Following a day marked by speeches from panelists at the Luxury and Creation Summit, the awards ceremony for the winners of the Luxury and Creation Talents competition was held on June 23, 2026, at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand as part of the Luxury Summit.
As Georges Bernanos wrote: “Artists are no more intelligent than others; they are made of different stuff.” In this age of AI, automation, and industrialization, what still defines the value of luxury? This is the question posed by the Centre du Luxe, the independent think tank for the luxury and creative industries.
Once again in partnership with the media outlet Luxus Plus, the Center brought together a gathering of professionals and experts from the luxury and economic sectors at the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand for its annual conference. The conference was followed at the end of the day by the Luxury and Creativity Talent Awards ceremony.
A year dedicated to creativity
It was in this creative and prestigious setting that Claire Domergue, editor-in-chief of Luxus +, hosted this year’s most anticipated awards ceremony in the world of luxury.
The 2026 edition of the Luxe and Creation Talents Awards saw a high level of participation: more than 100 applications were submitted to the committee; of these, 73 were shortlisted, 43 were nominated, and only 17 received awards. Accompanied by their sponsors and jury members, the winners proudly posed for the cameras on stage, holding their trophies.
For more than twenty years of promoting exceptional talent, the event has made it its mission to build bridges between creators and entrepreneurs who share a passion for creativity, a commitment to excellence, and a drive for innovation across various luxury sectors: fashion and accessories, design and architecture, fine crafts, jewelry and watchmaking, perfumes and cosmetics, wines and spirits, gastronomy and hospitality…
All the honorees distinguished themselves through their unique creative approach and entrepreneurial spirit. This is the case, for example, with Surya Mathew, Master Jeweler at Maison Surya Mathew, recognized in the wellness category, who was introduced to fine jewelry at the age of ten. He is the worthy heir and representative of the sixth generation in a lineage of jewelers. Thanks to his dual cultural background, this Franco-Indian jeweler embodies the vibrant dialogue between East and West.
An exceptional jury to celebrate craftsmanship
What would the opening of an awards ceremony be without the introduction of its jury of experts? Chaired by Jacques Carles, the jury was composed of 16 members from a wide range of backgrounds, including the arts, media, and business. On stage to present the awards to the winners were, among others, Hubert Barrère, CHANEL’s Ambassador for Fashion Arts and Crafts; Vincent Grégoire, Director of Consumer Trends & Insights at Nelly Rodi; and Corentin Quideau, Founder of Corentin Quideau Consulting.
They shared with the audience and the winners their unanimous vision of excellence and craftsmanship, which constitute the very essence of art. Thus, in the face of lingering doubts about the eternal tension between human hands and artificial intelligence, the entire jury agreed on the eternal cycle of creative renewal. If, from now on, anyone can create quickly and easily with artificial intelligence, can anyone be an artist? And if anyone can create, will we still need artists?
And Jacques Carles is unequivocal in the face of the rise of AI in our daily lives: we must move with the times. For Jonathan Siboni, CEO of Luxurynsight, talent arises from a proper balance of forces. Artificial intelligence should not be viewed as an enemy, but as a tool: the democratization of the automobile did not spell the end of race car drivers, but rather the rise of Formula 1 stars. AI should be seen as a tool for enhancement, not replacement.
For its part, emPrinte, the technology arm of the Spie batignolles group and winner of the Innovation Talent category, embodies the industrial revolution that is restoring AI to its rightful place in the creative process. Thanks to its innovative 3D concrete printing technology, it reduces concrete consumption, alleviates the physical strain of the work, and shortens production times, all while applying its technical expertise to support creative vision.
When playfulness meets luxury
Several winners stood out for their highly recognizable aesthetic. This is the case for Barnaba Fornasetti, the entrepreneur at the helm of the family-owned Fornasetti company and winner of the Talents d’Or award, who shone through his presence, his entrepreneurial vision within the family business, and his creativity. The Fornasetti aesthetic blends trompe-l’oeil neoclassical architecture, commedia dell’arte, and surrealism tinged with humor. After numerous collaborations with major fashion houses such as Valentino, Comme des Garçons, and Louis Vuitton, he is now collaborating with Nicolas Ghesquière, who draws inspiration from his archives. His pioneering spirit led him to explore new realms such as luxury yachting, hospitality, and perfumery through major institutions—the Ferretti Group and Mandarin Oriental in Milan. Barnaba Fornasetti has firmly established the world of his house-studio within the most renowned cultural institutions around the globe.
Laure-Isabelle Mellerio, president and artistic director of Mellerio and winner of the Management Talent award, has distinguished herself through her ingenuity and versatility.
A trophy that reflects the talents
Like each awardee, every trophy is unique: a letter representing the category in which they competed. The trophies for the 2026 edition were created through the collaboration of two exceptional designers and artisans: Jean-Baptiste Sibertin-Blanc, designer and 2002 Talent of Elegance, and Hugues Desserme, head of his family workshop founded in the 19th century—one of the last artisans in France to master the art of glass blowing using traditional methods.
Their inspiration is original, to say the least. It draws on the unique style of initial letters used in Renaissance texts—letters that are larger than the rest of the text and serve as ornamentation. Crafted using the colored glass fusing technique, these letters feature vibrant colors that honor each recipient’s talent.
This 2026 edition has demonstrated that luxury continues to reinvent itself without compromising its essence. In a world where technology accelerates creative processes, the luxury trades seem more than ever to champion the value of time, craftsmanship, and human uniqueness.
It is in this spirit of inspiration and support that Luxus + has offered each winner a VIP subscription, granting access to all articles—even the most exclusive ones—as well as the print magazine, and invitations to its own events and those of its partners.
The complete list of the 2026 Award Winners
Awards Presented
Talent for Boldness: Nathalie Seiller Dejan, straw jeweler
Talent for Well-being: Surya Mathew, master jeweler
Talent for Elegance: Nathalie Rolland-Huckel, lacquer artist, and Rinaldo Invernizzi, president of Barovier et Toso
Talent for Harmony: Julien Roos, designer
Talent for Innovation: Pierre Couque, Deputy Director at Spie batignolles emPrinte
Talent for Invention: Laetitia Baqué, embroidery artisan, and Victor Molinié, Co-Artistic Directors at Atelier Baqué Molinié
Talent for Originality: Géraldine Gonzalez, artist
Talent for Rarity: Régis Mathieu, CEO of Mathieu Lustrerie International
Talent for Seduction: Epona Li-Smith, jeweler and goldsmith
Talent for Management: Laure-Isabelle Mellerio, president and artistic director at Mellerio
Special Awards
Imprint of the Year: Romain Cieutat
Artistic Crafts Award: Olivier Juteau and Alain Melliand
Special Jury Prize: Olivier Bon and Eric Bonte
Golden Talent: Barnaba Fornasetti
Hugues Desserme : “The value embodied in these trophies lies in this combination of action, time, and human thought.”
Featured photo : Opening of the 2026 Luxury and Creative Talent Awards Ceremony © Jade Vieira
