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With groundbreaking biennials, major exhibitions and highly anticipated museum debuts, 2025 promises an exciting year of art openings across Europe and beyond.
2024 was a landmark year for the art world, with museums around the globe commemorating 100 years of Surrealism and 150 years of Impressionism.
Headlines were dominated by record-breaking auctions, including René Magritte’s “L’empire des lumières” (“Empire of Light”) masterpiece selling for an astonishing €116.4 million in New York, and Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous duct-taped banana fetching €5.8 million. Who knew fruit could be so expensive…
With such a monumental year behind us, what does the art world in 2025 have up its sleeve?
From an all-new Guggenheim museum to a groundbreaking showcase of Black artists in Paris, let’s take a look at the exhibitions, retrospectives, biennials, and museum debuts that we’re most excited about – and the ones you definitely won’t want to miss!
‘Time: Mette Tronvoll’ at Kunstsilo (Kristiansand, Norway)
When: 30 January – 25 May 2025
Tranquil coastal landscapes, intimate portraits, and an unwavering commitment to analogue photography define the artistry of Mette Tronvoll. Celebrated as one of Norway’s leading photographers, the 59-year-old Tronvoll returns to the museum stage for the first time in over a decade with a major exhibition at Norway’s hottest artistic hot spot, Kunstsilo. Spanning 350 m² and nearly 90 works, this upcoming showcase centred around the theme of “time” includes her latest series, inspired by the picturesque island of Hidra, alongside highlights from her renowned earlier projects. A must-see for portrait and landscape photography lovers!
Sharjah Biennial 16: to carry (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)
When: 6 February – 15 June 2025
Undoubtedly among the most important art biennials of the year – not least for its sheer scale – the 16th Sharjah Biennial, running from 5-9 February 2025, will explore the theme To Carry: diving into what and how we carry the world around us. Featuring over 140 artists, including Arthur Jafa, Lorna Simpson, and Zadie Xa, the biennial will present more than 80 new commissions across Sharjah. In a “hell yeah” moment for champions of women in art, the show will be curated by a dynamic team of five international female curators. Expect diverse approaches, with everything from workshops to sonic experiences.
‘Joana Vasconcelos: Flamboyant’ at Liria Palace (Madrid, Spain)
When: From 13 February 2025
Giant crocheted lions, epic stiletto heels made from stainless pans and lids, and chandeliers made of tampons – this is the work of Joana Vasconcelos! The Portuguese artist, known for her bold, larger-than-life sculptures and installations, transforms everyday materials into extraordinary pieces of art that speak to themes of femininity, identity, and cultural heritage. Now, Vasconcelos is bringing her iconic creations to the grand halls and gardens of the Liria Palace in Madrid. For the first time, the artist’s stunning works will interact with one of the world’s most important private collections, including masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, Titian, and Murillo.
‘Gods & Minecraft: Making Egypt’ at Young V&A (London, UK)
When: 15 February – 2 November 2025
Let’s not forget the little ones! After the smashing success of its debut exhibition, Japan: Myth to Manga, the newly renovated Young V&A in London’s Bethnal Green is gearing up for round two in 2025 – and this time, it’s all about ancient Egypt. The exhibition is bringing together over 200 incredible items from the V&A archives, many of which have never been on public display before! Highlights include a wooden funerary boat that’s approximately 3,000 years old and a deep dive into how ancient Egyptian design has inspired the digital world of Minecraft.
‘Tracey Emin: Sex and Solitude’ at Palazzo Strozzi, (Florence, Italy)
When: 16 March – 20 July 2025
After a standout solo show at White Cube Bermondsey last year, British art icon Tracey Emin’s next stop is Italy – marking her debut exhibition in the country. Her multimedia work will take over the stunning space of Florence’s historic Palazzo Strozzi. Spanning sculpture, painting, neon, and photography, Emin’s work invites an intimate, raw exploration of vulnerability, desire, and the intricate complexities of love and loss. Sex and Solitude will present a curated selection of both historic and recent works, inviting viewers to experience the unflinching honesty of one of contemporary art’s most audacious voices.
‘Art is in the Street’ at Musée d’Orsay (Paris, France)
When: 18 March – 6 July 2025
ADVERTISEMENTThe rise of the illustrated poster in 19th-century Paris, promoting everything from theatrical performances to floral markets, revolutionised the way art interacted with the public. An upcoming exhibition at Paris’ Musée d’Orsay explores this cultural phenomenon, bringing together nearly 300 works that highlight the extraordinary role of the poster in shaping modern Paris. Co-organised with the Bibliothèque nationale de France, this first-of-its-kind exhibition features iconic artists like Bonnard, Chéret, Grasset, Mucha, Steinlen, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Not one to miss for fans of French history and graphic design!
