John Galliano and The Met have abandoned a major 2027 Costume Institute retrospective after renewed scrutiny of the designer’s past racist and antisemitic remarks.
John Galliano has canceled his Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition, with the designer and the museum confirming that “John Galliano: Horizons” will no longer open in May 2027 as planned. In a statement shared Monday, Galliano said the decision followed “much reflection and discussion” with The Met and others involved in the project. Complex first highlighted Galliano’s public statement as criticism around the planned show intensified.
The exhibition had been announced on July 31 and was set to survey roughly four decades of Galliano’s work, including pieces from his early career through Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela. Vogue reported that the show would have made him only the third living designer to receive a solo retrospective from the Costume Institute, following Yves Saint Laurent and Rei Kawakubo.
Galliano acknowledged the controversy directly in his statement. “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 for it,” he said, adding that meaningful atonement is a continuing responsibility rather than something achieved through institutional recognition.
The backlash centered on Galliano’s racist and antisemitic remarks from 2010 and 2011, which led to his dismissal from Christian Dior and a conviction in France. The Met’s decision arrived after public criticism from political and civic figures as well as members of the Jewish community, putting increasing pressure on an exhibition intended to celebrate his creative legacy.
Max Hollein, director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, said the institution and Galliano had reached the decision together. Anna Wintour also backed the move, describing Galliano’s choice as courageous while continuing to praise his influence and craftsmanship as a designer.
The Met says a replacement spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and new details for the 2027 Met Gala will be announced later. For Galliano, the cancellation turns what was planned as one of the biggest institutional showcases of his career into another public reckoning with the conduct that has followed him for more than a decade.
More News, Kanye West Says No Fashion Brand Can Match Yeezy’s Cultural Reach
Rachel Moore Is Building Kentucky’s First Crisis Nursery to Give Families Somewhere to Turn
August 27, 2026
