Gala 2027 Theme Revealed After John Galliano Controversy Shifts Plans

A new exhibition takes shape

The Metropolitan Museum of Art named “extraORDINARY: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday” as its spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition. Andrew Bolton, the institute’s Curator in Charge, developed it with Stephanie Kramer and Emily Mushaben.

The theme will guide guests at the Met Gala on May 3 toward elevated everyday wear, including T-shirts, jeans and sweatshirts. The exhibition is scheduled to open May 9, 2027, and run through January 9, 2028.

Bolton’s approach to the theme

Bolton told Vogue on Nov. 5 that he had not prepared an alternative plan after Galliano withdrew. He said the team wanted an exhibition that would be challenging and contemporary, rather than an easier-to-mount show of masterworks. Bolton also said he wanted the new idea to be beautiful and provocative, while not functioning as a replacement for the exhibition that had been planned around Galliano.

Galliano withdraws from plans

Galliano stepped away from the Met Gala two months before Bolton’s announcement. The event had been preparing to honor the designer, who faced continuing backlash over past antisemitic comments.

In an Instagram message on Aug. 31, Galliano said he had decided the exhibition should not proceed at that time. He accepted responsibility for harm caused by his past words, particularly to Jewish and Asian communities, and said atonement required ongoing listening, learning and conduct.

Wintour backs the decision

Anna Wintour said Galliano’s withdrawal was the right decision and that she supported both him and the museum. She also praised his craft and influence on generations of designers, including Jonathan Anderson, Dior’s current creative director.

The event’s attendance is limited, and the article says tickets cost $30,000 for an individual or $275,000 for a table. Anna Wintour sometimes invites emerging designers, while celebrities invited to wear a designer’s work generally do not have to pay.