The Gucci Cruise 2026 collection will be unveiled on 15 May at a venue rich in the House’s heritage: the Palazzo Settimanni in Florence. As Demna prepares for his forthcoming debut at the House, this interim collection will be designed by Gucci’s in-house team, offering a moment of reflection and anticipation as the brand bridges its storied past with its evolving future.
Acquired by the brand in 1953, the 15th-century palazzo has served as everything from a workshop, production hub, to a showroom. Since 2021, the Palazzo Settimanni has become a restored archive that houses Gucci’s most iconic creations. The building’s layered past mirrors the House's own evolution from Florentine luggage atelier to global arbiter of fashion and luxury.
The decision to stage the show within Palazzo Settimanni signifies a poignant return to Florence, the birthplace of Guccio Gucci and the cradle of the House’s century-long heritage. From its inception in 1921, Gucci has remained intrinsically linked to this storied city, where craftsmanship is not merely tradition but lifeblood. Today, Florence is home to a constellation of Gucci institutions, from Palazzo Gucci and Gucci Osteria to the experimental hub Gucci ArtLab. Each plays a vital role in safeguarding and reimagining the brand’s heritage for a new era.
“Returning to Florence—and specifically to Palazzo Settimanni—is both a tribute and a declaration of intent,” explains Stefano Cantino, CEO of Gucci. “The Archive is not merely a repository of our past; it is a living space where Gucci’s identity codes are preserved and reinterpreted through an ongoing dialogue. Presenting the Cruise 2026 collection here reaffirms our bond with the cultural and artisanal heritage that defines us, while projecting it into the future with coherence and ambition.”
The Gucci Cruise 2026 show is also set to pay cultural homage to its birthplace. Reinforcing its commitment to the communities and spaces that shape its identity, the House will take part in the 2026 edition of the Estate Fiorentina cultural programme, while also supporting the redevelopment of Parco delle Cascine, a historical park in the city.
