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Pirelli Unveils 2026 ‘The Cal’ by Sølve Sundsbø, Centering Elemental Portraits of Experienced Women

Sundsbø emphasizes mature subjects to honor presence.

Overview

  • Unveiled in Prague on Nov. 14, 2025, the 52nd edition is reported as a partial return to a more revealing aesthetic after recent modest years.
  • Sundsbø frames the imagery as an elemental exploration of human origins and emotion rather than literal depictions of earth, air, fire or water.
  • Eleven established women lead the cast across film, fashion, sport and music, including Tilda Swinton, Isabella Rossellini, Venus Williams, FKA twigs, Irina Shayk and Eva Herzigová.
  • Shoots spanned studios in London and New York and coastal landscapes in Norfolk and Essex, blending natural backdrops with LED projections, 3D scans and hand retouching.
  • Highlighted set pieces include an underwater “Medusa” portrait of Herzigová, a miniature woodland for Swinton and fire imagery projected for Williams.