Balenciaga Debuts the Hourglass Avenue Bag for Winter 26

 

Balenciaga has always known the power of a good curve. First introduced for summer 1943, Cristóbal Balenciaga’s Basque silhouette drew on folkloric dress from his native region, with fitted jackets flaring into pronounced peplums below the waist. Those proportions became a house signature, appearing across blazers, denim, and puffers before inspiring the original Hourglass bag’s curved base in Fall/Winter 2019.

For Winter 2026, Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli lets the silhouette loosen up. The new Balenciaga Hourglass Avenue bag retains that distinctive curvature, pairing a softer construction with glossy, reworked box leather. Inspired by a doctor’s bag, its generous interior and natural creasing give the sculptural design a more lived-in attitude.

 

The accompanying campaign, shot by artist duo Hart Lëshkina, brings that sensibility home. Starring Anna Van Patten, Maddi Waterhouse, Salem Mitchell, Yang Chaoyue, and more, the images and films place the bag among magazines, guitars, and wired headphones. These personal surroundings have a romance to them, where a handbag becomes part of the belongings we collect, carry, and keep close.

A top handle, concealed second handle, and detachable crossbody strap offer multiple carrying options, while the elongated East West version swaps the leather strap for a chain. Aged-gold magnetic closures bear the Balenciaga name and 10 Avenue George V, the historic address of Cristóbal’s Paris ateliers and the house’s current headquarters. Colorways include black, raisin, carmin red, snow white, and a photo-printed black finish.