Pierpaolo Piccioli has a clear vision for Balenciaga—and he proves it with the first collaboration of his tenure as Creative Director: the one with the NBA. For Fall 2026, the language of activewear is reworked through a tailoring lens, turning the basketball imaginary into a precise system of volumes and materials. Here’s how.

The collection revolves around an idea of comfort elevated into an aesthetic value: soft silhouettes, functional layering, garments that seem designed to follow the body through everyday movement rather than freeze it into a pose. The sporty references are clear but never literal, absorbed into a wardrobe that reflects the structural legacy of Balenciaga’s heritage while, at the same time, not erasing the mark left by Demna Gvasalia—especially in its direct relationship with the street and urban culture.

NBA logos, team-inspired color palettes, and jersey-driven details become narrative elements rather than decoration—inserted into a story about collective identity, belonging, and the fluidity between worlds that only seem far apart. This isn’t a simple capsule: it’s an exercise in balance between sport and fashion, performance and construction, institution and everyday life.

Balenciaga x NBA is a project that asks what luxury activewear can be today. It looks like Pierpaolo Piccioli is already managing to filter what we’ll see in Balenciaga’s future through a human, inclusive, and contemporary vision.