Heidi Klum Is Returning to Project Runway: What We Know
In 2018, Heidi Klum said “auf wiedersehen” — the German phrase for “until we meet again” — to Project Runway, ending a 16-season run as host. However, her time to meet the fashion design reality competition once more has finally arrived. The German-American supermodel is returning to Project Runway eight years after her exit, People reported in January 2025. Heidi’s return will no doubt mark another new era for the show, and fans are already wondering what to expect.
When Is Heidi Klum Returning to ‘Project Runway’?
People confirmed on January 3, 2025, that Heidi would be returning to Project Runway. Meanwhile, Variety reported the same day that the America’s Got Talent judge would resume her role as host for the upcoming season 21.
Why Did Heidi Klum Leave ‘Project Runway’?
Heidi, who served as the host of Project Runway from 2004 to 2017, announced her exit from the show alongside fashion mentor Tim Gunn in September 2018.
“After 16 incredible seasons, I am saying ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Project Runway, a show that I was honored to host and help create,” she said in a statement at the time.
Heidi and Tim launched a new fashion series together, Making the Cut, on Prime Video in 2020, with both TV personalities explaining their decision to exit Project Runway.
“Our imagination was bigger than what we were allowed to do,” Heidi said at a January 2020 press conference, per The Hollywood Reporter. “Everything kind of fell apart … It was scary. We shopped it around and thought that Amazon was the best place, not only for the show but also for the designers.”
Meanwhile, Tim told Variety, “One of the reasons Heidi and I wanted to fly and saw the opportunity of Amazon as a brand new threshold is because we were in lockstep with [Project Runway.] We were stuck with the same vocabulary. We were stuck with the same sequence of events within the show. And also, full transparency about Making the Cut and where we are today, it wouldn’t have happened without Project Runway. So for Heidi and me, there’s a lot of love and respect we’ll always have.”
When Does ‘Project Runway’ Season 21 Premiere?
Project Runway season 21 was confirmed in October 2024. Though an exact release date has not been announced, the season is slated to premiere sometime in 2025.
How to Watch ‘Project Runway’ Season 21
As longtime fans know, Project Runway has changed homes a few times throughout the years. It originally aired on Bravo from 2004 to 2008 before moving to Lifetime from 2009 to 2017. The show then returned to Bravo in 2019, where it remained until 2023. Now, the reality show is moving to Disney’s Freeform network for season 21.
“Project Runway is an iconic television juggernaut that perfectly complements the pop-culture spirit at Freeform,” said Simran Sethi, president of scripted programming, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, in a statement at the time of season 21’s renewal.
The move comes as part of a deal with Spyglass Media Group, who will work with Freeform to deliver a 10-episode season.
“For 20 seasons, Project Runway has captured viewers’ attention and cultivated a loyal following. The series has proven to be a valuable and enduring brand worldwide, and we could not be more excited to broaden the show’s breadth of viewership within the Freeform, Hulu and Disney+ ecosystem,” Gary Barber, chairman and CEO of Spyglass, added.
Fans will be able to watch new episodes of Project Runway as they air on Freeform and stream them the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.