Louis Vuitton opened the Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run 2026 in Venice with the unveiling of a trophy designed by Sabine Marcelis and produced by Italian art glass Maison Venini. The House presented the trophy on September 1 at Palazzo Ducale, where Friend of the House Giulia Maenza revealed it inside a bespoke Louis Vuitton Trophy Trunk.
DESIGN
Marcelis created the trophy specifically for the 2026 edition of the rally, while Venini translated the design into glass. The commission brings contemporary product design into an event built around vintage automobiles, Italian culture and Louis Vuitton’s long association with travel.
Artisans at Louis Vuitton’s historic Asnières-sur-Seine workshops created the accompanying Trophy Trunk by hand. The exterior features Monogram canvas and the House’s “V” motif, which refers to both “Victory” and “Vuitton.” Traditional lozines, golden brass corners and locks complete the construction.
Louis Vuitton has produced custom trunks for major sporting events since 1988. Previous examples include trunks for the FIFA World Cup™, Ballon d’Or® and Formula 1® Grand Prix de Monaco.
The Venice program began at Villa Pisani in Stra, known as the “Queen of Venetian Villas.” Built in 1720, the estate includes nearly 14 hectares of Versailles-inspired gardens and has welcomed figures including Napoleon Bonaparte and members of the Habsburg royal family.
For the event, Villa Pisani opened to the public following restoration work on the estate and gardens. Louis Vuitton also partnered with the Venetian Heritage Foundation to support restoration work on the 18th-century Sala di Bacco.
A fleet of 22 vintage cars from major private collections gathered at the villa before taking part in a route of approximately 600 kilometers. The cars compete in a regularity race, where crews aim to match prescribed times and speeds with maximum accuracy.
The event also continues Louis Vuitton’s relationship with Venice’s Civic Museums, known as MUVE. Since 2013, that partnership has supported the restoration and return of over 200 artworks to the city.
The evening at Palazzo Ducale also included a performance imagined and staged by Fabio Cherstich, created around travel, artistic transformation and references to the golden age of travel.
The Louis Vuitton Dolomites Classic Run 2026 continues through September 4, travelling from Venice through the Dolomites to Monza. The participating cars will parade on the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza during the opening of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix™ before the event concludes at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, where the trophy will be presented to the winner.
