Luxury Summit 2026: what still defines the value of luxury

On June 23, 2026, the awards ceremony for the winners of the Talents du Luxe et de la Création took place 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.” The Center is an independent think tank dedicated to the luxury and creative industries. In this age of AI, automation, and industrialization, what still defines the value of luxury?

A Year Dedicated to Creativity

Established in 2002, the Talents of Luxury and Creativity are awards presented to creators and entrepreneurs for the values they embody: boldness, well-being, elegance, harmony, innovation, allure, rarity, and originality. A new category has been added this year: management, an essential element in the development of workshops, manufactories, and luxury Houses.

The 2026 edition was rich in creativity and participation: over one hundred applications were submitted to the committee, 73 were shortlisted, and 43 were nominated. And while some may think that creativity is going through a rough patch, Jacques Carles, president of the Centre du Luxe et de la Création, is personally convinced that the very essence of creation lies in its perpetual renewal. Accompanied by their sponsor and the jury members, the winners proudly posed for the cameras on stage, holding their trophies.

After more than twenty years of promoting exceptional talent, connections between creators and entrepreneurs have been forged, united by their shared passion for creation, a commitment to excellence, and a drive for innovation across various sectors of the luxury industry: fashion and accessories, design and architecture, fine crafts, jewelry and watchmaking, perfumes and cosmetics, wines and spirits, gastronomy and hospitality…

Among them, all the nominees have distinguished themselves through their creative approach or their entrepreneurial spirit. In the wellness category, Surya Mathew, Master Jeweler at Maison Surya Mathew—who was introduced to art jewelry at the age of ten—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 an introduction of the jury? 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, 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, shared with the audience and the winners their unanimous vision of excellence and craftsmanship—the very essence of art.

While the entire jury agrees on the eternal cycle of creative renewal and the perpetuation of excellence within art, others have raised concerns about the growing influence of AI in our daily lives. If, from now on, anyone can create quickly and easily using artificial intelligence, can anyone be an artist? And if anyone can create, will we still need artists? emPrinte, the group’s technology arm and winner in its category, Spie batignolles, embodies the industrial revolution made possible by AI. Thanks to its innovative 3D concrete printing technology, it addresses multiple areas of innovation—reducing concrete consumption, alleviating the physical strain of labor, and shortening production times—all while applying its technical expertise to support creative vision.

While some still express doubts about the age-old conflict between human hands and artificial intelligence, the Center is unequivocal: we must move with the times. For Jonathan Siboni, CEO of Luxurynsight, talent stems from the right 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 for drivers, but rather the rise of Formula 1 stars. AI should be seen as a tool for enhancement, not replacement.

A trophy that reflects the talents

Like every honoree, each 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: their uniqueness draws on the 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.

The 2026 Award Winners

Hugues Desserme: “The value embodied in these trophies lies in this union of craftsmanship, time, and human thought.”

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

The 2026 edition 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.