Met Cancels 2027 John Galliano Exhibition Theme
Met Cancels 2027 John Galliano Exhibition Theme
By Madeleine New — September 14 2026
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has canceled its controversial 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and Met Gala theme honoring designer John Galliano, abandoning plans for what would have been only the third Met retrospective dedicated to a living fashion designer.
The museum and Galliano announced Aug. 31 that “John Galliano: Horizons,” which was scheduled to open in Spring 2027 and serve as the exhibition associated with the annual Met Gala, would no longer move forward.
“Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition,” Met Director and CEO Max Hollein said in a statement.
The decision came one month after the exhibition was announced and amid intense criticism surrounding Galliano’s history of hate speech.
Galliano has long held a complicated position in fashion history. Celebrated for his theatrical runway shows, historical references and elaborate approach to couture, he served as creative director of Givenchy from 1995 to 1996 before taking the helm at Dior in 1996. He remained at Dior until his 2011 removal and later served as creative director of Maison Margiela from 2014 to 2024. Earlier this year, he announced a two-year creative partnership with Zara.
His career at Dior ended following a series of incidents involving antisemitic and racist remarks in Paris in 2010 and 2011.
In October 2010, a woman reported that Galliano aimed antisemitic insults at her in a Parisian bar. Soon afterward, a video from a separate incident in the same bar surfaced showing Galliano declaring his “love” for Adolf Hitler and making antisemitic remarks.
In February 2011, Dior suspended Galliano just a day after he was accused of directing antisemitic and racist insults toward two more people at the bar.
Dior fired Galliano in March 2011, and his eponymous label followed suit. Later that year, a French court found him guilty of making public insults based on race and religion in connection with the incidents. He received suspended fines totaling €6,000.
Galliano has repeatedly addressed the remarks and their impact on his career. In his Aug. 31 statement announcing the exhibition would not proceed, he acknowledged the harm he caused.
“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry,” Galliano said.
The Met said information about a new spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and plans for the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date.
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