How to Visit Balenciaga's Exhibit Honoring Demna in Paris

Demna's departure from Balenciaga after 10 years as creative director was unexpected and sent shockwaves through the industry. The Georgian designer is heading for Gucci after his last-ever Balenciaga show, the Fall/Winter 2025 Haute Couture show scheduled for July 9. Until then, the brand is giving him his flowers through an exhibit announced Wednesday. 

The exhibition will be held at Kering's Paris headquarters (located at 40 rue de Sèvres) and will emphasize Demna's impact on the brand, from his early days as a creative director in 2015 to his latest works this year. Balenciaga by Demna opens June 26 and will be on view until July 9, the same day as his last show for the luxury fashion house. It's open to the public, and visitors can register for a free ticket online.

A broad range of items will be on display, including previous invitations (Demna famously sent out creative invites to his runway shows), footwear, handbags, and ready-to-wear pieces. Excluding the show invites on display, there are 101 items total in the exhibit, with about half accompanied by an audio explanation, narrated by Demna.

After Demna leaves in July, Pierpaolo Piccioli, who was most recently the creative director at Valentino, is set to take his spot at Balenciaga.

"I must first and foremost thank Demna; I’ve always admired his talent and vision. I couldn’t ask for a better passing of the torch. This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the maison, adding another chapter with a new story. I am grateful for the trust that François-Henri, Francesca and Gianfranco are giving me. We were effortlessly on the same page from the start, and that is the best way to begin something new," Piccioli said in a statement when the news broke in May.

See more details on how to visit the Balenciaga by Demna exhibition on designer label's website.