‘Paris noir: Artistic movements and anti-colonial struggles 1950–2000’ at Centre Pompidou (Paris, France)
When: 19 March – 30 June 2025
Another exhibition opening in Paris this March which promises to be fantastic is ‘Paris noir’* at the Centre Pompidou – a celebration of Black artists (150 in total!) who shaped the city’s art scene between 1950 and 2000. This is your chance to explore the works of trailblazers like Beauford Delaney, Guido Llinás, and Aimé Césaire, whose contributions to Surrealism, modernism, and postmodernism have often been overlooked in France.
VIMA Art Fair (Limassol, Cyprus)
When: 16 -18 May 2025
ADVERTISEMENTVIMA, Cyprus’ first international contemporary art fair, will debut in Limassol from 16-18 May 2025. Set in a former industrial building – originally part of one of Cyprus’ oldest wineries (yamas!) – overlooking the Mediterranean, the intimate fair will highlight art from Cyprus and its neighbouring countries, embracing the diversity of Mediterranean cultures. Featuring a mix of emerging and established galleries, as well as artist-run spaces, VIMA aims to spark international dialogue and fresh perspectives – a goal also served by inviting an international curator each edition to work with local and regional artists, fostering creative exchange. Full details of the inaugural edition’s participants and curatorial project will be revealed later this year.
13th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art (Berlin, Germany)
When: 14 June- 14 September 2025
Having been postponed from 2024 due to “pandemic-related organisational delays” and fears surrounding a “biennial super art year”, the 13th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art will carry on the event’s tradition of bold, experimental exhibitions. This edition will focus on the theme of “fugitivity,” inspired by the urban foxes of Berlin, symbolising resistance to the unjust and art’s power to disrupt and challenge norms.
‘Barbara Kruger’ at Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao, Spain)
When: 19 June- 9 November 2025
ADVERTISEMENTLanguage will take centre stage in the Guggenheim Museum’s survey exhibition of work by renowned American artist Barbara Kruger – the first of its kind in Spain. For over forty years, Kruger has utilised the power of images, text, and technology to address the themes of power, identity, consumerism and sexuality. Her works speak directly to the viewer (YOU!), encouraging reflection on how we navigate and interpret the world around us. This exhibition will breathe new life into many of her most iconic early pieces, reimagined through digitisation, large-scale LED displays, along with many of her most recent works. We guarantee they’ll be something here sure to make you think, laugh, or maybe even gasp…
‘Kiefer / Van Gogh’ at Royal Academy (London, UK)
When: 28 June – 2 October 2025
This summer the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London are pairing the works of the legendary Vincent Van Gogh and German contemporary visionary Anselm Kiefer for a first-of-its-kind exhibition. Kiefer’s lifelong fascination with Van Gogh began as a teenager when he retraced the Post-Impressionist master’s journey across Europe, from the Netherlands to the sun-drenched fields of Arles. Expect a feast for the eyes, with Van Gogh’s stunning Snow-Covered Field with a Harrow masterpiece sharing space with brand-new creations from Kiefer.
Almaty Museum of Arts (Almaty, Kazakhstan)
When: Summer 2025
ADVERTISEMENTSlated to open in summer 2025, the Almaty Museum of Arts will be Central Asia’s first private museum dedicated to regional modern and contemporary art. Founded by Kazakh philanthropist Nurlan Smagulov, the museum will showcase his extensive collection of over 700 works, featuring Kazakh and Central Asian artists like Almagul Menlibayeva, alongside international names such as Yinka Shonibare and Richard Serra. Focused on preserving and presenting the region’s art, the museum will be gifted to the city of Almaty, Smagulov’s hometown and Kazakhstan’s cultural hub.
Bukhara Biennial (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)
When: 5 September – 20 November 2025
Launching in September 2025, the Bukhara Biennial is set to be one of Central Asia’s largest art events. Curated by Diana Campbell, artistic director of the Samdani Art Foundation, the biennial is titled ‘Recipes for Broken Hearts’ and will explore themes of healing through food – anyone for a spot of plov? The event will feature chefs from Uzbekistan and beyond, alongside a rich lineup of international artists, including Delcy Morelos, Wael Shawky, Antony Gormley, and Subodh Gupta. The show will also highlight local talent like Aziza Azim and Behzod Boltaev, at sites across Bukhara’s UNESCO-protected centre.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
When: By the end of 2025
ADVERTISEMENTWhen it comes to museums and art galleries, the Saadiyat Cultural District is already Abu Dhabi’s beating heart – but soon yet another big name will join its ranks: the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. A collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the distinctive Frank Gehry-designed building will be among the Middle East’s preeminent museums of global modern and contemporary art and the largest of the Guggenheim museums. It is set to open alongside the experiential art space teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi by the end of 2025, joining the district’s current residents such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
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