New ‘extraORDINARY’ Met Gala theme unveiled after John Galliano exhibition controversy over antisemitism

On November 5, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York announced the new theme for the exhibition accompanying the prestigious Met Gala, following the cancellation of a planned retrospective of British designer John Galliano due to controversy surrounding his past anti-Semitic remarks. The exhibition, titled extraORDINARY, will run from May 9, 2027, to January 9, 2028.

The museum described the exhibition as exploring how design reveals unexpected possibilities within everyday objects. Initially intended as a retrospective of Galliano's works, the decision to proceed with the exhibition was postponed after criticism from donors and political figures over Galliano's past comments. Galliano, 65, expressed regret over his past actions in an Instagram post, apologizing for the pain caused to the Jewish and Asian communities.

The designer, a renowned figure in the fashion industry, served as the creative director of Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011 and later worked with Maison Margiela. Galliano recently announced a two-year artistic collaboration with Spanish fashion retailer Zara. Andrew Bolton, the Met’s Costume Institute curator, noted that the ordinary objects such as jeans, white shirts, or sweatshirts often carry personal significance through their habits, memories, and attachments.

The Met's annual Costume Institute exhibition, largely funded by its star-studded gala, is scheduled to take place on May 3, 2027.