Connecting us to where we come from: The Cal™ 2026

“I have been known to stand outside in the middle of the night in the rain, looking at a thunderstorm, for too long,” confesses Norway-born, London-based photographer and filmmaker Sølve Sundsbø. 

“I love that Romantic idea – explored by 19th-century painters like Caspar David Friedrich – of the connection between humans and nature. I guess we can call it some kind of mystery, imagination, passion, the desire for emancipation, and our relationship with time and space.”

It's this connection that inspires Sundsbø's 2026 take on the Pirelli Calendar. He started by creating a framework for his concept around the “elements” – in particular earth, water, air, fire and ether, along with other aspects of nature. “I don't believe in being too literal,” says Sundsbø. “The Calendar isn't really about earth, wind, fire, water; it's a way of connecting us to where we come from.” 

Cast members were then represented by a portrait with an elemental or natural theme decided in collaboration between the photographer and his subject. “I want to capture emotions, instincts and states of mind that are central to human life – so longing for freedom, curiosity, thirst for knowledge,” explains the leading fashion photographer, known for his fantastical imagery and use of cutting-edge technology. 

Shot in studios in London and New York, the 2026 Calendar portraits also incorporate footage captured outside in the English countryside of Norfolk and Essex (including cloud movements and sunsets), as well as props (such as fresh flowers) to evoke the elemental theme.

The cast is international and made up of women ranging in age from their 30s to their 70s, from the worlds of film, fashion, sport and music.

Academy Award-winner Tilda Swinton, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter FKA twigs, Academy Award-nominated actress, model and conservationist Isabella Rossellini and multiple Grand Slam-winning tennis player and Olympic gold medallist Venus Williams (who makes her Calendar debut following her sister Serena Williams' appearance in the 2016 Calendar shot by Annie Leibovitz) are among the women featured. 

“Crucially they are all women, not young models,” says Sundsbø of those selected for the upcoming Cal, which was shot in June and July. “They are experienced, grown-up people whom I deeply respect for what they do. Some I wanted to meet and photograph for the first time. Others I have worked with before and wanted to photograph again. It was a bit like: ‘Who would you like to have round for dinner?'”

The cast also includes former model and fashion designer Susie Cave (who previously appeared in Clive Arrowsmith's 1991 Calendar and Helmut Newton's Calendar shot in 1986 and presented in 2014), Italian actress and The Hand of God star Luisa Ranieri, Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, Russian fashion model and cover star Irina Shayk, Chinese model and actress Du Juan (who appeared in the 2008 Pirelli Cal shot by Patrick Demarchelier), Czech supermodel Eva Herzigová (previously featured in the 1996 Pirelli Cal shot by Peter Lindbergh and 1998 Cal by Bruce Weber) and Puerto Rican actress and Andor star Adria Arjona. 

Sundsbø discussed the concept with each subject to make sure they felt a connection with their setting. “It's all about conversations,” says Sundsbø. “You want this person to look beautiful and feel at one with their element. It's also about how you visualise that [concept] and connect these two things together.”

Originally, for instance, Sundsbø had FKA twigs in mind to represent one particular element. After preliminary discussions, however, the pair decided to switch to something more earthy, with twigs enjoying a shoot “rolling around” in sand. “There's nothing better than a person who clearly sees what you want to do, but who can also articulate what they are comfortable doing,” says Sundsbø.

Some of the set-ups are more literal than others. “With Eva [Herzigová] and Susie [Cave], we put them in water,” says Sundsbø. “With Tilda [Swinton] we made a magical mini forest for her in the studio. But you're limited by what makes a person look good and feel good. For instance, you don't want to have [real] fire burning behind someone unless you have to. For Venus [Williams], the fire was filmed in advance and projected on the wall behind her.” 

Sundsbø assembled a team of long-time collaborators to work on the 2026 Calendar: “Basically friends: people I know who I can talk to and be honest with. There was no extra baggage and a lot of honesty.”

Stylist Jerry Stafford has worked with Sundsbø on numerous projects including The Ever Changing Face of Beauty installation for W Magazine in 2012 and editorials (for Dust and Vogue Korea) featuring Tilda Swinton. “Jerry is both a good stylist and someone who's got that ability to open up doors in my head when I talk to him,” says Sundsbø. “He releases ideas by giving small drops of inspiration.” Working alongside Stafford was costume designer and seamstress Stevie Stewart.

The team in London also included hair stylists Syd Hayes (“Syd is an amazing hairdresser who will always do what's right for the picture rather than have a separate agenda”) and Ali Pirzadeh and make-up artist Val Garland (“I trust her eye and her skills as a make-up artist and human being.”) The New York team included hair stylist Bob Recine and make-up artist James Kaliardos. “Everyone was there to serve the pictures and create something magical,” says Sundsbø.

Also on set were directors of photography Benoît Delhomme (in London) and Tristan Sheridan (in New York): “They were next to me on set to help realise the pictures in film format,” says Sundsbø. “Two people I love working with because they have a lot of expertise and very little ego.” The set designer was Robbie Doig and casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro.

Sundsbø has shot for multiple leading fashion and beauty brands and his extensive work for magazines includes covers and editorials for Harper's Bazaar Italia, i-D, Love, Numéro, Perfect, Re-Edition, The Face, V, Vogue Italia and W. Among the high-profile men and women he has photographed are Brad Pitt and George Clooney (GQ), Zendaya and Cate Blanchett.

On being chosen to shoot the latest Pirelli Cal, he says: “It's a bit like receiving a prize and then having to earn it afterwards. Given the pantheon of photographers who have done it before, it's intimidating. But it's also a great honour and I'm so grateful.”