Nicole Kidman, A$AP Rocky, and a host of other A-list stars turned heads in Biarritz, France, as Chanel unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Cruise Show.
Held on April 28 at the historic Le Casino Municipal overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the event marked a major moment for the fashion house, the debut Cruise collection from new creative director Matthieu Blazy. Guests first gathered at the iconic Hotel du Palais before making their way to the star studded runway presentation.
Why Biarritz? It’s Where Chanel Was Born
There was a very good reason why Chanel picked Biarritz for this special show. Way back in 1915, a young woman named Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel opened her very first couture house in this exact seaside city. It was here that she started creating the bold, freeing, and elegant designs that would change fashion forever.
Matthieu Blazy, who grew up playing on the beaches of Biarritz as a child, chose to return to these very shores for his first Cruise collection. He even named the collection “Sous le Salon la Plage,” which is French for “Beneath the Salon, the Beach.” The idea was about a place where rules fade away and where clothes can be both useful and beautiful at the same time. Blazy said the city gave Coco Chanel a sense of freedom, and that same spirit was alive again at this show.
To set the mood early, guests received a small shell pendant as their show invitation, a charming little gift that people were immediately sharing all over social media.
Stars Who Showed Up and Stood Out
Nicole Kidman and A$AP Rocky were among the biggest names in attendance at Chanel’s 2026 Cruise Show, joining a long list of stars for the fashion house’s major night in Biarritz.
Other notable guests included Marion Cotillard, Tilda Swinton, Sofia Coppola, Michaela Coel, Honor Swinton Byrne, Paloma Elsesser, and Charlotte Casiraghi.
Kidman and Rocky also stood out as newly official Chanel ambassadors, marking a fresh chapter in the brand’s new era under creative director Matthieu Blazy.
What Did They Wear?
The celebrity fashion outside the show was just as exciting as the runway itself. Nicole Kidman kept things classy in a sleek little black dress and oversized sunglasses, proving that simple style can still make a huge statement.
A$AP Rocky went the opposite direction, big, bold, and colorful, pairing his slouchy pink Chanel bag with a red top and a tan overcoat. The contrast between the two looks said a lot about how Chanel welcomes all kinds of fashion personalities.
Other guests dressed in elegant coastal-inspired looks, mixing evening glamour with a relaxed beach vibe, exactly the kind of balance that Blazy’s new vision for Chanel is all about.
The Collection That Defined The Night
Matthieu Blazy used his first Cruise collection for Chanel to revisit some of the brand’s most iconic fashion codes while adding a fresh, modern edge.
He opened the show with a reworked version of Chanel’s famous little black dress from 1926, a design once known for its radical simplicity. Blazy described it as “the original revenge dress,” setting the tone for a collection that balanced heritage with experimentation.
The runway featured lightweight silk pieces layered over sporty tank tops, tweed jackets paired with Basque striped skirts, and raffia tote bags that reflected the relaxed seaside setting of Biarritz. A newspaper print suit referenced Coco Chanel’s early years in the city, while playful fish-and-chips-inspired details added a lighter touch.
One standout moment came when model Kaya Wilkins, who is six months pregnant, walked the runway in a bikini top and tweed skirt suit, a look that quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the show.
The finale leaned fully into the coastal theme, with models wearing shimmering gowns in bright orange, aquamarine, and turquoise, finished with fish scale sequins and fishtail hems that reflected the oceanfront setting.
A New Chapter for Chanel
The Biarritz show marked a major moment for Chanel. It was Matthieu Blazy’s fifth collection for the brand and his very first Cruise show. In just one year since he was named creative director, Blazy has already made a huge impression, he was even listed among Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2026.
By returning to the beach where Chanel’s story first began over a century ago, Blazy reminded the world what makes this brand so special, the idea that fashion should feel free, fun, and made for real life, not just for runways. For the celebrities in the front row, for the models on the sand, and for fashion fans watching around the globe, the Chanel Cruise 2026/27 show was a moment worth remembering.
