bright white leather. Reverse Monogram canvas trim adds a subtle heritage touch, balancing the bag’s slouchy shape with classic Louis Vuitton codes.
Read also: Travel Ready: Louis Vuitton’s Best Fall-Winter 2025 Bags
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
LV Biker
Another one of Ghesquière’s recent additions, the LV Biker, made its debut in the Spring-Summer 2025 collection and returns for Cruise 2026 in a bold new finish. In the nano size, it is handheld and fabricated in shimmering silver with black leather accents.
Read also: 5 Louis Vuitton Bags You Need to Know About Right Now
Image courtesy: @louisuitton
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Bucket Bag
A new design for Cruise 2026 offers a fresh take on the bucket bag silhouette, presenting a distinct departure from icons like the Noé and NeoNoé. Crafted from smooth cream leather, the bag features a Monogram canvas interior that folds over the top, creating a relaxed, inside-out aesthetic. Equipped with an adjustable leather top handle, the design is accented by a leather-coated padlock detail on the front and a clochette hanging from the side.
Image courtesy: Vogue Runway
Monogram Clutch
One of the few entirely Monogram canvas pieces on the Cruise 2026 runway draws directly from a style first seen in the Spring/Summer 2023 collection. This clutch reinterprets the original Monogram Clutch by replacing the traditional Vachetta trim and top handle with a softer, less structured silhouette. Puffy and pillow-like, it features a ruched top fastening, black leather trim, and the signature S-Lock closure, paying homage to its SS23 predecessor.
CarryAll Hybrid
A fresh spin on the CarryAll, this new Monogram canvas style bridges the gap between the CarryAll PM and the Lucky Trunk. While it borrows the roomy, slouched hobo silhouette from the CarryAll, it forgoes the signature tie closure in favor of a secure zip top. Vachetta leather trim outlines the design, which features three distinct straps: a long shoulder strap, a shorter one, and a chain top handle reminiscent of the one seen on the Lucky Trunk. Though it shares some of the hardware and details of the Lucky Trunk, its proportions are noticeably more generous, aligning it closer to the CarryAll in functionality, with a softened, everyday slouch.
From Trunks to Toolboxes
While this runway was largely void of the usual trunk styles, aside from the handbag-sized Camera Box and Petite Malle, Ghesquière embraced a different kind of utilitarian accessory. He transformed humble wooden caddies, traditionally used for storing horse grooming tools or workshop essentials, into chunky, medieval-inspired toolboxes. These rugged pieces, crafted from light to tanned treated wood and finished with leather-wrapped handles, carried subtle nods to Louis Vuitton’s heritage through luggage tags and Monogram canvas panels.
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Image courtesy: @harpersbazaarhk
Which of Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2026 bags would you pack for a sun-drenched escape? Let us know your standout style.
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Updated: May 23rd, 2025
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