Kering announced on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that Pierpaolo Piccioli is leaving Balenciaga, ending a tenure of less than two years as creative director of the Paris house.
Kering Chief Executive Luca de Meo praised Piccioli as a talented couturier and creative figure who commands great respect at the group. He said Kering intends to build on Balenciaga’s avant-garde character and its heritage while continuing to test creative limits.
Gianfranco Gianangeli, who is president and CEO of Balenciaga, thanked Piccioli on behalf of Kering for what he gave the house. According to reports of his statement, he credited the designer with restoring focus on the house’s couture roots and commended the way he approached constructing garments.
Neither executive gave a reason for the departure. After the announcement, Piccioli posted a farewell on Instagram thanking his team. The post included pictures of the house’s Avenue George V couture salons and of the work behind the Fall 2026 couture collection.
Piccioli at Valentino and His Move to Balenciaga
Before joining Balenciaga, Piccioli spent 25 years at Valentino, where his work made him one of the best-known couturiers in the industry.
Kering appointed him in May 2025 to succeed Demna, who moved to Gucci, and he officially started at Balenciaga on July 10, 2025.
The career of Piccioli at Valentino was built on couture, and his move brought that background to a house that Cristóbal Balenciaga founded as a couture business. Gianangeli’s comments on the house’s couture roots suggest that link was central to how Balenciaga described his work.
Pierpaolo Piccioli Balenciaga Collections and a Short Tenure
WWD reports that his output for the house totalled four collections, starting with a couture debut in July 2025. His ready-to-wear debut for Balenciaga came at Paris Fashion Week in October 2025.
His tenure also took in the Fall 2026 couture collection, whose behind-the-scenes images featured in his farewell post.
Counted from his July 2025 start, Piccioli’s time at the house lasted around 16 months, one of the shortest creative tenures in Balenciaga’s recent history.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | Kering appoints Piccioli to succeed Demna |
| July 10, 2025 | Piccioli officially starts at Balenciaga |
| July 2025 | Couture debut |
| October 2025 | Ready-to-wear debut, Paris Fashion Week |
| November 5, 2026 | Kering announces his departure |
| November 6, 2026 | Kering names Martine Rose as new creative director |
The Kering Creative Shake-Up Under Luca de Meo
The departure sits within a broader Kering creative shake-up. WWD counts Piccioli as the third creative head to depart Kering within a single month. Saint Laurent has lost Anthony Vaccarello, who spent ten years there, and Alexander McQueen has parted with Seán McGirr. Each house is searching for a new creative leader.
Our report, Seán McGirr Leaves Alexander McQueen After Three Years as Creative Director, covers one of those exits in detail.
The Business of Fashion reports that sales at Saint Laurent almost tripled while Vaccarello was in charge, though they have declined in the latest years. The figure shows how much a long-serving creative director can influence a house’s results, and how difficult the next step can be.
The pressure on the group is commercial as well as creative. Our report, Kering Revenue Flat as Gucci Sales Fall 6% in Third Quarter, explores the wider business backdrop.
Creative leadership changes are not limited to one group. For further context, read our coverage of Veronica Leoni’s exit from Calvin Klein.
What Comes Next After the Pierpaolo Piccioli Balenciaga Exit
Two points are confirmed. Piccioli is leaving, and Rose has been named the new Balenciaga creative director. Beyond that, several questions remain open.
Kering has given no reason for the Pierpaolo Piccioli Balenciaga exit, and Piccioli’s next move has not been announced.
For Balenciaga, the questions now turn to Rose. When will she present her first collection, and how will she balance the house’s couture origins with the avant-garde direction De Meo described?
The answers will come through Kering’s further announcements and the collections themselves. For more on the industry, see our Fashion & Beauty coverage and Latest Stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pierpaolo Piccioli leave Balenciaga?
Kering has not given a reason. Neither Luca de Meo nor Balenciaga CEO Gianfranco Gianangeli explained the departure in their statements.
When was the Pierpaolo Piccioli Balenciaga exit announced?
Kering announced it on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
How long was Piccioli at Balenciaga?
Less than two years. Reports put it at roughly 16 to 18 months, depending on whether they count from his May 2025 appointment or his July 10, 2025 start date.
Who replaces Piccioli as Balenciaga creative director?
Kering named Martine Rose as the new creative director on November 6, 2026, the day after the exit was announced. She begins on November 16, 2026.
How many collections did Piccioli design for Balenciaga?
WWD counts four in total, the first being a couture debut in July 2025. His ready-to-wear debut came at Paris Fashion Week in October 2025.
Who did Piccioli succeed at Balenciaga?
He succeeded Demna, who moved to Gucci. Kering appointed Piccioli in May 2025.
Where was Pierpaolo Piccioli before Balenciaga?
He spent 25 years at Valentino before joining Balenciaga.
Which other Kering creative directors have left recently?
Saint Laurent’s Anthony Vaccarello, after ten years, and Alexander McQueen’s Seán McGirr have also gone. WWD counts Piccioli as the third such exit within a month.
