The Met will not move forward with the John Galliano retrospective planned for 2027 following criticism that emerged after the exhibition was announced.
One of the most highly anticipated fashion exhibitions of 2027 will no longer take place. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and John Galliano have announced that they will not proceed with John Galliano: Horizons, the retrospective that the Costume Institute had been preparing for next spring.
Announced on 31 July, the exhibition was intended to explore four decades of the designer’s career, from his 1984 graduate collection, Les Incroyables, to his influential periods at Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela. Had it gone ahead, Galliano would have become only the third living designer to receive a Costume Institute retrospective, following Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo.
Although the announcement was met with considerable enthusiasm within the fashion industry, it also prompted criticism from political and civil representatives because of the designer’s controversial past.
- Galliano Once Again Addresses His Past
Galliano said he reached the decision after holding discussions with the museum. In a lengthy statement, he once again apologised for his past remarks and specifically acknowledged the harm caused to Jewish and Asian communities.
“I remain fully accountable for the hurt caused by my words in the past and continue to be deeply remorseful,” the designer said, adding that genuine reparation cannot be achieved through “an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture”.
Galliano also explained that he did not want the controversy surrounding him to place the Met in a difficult position or distract attention from the work of the Costume Institute. The designer additionally referred to his 15 years of sobriety and recovery from alcoholism and addiction.
The museum’s director, Max Hollein, confirmed that the decision had been reached jointly following a series of discussions.
Anna Wintour also publicly supported the cancellation — described in her statement as a postponement — and called Galliano’s decision “very courageous”, while strongly defending his creative legacy and describing him as one of the great couturiers of his generation.
The Met must now reorganise one of the most important events on its annual calendar. The Costume Institute’s new spring exhibition and plans for the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date.
