Is the Pirelli Calendar still relevant in 2026? Discover why it still shapes culture
The Pirelli Calendar 2026 challenges conventions, merging nature, high-tech, and iconic figures to redefine beauty, identity, and cultural influence
1964: The Birth of the Pirelli Calendar That Redefined Beauty, Culture and Fashion
When the first Pirelli Calendar was unveiled in 1964, it was never intended to be just another branded item. Conceived by Pirelli’s UK branch as a daring marketing experiment, it was designed as an object of beauty, culture, and aspiration—aimed at elevating the brand far beyond the world of tyres.
Guided by Derek Forsyth’s artistic direction and captured through the lens of Robert Freeman—the legendary photographer behind some of the Beatles’ most iconic imagery—the Pirelli Calendar instantly stood apart. Shot in the sun-drenched landscapes of Majorca, the debut edition radiated youthful energy, effortless elegance, and a visual confidence that felt decades ahead of its time.
From day one, The Cal was different: exclusive, artistic, and culturally attuned. It wasn’t mass-produced, sold, or in any way predictable. It was a collectable—a true statement piece that would go on to shape global culture for years to come.
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The Pirelli Calendar remains a cultural touchstone—continually evolving, influencing fashion, and reaffirming its relevance in today’s creative landscape
The Four Transformative Eras of the Pirelli Calendar: From Bold Beginnings to Reinvention
For over six decades, the Pirelli Calendar has reinvented itself time and again, capturing the cultural spirit of each era with unmatched style and audacity.
1964–1974: A youthful, audacious debut—bursting with sun-soaked energy and effortless elegance—halted only by the oil crisis.
1984–1994: A triumphant comeback marked by glamour, soaring creativity, and photographers pushing every boundary of visual storytelling.
1994–2015: The golden age of supermodels—Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and an unforgettable roster of visual icons who defined a generation.
2016–today: A bold reinvention—celebrating identity, diversity, depth, and storytelling—proving that The Cal can evolve as quickly as culture itself: relevant, thought-provoking, and endlessly inspiring.
The Enduring Influence of the Pirelli Calendar on Fashion, Art and Photography
Unlike any traditional fashion calendar, The Cal has always been invitation-only—a coveted symbol of exclusivity that sparks curiosity and fascination worldwide. Only a select circle of celebrities, cultural figures, and VIPs receive it, making each edition a rare treasure.
Its prestige comes not only from its exclusivity but from the visionaries behind it: world-renowned photographers like Peter Lindbergh and Annie Leibovitz, alongside actresses, athletes, musicians, and thinkers whose appearances turn each edition into a work of art rather than a mere promotional item.
Yet what truly sets the Pirelli Calendar apart is its role as a mirror of its time. It captures evolving ideals of beauty, shifting gender politics, artistic innovation, and social change. Its influence resonates across fashion, photography, pop culture, and global creative trends, making it far more than a calendar—it is a cultural icon that continues to inspire and challenge the world.
@whowhatwear.uk As soon as we heard #GwendolineChristie was to be part of this year's #Pirelli Calendar (shot by the incredible Sølve Sundsbø), we had to get all of the details. #gameofthrone #brienneoftarth ♬ original sound - Who What Wear UK
Invitation-only and shaped by iconic photographers, the Pirelli Calendar mirrors global culture—capturing shifting beauty, identity, and social change
The Cal 2026: Where Nature, Technology and Timeless Beauty Converge
The 2026 Pirelli Calendar, photographed by the acclaimed Sølve Sundsbø, marks a daring new chapter in the calendar’s iconic history. Inspired by the dramatic landscapes and extreme climates of his native Norway, Sundsbø brings his lifelong fascination with natural elements—mountains, forests, wind, and light—to the fore. “It’s like a kind of nostalgia, without delving too deeply into psychoanalysis,” Sundsbø explains. “It’s something I’ve always wanted. It’s a feeling that’s always been there, and in recent years it has become even stronger.”
