<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0609</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2026-03-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001397187</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>lululemon athletica inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LULU</issuerTradingSymbol>
        <issuerForeignTradingSymbol></issuerForeignTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001998772</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRANT SHANE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>true</rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LULULEMON ATHLETICA INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1818 CORNWALL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VANCOUVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerNonUSStateTerritory></rptOwnerNonUSStateTerritory>
            <rptOwnerCountry>A1</rptOwnerCountry>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>V6J 1C7</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-03-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>695</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2080</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">RSUs granted to the reporting person under lululemon athletica inc.'s Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan in lieu of $115,000 of retainer fees. Each RSU is the right to receive one share of common stock and vests in four equal installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter, subject to continued service.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Shane Grant by Alex Grieve, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
