The iconic Italian coffee brand Lavazza has unveiled its highly anticipated calendar for 2026, a project entrusted to the celebrated visual storyteller Alex Webb of the legendary Magnum Photos agency. This artistic collaboration moves beyond mere product promotion, serving as a deep and poetic exploration of the rich, everyday tapestry that defines Italian culture.
A Visual Journey Through Italian Moments
Released on Friday 5 December 2025, the calendar features twelve captivating images that embody Webb's signature style of complex, colour-drenched street photography. Each photograph is paired with a short, literary caption, transforming the pages into a narrative journey. The project does not simply depict coffee drinking but frames it within a broader context of la dolce vita – from intimate morning reflections to lively social gatherings and serene coastal moments.
The scenes are meticulously crafted, capturing fleeting instances of human connection, ritual, and pleasure. January's image speaks of "mirrors" and "silver flashes," while June describes a "ritual" of sipping and dunking, where soft dough melts into milk foam. August shows a couple attempting to "trick the sunset" with coffee-drizzled gelato, and September depicts a romantic dance on a ship, with coffee "infused with the scent of the wind."
Webb's Signature Style Meets Italian Essence
Alex Webb is renowned for his ability to find layered, often surreal compositions within bustling everyday environments. His work for Lavazza applies this keen eye to the Italian landscape, finding depth and narrative in piazzas, cafes, and sun-drenched streets. The calendar's strength lies in this fusion: Webb's distinct photographic voice gives a fresh, contemporary perspective on timeless Italian themes.
The calendar stands as a significant piece of corporate art patronage, continuing Lavazza's long tradition of collaborating with world-class photographers. By choosing a Magnum photographer like Webb, known for his journalistic depth and artistic integrity, the brand aligns itself with a legacy of serious visual storytelling rather than conventional advertising.
More Than a Calendar: A Cultural Artefact
The final result is more than a functional item for the year ahead; it is a collectible art object that celebrates photography, culture, and the slow appreciation of life's simple pleasures. It reinforces Lavazza's position not just as a coffee company, but as a curator of Italian aesthetic and lifestyle values on the global stage. For admirers of street photography and Italian culture alike, the 2026 Lavazza calendar offers a monthly invitation to pause and savour a moment of captured beauty.