This year’s concept explores the intersection of nature and technology, blending Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Light, and Energy with digital environments and LED-lit studio worlds. Sølve Sundsbø filmed outdoors in the English countryside, capturing time-lapse sequences of sky, clouds, and sunsets in Norfolk and Essex, before projecting these natural environments onto enormous LED screens in studios in London and New York. The result is a seamless fusion of organic unpredictability and studio precision, producing imagery that is both visually stunning and conceptually bold.
As always, the Pirelli Calendar’s protagonists are its stars—actresses, musicians, top models, and athletes, chosen not for their embodiment of an abstract ideal of beauty but for their experience, stage presence, and cultural resonance. Tilda Swinton becomes Ether, FKA twigs is enveloped by sand as Living Earth, Venus Williams channels Energy through movement, and Isabella Rossellini returns after more than twenty years, engaging in a dialogue with her own iconic past. Alongside them are Eva Herzigová, Irina Shayk, Gwendoline Christie, Luisa Ranieri, Susie Cave, Du Juan, and Adria Arjona, each defining a fragment of the overarching narrative.
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Icons from fashion, film, sport, and music gather for The Cal 2026, celebrating its stars and the cultural impact they embody
Sølve Sundsbø carefully matched each subject to her element: “You observe these women, their temperaments, talk to them, and develop ideas—together with them, for them. You want the subject to feel in harmony with her element.” The shoots combine natural locations with studio setups, sometimes literal—water for Eva Herzigová and Susie Cave, a magical miniature forest for Tilda Swinton, flowers surrounding Isabella Rossellini—creating moments that balance mystery, imagination, and emotion.
The 2026 Pirelli Calendar is complemented by a short film, adding movement and extending the dimensions of time and space. Sundsbø explains: “Moving images allow you to distort space and time—you might film clouds over two hours in 20 seconds while the subject is shot in slow motion in the studio. It’s a different way of experiencing photography and amplifies the narrative of each portrait.”
The result is a calendar that doesn’t just look breathtaking—it feels relevant. It sparks conversation, challenges conventions, and reminds us that beauty evolves, deepens, and grows richer with time. In 2026, The Cal proves once again that it is not merely a calendar, but a cultural push and a bold statement on age, identity, creativity, and the enduring power of photography.
Why The Cal 2026 is a Game-Changer: Innovation, Identity and a New Vision of Beauty
This edition of the Pirelli Calendar doesn’t merely reflect nature or embrace technology—it transforms them into a multi-dimensional vision of beauty, both ancient and futuristic.
Beyond the striking imagery, the project stands out for the ambition, meticulous planning, and creative freedom that defined its creation. Photographer Sølve Sundsbø spent almost a year orchestrating the shoots, explaining: “With Pirelli, you don’t have a client telling you what to do. You create your own brief, set your own limits. The most complex work happens before and after the shoot… everything has to be perfectly prepared for each subject.”
The edition also embodies a deeply Romantic philosophy, inspired by Sundsbø’s lifelong connection with nature. As he reflects: “Being outdoors in adverse weather, completely alone, fully immersed in your surroundings—that is where I find happiness. It’s a connection between humans and nature, like in a Caspar David Friedrich painting.” This sensibility guided the creative process, blending imagination, experimentation, and precision to craft a narrative that challenges conventional norms of beauty, age, and identity.
By integrating studio innovation, moving images, and intricate technical planning, the calendar goes beyond still photography, offering a cinematic, immersive experience that expands the boundaries of fashion imagery. This fusion of conceptual daring, technical mastery, and cultural resonance allows The Cal 2026 to dismantle old norms, ask bigger questions, and redefine what a fashion icon can be.
More than 60 years after its debut, the Pirelli Calendar remains one of the world’s most influential cultural artefacts because it continues to evolve, innovate, and lead—proving that photography can be both an artistic object and a cultural statement.
Angelo Ruggeri
Journalist and Tutor for Styling, Business and Design Course and Master’s Programmes, Milan