The prestigious Lavazza Calendar has unveiled its 2026 edition, featuring the exceptional work of legendary Magnum Photos photographer Alex Webb. Titled "Pleasure Makes Us Human," this 34th edition of the renowned calendar explores the authentic essence of Italy through Webb's distinctive visual storytelling approach. The project was officially presented at Art Basel Miami Beach, marking another milestone in the calendar's distinguished history of collaborating with world-class photographers.
The Lavazza Calendar has established itself as a premier platform for acclaimed photographers, previously featuring iconic names such as Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, and Steve McCurry. For the 2026 edition, the Italian coffee company selected Webb, a Magnum Photos member since 1979, known for his complex layered street photography and signature use of vibrant colors and dramatic shadows. Rather than relying on conventional postcards or clichéd imagery, the project aims to capture the "intangible yet universally recognizable" quality of Italian culture.
Webb's calendar project is conceived as a modern "Grand Tour" spanning the Italian peninsula from north to south. The collection comprises 14 carefully selected images that weave together landscapes and daily routines, showcasing everything from the quiet dignity of an Art Nouveau barbershop in Genoa to the spiritual intensity of the Feast of Santa Rosalia in Palermo. These visual narratives find beauty and intrigue in the spontaneous rhythm of daily life, avoiding stereotypical representations of Italy.
The renowned photographer, celebrated for his "audacious geometries" and use of warm, vibrant colors, brought his distinctive aesthetic to this commissioned work. When discussing beauty in his photography, Webb explained that he prefers the term "resonance" over traditional concepts of beauty. He seeks not the "beauty of a postcard" but rather a "complicated beauty" that authentically reflects the complex nature of the world. This philosophy guided his approach to capturing Italy's multifaceted character.
Webb's personal connection to Italy dates back to 1957 when, at age five, he took his first European journey with his family. The three-month trip included a month-long stay in Italy, creating lasting memories of the country's food culture, including roast beef in Rome and his first taste of wine in Pisa. "It's a resonance with things in the past," Webb reflected during a video interview, describing how these childhood experiences influenced his current work.
The entire project was completed in just 12-13 days of shooting during July, following initial discussions that began in April. Webb maintained his characteristic minimalist approach, describing his camera as simply "an extension of the eye." He shot most of the calendar using a Leica M (Typ 240) rangefinder paired with a Summicron 35mm f/2 lens, only switching to a 28mm lens for a single image. This equipment choice reflects his street photography roots and preference for unobtrusive documentation.
The post-production process remained true to Webb's documentary style, with editing described as "not terrifically dramatic." The work primarily involved "adding a little vibrancy, maybe opening it up a little bit," while maintaining the authentic character of the original captures. Webb collaborated with his printer to create match prints ensuring color consistency for both the physical calendar and exhibition prints displayed at Art Basel. The only digital enhancements were made to ensure clarity of the Lavazza coffee cups in the images.
Michele Mariani, Executive Creative Director of Armando Testa Group, the advertising agency that has long collaborated with Lavazza on these annual calendars, explained that the project deliberately moved away from conventional iconography. The team wanted to avoid stereotypes and instead create a "journey into Italianness" that would resonate with viewers on a deeper level. This approach aligns with Webb's artistic philosophy of seeking authentic moments rather than staged perfection.
For Webb, the project transcended mere documentation of food and drink, focusing instead on capturing "joy and play." He noted that recurring motifs in his work such as cotton candy, balloons, balls, and jumping children represent a "response to the small pleasures in life" and the "possibility of pleasure, even in quite difficult places." This thematic approach connects to his broader body of work, including a project photographing coffee harvesting in Guatemala ten years prior.
Several standout images exemplify Webb's artistic vision for the calendar. The May photograph presents an intriguing scene of a man enjoying a quiet coffee moment while a girl walks a dog in the background, utilizing shadow, composition, color, and perspective to create a surreal atmosphere. June features a young woman participating in the ritual of coffee and focaccia, punctuated by "resonating-colored elements" that enhance the visual narrative.
The December image captures the vibrant energy of a nighttime party scene, showing two women dancing and singing on a balcony. Webb employed a slower shutter speed to accentuate the movement and energy of the moment, demonstrating his technical skill in translating the spontaneous joy of the celebration into a compelling photographic image.
Webb emphasized that while commissioned work involves models and a creative team, the process becomes "more serendipitous" once they enter the actual shooting environment. He actively seeks out "moments that are essentially uncertain" in his compositions, believing that commissioned photography succeeds best when it retains "a sense of the uncertainty of life." This approach allows for authentic emotional resonance while meeting commercial objectives.
The final selection process was collaborative, with the creative team and Webb working together to choose images based on their "visual and emotional resonance." Webb noted satisfaction that the team largely selected the photographs he particularly favored, indicating successful alignment between artistic vision and commercial requirements. The 2026 Lavazza Calendar "Pleasure Makes Us Human" is now available through Lavazza's website, continuing the company's tradition of combining exceptional photography with Italian coffee culture.
