The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has cancelled a major exhibition dedicated to British fashion designer John Galliano following growing criticism over his past antisemitic and racist remarks. The exhibition, “John Galliano: Horizons,” was due to open in May 2027 and serve as the focus of the next Met Gala. The museum and Galliano announced on Monday that the show would no longer go ahead as planned.
A Major Fashion Exhibition Comes to an End
The Metropolitan Museum of Art had planned for “John Galliano: Horizons” to examine Galliano’s four-decade career, from his early work at Central Saint Martins in London through his years at Givenchy, Christian Dior and Maison Margiela.
The exhibition would have placed Galliano in a very small group of living designers to receive a solo Costume Institute exhibition at the Met. Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo were among the few designers previously given that distinction.
However, the museum faced growing pressure after announcing the exhibition in July.
On Monday, Met director and CEO Max Hollein confirmed the decision.
“Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition,” Hollein said.
The Met said another Costume Institute exhibition will take its place in spring 2027. Details about the replacement exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced later.
Galliano’s Past Returns to the Spotlight
Much of the criticism surrounding the exhibition centered on Galliano’s behavior in 2010 and 2011.
Galliano was dismissed from Christian Dior in 2011 after videos and reports emerged showing him making antisemitic and racist remarks during incidents in Paris. He was later convicted by a French court over public insults based on race, religion, ethnicity or origin.
The controversy badly damaged the career of one of fashion’s most celebrated designers.
Galliano later underwent treatment for alcohol and substance addiction and returned to the fashion industry. He joined Maison Margiela in 2014 and eventually rebuilt much of his professional reputation, receiving widespread praise for his work at the fashion house.
However, plans for the Met exhibition reopened debate over whether one of the world’s most prominent cultural institutions should honor him with a major retrospective.
Backlash Grows Against the Met’s Plans
Criticism increased in the weeks after the exhibition was announced.
Jewish leaders, donors and public figures questioned the Met’s decision to celebrate Galliano despite his past conduct. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin was among those who publicly opposed the exhibition. Some donors also reportedly considered withdrawing financial support from the museum.
Another issue involved the timing of the 2027 Met Gala. The event was expected to take place on May 4, which would overlap with Yom HaShoah, a day commemorating the millions of Jews murdered during the Holocaust.
The Met had attempted to address Galliano’s history rather than ignore it. Plans for the exhibition included examining the events that led to his dismissal from Dior as well as his addiction treatment and later acknowledgment of his actions.
That approach, however, was not enough to end the controversy.
Galliano Says He Remains Accountable
Galliano said withdrawing from the exhibition came after considerable reflection and discussions with the Met.
“After much reflection and discussion with The Met and all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano said.
He also directly addressed the communities affected by his previous remarks.
“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,” he said.
Galliano said that receiving recognition from a major cultural institution could not erase his past actions.
“I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time,” he said.
Galliano also acknowledged that an exhibition celebrating his work could be painful for some people and said he did not want the controversy surrounding him to distract from the Costume Institute.
Anna Wintour Supports the Decision
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and one of the most influential figures connected to the Met Gala, supported Galliano’s decision.
Wintour described his move to withdraw as “very courageous and a measure of the man he is.”
“I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the Museum have my full support,” Wintour said.
At the same time, Wintour continued to praise Galliano’s influence on fashion, describing him as an exceptional craftsman whose impact has reached generations of designers.
Galliano remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern fashion. His work at Dior, Givenchy and Maison Margiela helped shape contemporary haute couture, while his past remarks continue to influence how his career and legacy are viewed.
The Met Must Now Find a New Direction
The cancellation leaves the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the task of creating a new Costume Institute exhibition for spring 2027 and determining how that change will shape the next Met Gala.
The museum has not yet revealed what will replace “John Galliano: Horizons.”
The controversy also raises a larger question facing museums and cultural institutions: how should they recognize important creative work when the person behind it has a deeply controversial history?
For Galliano, the cancellation means one of the biggest institutional honors of his career will not happen as planned. For the Met, it brings an end to weeks of criticism but leaves its 2027 fashion program facing a major change only months after its original plans were announced.
