Venice has hosted many unforgettable fashion moments over the years, but the Dior High Jewelry 2026 gala felt especially cinematic.

This year, Dior unveiled Diorissima, the house’s latest high jewelry collection imagined by Victoire de Castellane, during an evening at the historic Palazzo del Casinò at Lido di Venezia. Guests arrived by private boat, the atmosphere felt intimate yet grand, and Venice became the backdrop for one of the most anticipated luxury events of the season.

I had the opportunity to photograph Karen Wazen’s experience during the evening, beginning at the newly opened Venice Orient Express hotel, the first luxury hospitality project by LVMH in Venice.

Karen Wazen at Dior in Venice

Before heading to the gala dinner, we spent some time photographing Karen Wazen at the new Venice Orient Express hotel.

The setting felt fitting for the occasion. Quiet corners, rich textures, soft evening light, and a sense of old Venetian glamour that paired naturally with Dior’s world.

Karen arrived effortlessly elegant and warm, preparing for an evening dedicated to Diorissima, Dior’s newest high jewelry collection. Before the night officially began, we captured a series of portraits around the hotel, creating a calm moment before the celebrations moved to the Venice Lido.

For anyone searching for Karen Wazen in Venice or Karen Wazen at Dior, this evening marked one of the standout fashion moments in Venice during summer 2026.

Arriving at the Venice Casino Lido for Diorissima

From Venice, we boarded a private water taxi and headed toward the Palazzo del Casinò at the Lido di Venezia, one of the city’s most iconic venues for exclusive events.

The historic palace, known internationally as the home of the Venice Film Festival, transformed for Dior’s high jewelry presentation. Burgundy velvet seating, Art Deco details, candlelit tables, live music, cocktails, and a carefully curated atmosphere set the tone for the night.

Outside, guests arrived for red carpet photographs before moving inside for cocktails and the gala dinner.

Among the notable attendees were Delphine Arnault and Jonathan Anderson, who collaborated on the presentation alongside Victoire de Castellane.

Dior High Jewelry 2026, Inside Diorissima

The Dior High Jewelry 2026 collection, Diorissima, explores three different worlds: botanical landscapes, underwater inspirations, and celestial elements.

Imagined by Victoire de Castellane, artistic director of Dior Joaillerie, the collection includes 141 creations, with 112 pieces unveiled during the Venice presentation.

The collection moves between fantasy and craftsmanship. Floral compositions, sculptural gemstones, coral-inspired forms, stars, rainbows, and unexpected color combinations all become part of a visual language that feels playful yet deeply refined.

Some of the standout creations presented in Venice included:

• The Diorissima lucky clover set centered around a 6.51-carat untreated Colombian emerald.
• The Glycines bib necklace, featuring more than 4,100 stones and certified pink spinels from Tanzania.
• The Fleur Aquatique necklace, centered around a Paraiba-type tourmaline.
• The Voie Lactée necklace, built around a 7.03-carat diamond and over 3,000 stones.

According to Victoire de Castellane, Diorissima plays on the name of the original Diorissimo fragrance while embracing a more daring and feminine vision of high jewelry through color, movement, layering, and craftsmanship.

An Evening Between Fashion, Music and Venice

Throughout the evening, guests moved between cocktails, conversations, live music, and the Dior presentation inside the Palazzo del Casinò.

There is something uniquely cinematic about arriving at the Venice Lido by boat at sunset, especially for an event of this scale. Venice always seems to rise to the occasion, and Diorissima felt designed for the city.

For me, photographing the evening with Karen Wazen offered a chance to document not only the glamour of the event, but also the quieter moments in between, from getting ready at the Venice Orient Express hotel to arriving at the red carpet by private taxi as the evening unfolded.

Diorissima in Venice, 2026

The Diorissima gala brought together Dior High Jewelry, couture, craftsmanship, and Venice in a way that felt immersive from beginning to end.

From portraits at the Venice Orient Express hotel to the gala dinner at Palazzo del Casinò, the evening reflected the dreamlike spirit of Dior’s latest high jewelry chapter.

If you searched for Dior High Jewelry 2026, Diorissima Venice, Karen Wazen Dior, Venice Casino Lido, or Karen Wazen Venice, this was one of the defining fashion events hosted in Venice this year.

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