The Metropolitan Museum of Art will no longer proceed with its planned John Galliano: Horizons exhibition after the British fashion designer withdrew from the project amid growing backlash over his past antisemitic and racist remarks.
Galliano, 65, announced his decision Monday after criticism intensified following the Met’s July announcement that it would devote its Costume Institute exhibition to his four-decade career.
The exhibition had been scheduled to open in May 2027, with Galliano’s work also serving as the inspiration for the 2027 Met Gala.
Why was the John Galliano Met exhibition canceled?
Galliano said he reached the decision after discussions with the Met and others involved in the project.
In a statement, he said he believed it was best for the exhibition “not to take place at this time” and acknowledged the pain caused by his past words, particularly to Jewish and Asian communities.
He also said he did not want the controversy surrounding him to put the Met in a difficult position or overshadow the work of its Costume Institute.
Galliano wrote that he recognized an exhibition celebrating his career could itself be painful for some people.
The Metropolitan Museum subsequently confirmed that it would not proceed with the exhibition.
Met director and CEO Max Hollein said the museum and Galliano had reached the decision together following discussions.
What was John Galliano: Horizons supposed to be?
John Galliano: Horizons was announced in July as a major examination of Galliano’s roughly four-decade career in fashion.
The nine-month exhibition was expected to feature material from the Met’s collection and other archival sources, including:
- Galliano-designed garments
- Accessories
- Sketches
- Research books
- Archival material
- Work documenting his career across major fashion houses
The exhibition was also intended to explore the evolution of Galliano’s design work and his influence on modern luxury fashion.
Had it gone ahead, Galliano would have become only the third living fashion designer to receive a solo exhibition from the Costume Institute, following Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo in 2017.
What happened to the 2027 Met Gala?
The controversy has also disrupted plans for the 2027 Met Gala.
Galliano and his work had been selected as the focus of the event, meaning the planned Costume Institute exhibition was closely tied to the annual celebrity fashion event.
However, the cancellation does not necessarily mean the entire 2027 Met Gala is canceled.
Instead, organizers are expected to announce plans for a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and details surrounding the 2027 edition at a later date.
The planned event had been scheduled for May 3, 2027, a date that also coincides with Yom HaShoah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, adding another layer to the controversy surrounding the proposed tribute.
Why were critics opposed to honoring Galliano?
The backlash centered on Galliano’s conduct in 2010 and 2011, when he made antisemitic and racist remarks in Paris.
The controversy ultimately led to his dismissal as Dior’s creative director in 2011.
Galliano was later found guilty by a Paris court of public insults based on religion, race and ethnicity. He received a suspended fine and was ordered to pay damages and court costs.
The episode effectively forced Galliano out of public life for a period before he later returned to the fashion industry.
His past remained central to criticism of the Met’s decision to celebrate his career.
Political and Jewish leaders criticized the Met
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin had publicly opposed the planned exhibition.
Following Galliano’s withdrawal, Menin said she was pleased that the Met had agreed not to honor him, arguing that the proposed tribute had caused significant pain within the Jewish community at a time of heightened antisemitism.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, also criticized the original decision to honor Galliano.
Greenblatt described the tribute as misguided and argued that Galliano’s withdrawal ultimately demonstrated that the Met should not have proceeded with the plan in the first place.
What did Anna Wintour say about Galliano?
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director, a Met trustee and a key figure behind the Met Gala, supported the decision.
Wintour called Galliano’s choice not to proceed with the exhibition courageous and said she believed it was the right decision.
She also expressed support for both Galliano and the museum.
Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton likewise supported the cancellation.
Bolton said museums have a responsibility to examine difficult histories with rigor and care, while acknowledging the pain and concerns created by the proposed exhibition.
Galliano says he remains accountable for his past
In his statement, Galliano did not attempt to dismiss the controversy surrounding his past.
He said he remained fully accountable for the pain caused by his words and expressed particular remorse toward Jewish and Asian communities.
He also acknowledged that meaningful atonement cannot be achieved simply through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public statement.
Galliano said it is instead an ongoing responsibility demonstrated through listening, learning and conduct over time.
He additionally thanked those who had supported him during his 15 years of sobriety and recovery from alcoholism and addiction.
What happens next for the Met Gala?
The immediate question now is what the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute will announce for spring 2027.
The Met has not yet announced the replacement exhibition or new creative direction for the event.
That means the 2027 Met Gala itself remains an event to watch, but the previously announced Galliano-centered theme and exhibition are no longer moving forward.
The controversy also highlights the difficult balance museums face when celebrating the artistic legacy of influential figures whose personal histories include serious misconduct.
John Galliano Met Gala 2027: Key facts
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Exhibition | John Galliano: Horizons |
| Status | Canceled |
| Designer | John Galliano |
| Planned opening | May 2027 |
| Met Gala date previously planned | May 3, 2027 |
| Reason for withdrawal | Backlash over Galliano’s past antisemitic and racist remarks |
| Museum | Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| Planned curator | Andrew Bolton |
| Met Gala leadership | Anna Wintour and Costume Institute |
| Next step | Met to announce plans for the 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and Gala |
Why this story matters
Galliano remains one of fashion’s most influential designers, with a career spanning his own label and major houses including Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela.
His planned Met exhibition would have been a major institutional recognition of that legacy.
Instead, the decision to withdraw places renewed attention on a longstanding question in the arts: How should major institutions celebrate creative achievements while confronting the serious misconduct of the people behind them?
For now, the Met has chosen not to move forward with Galliano’s retrospective, leaving the museum to determine what comes next for its 2027 Costume Institute program.
FAQ
Is the John Galliano Met exhibition canceled?
Yes. The planned John Galliano: Horizons exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will not proceed after Galliano withdrew from the project.
Why did John Galliano withdraw from the Met exhibition?
He withdrew after significant criticism over his past antisemitic and racist remarks. Galliano said he recognized that an exhibition honoring his work would be painful for some people.
Is the 2027 Met Gala canceled?
Not necessarily. The Galliano-centered exhibition and planned tribute have been canceled, but the Met Gala itself is expected to continue. The museum is expected to announce new plans for its 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and event.
What did John Galliano do in 2011?
Galliano was fired by Dior after video emerged showing him making antisemitic remarks in Paris. He was later convicted by a Paris court over public insults based on religion, race and ethnicity.
Who supported the decision to cancel the exhibition?
Anna Wintour, Max Hollein and Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton all expressed support for the decision not to proceed. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt had previously criticized the planned tribute.
