Worldwide Cultural Happenings Not To Miss this Summer

For the lucky ones who are traveling for the holidays, we have selected some cultural happenings not to miss this Summer in Paris, London, Madrid, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and New York.

Enjoy your Cultural Summer!

EVENTS IN FOCUS

DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER
#multimedia

Co-created and overseen by David Hockney himself over three years, the exhibition showcases his latest explorations in digital mediums, marking one of the artist’s most experimental ventures to date. Far from a conventional retrospective, the show is a vibrant reinvention – Hockney’s signature works are reanimated in immersive environments, while never-before-seen creations emerge through digital media.

Until 30 November – West Bund Museum, Shanghai, China

LOUVRE COUTURE – ART AND FASHION: STATEMENT PIECES
#fashion & jewellery

Over a nearly 9,000-square-metre space, 65 designs are displayed, along with a number of accessories, newly illuminating the close historical dialogue between the world of fashion and the department’s greatest masterpieces, from Byzantium to the Second Empire. Each of these garments and accessories is on special loan from the most iconic fashion houses, both long-standing and recent, in Paris and throughout the world.

Until 21 July – Musée du Louvre, Paris, France – More details here

IMMERSIVE THEATER ON NEO-JAPONISM: FROM ANCIENT ART TO ANIME
#multimedia

Featuring high-resolution imagery and cutting-edge technology, the exhibition invites you to travel through time and experience Japanese culture through national treasures and important cultural properties from the Tokyo National Museum’s collection.

Until 3 August – Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan – More details here

JENNY SAVILLE: THE ANATOMY OF PAINTING
#painting

From charcoal drawings to large-scale oil paintings of the human form, this chronological display brings together 45 works made throughout the artist’s career, including works that question the historical notions of female beauty, the monumental nudes that launched Saville to acclaim in 1992, and new works on display for the first time. The exhibition was created in close collaboration with the artist.

Until 7 September – National Portrait Gallery, London, UK – More details here

RASHID JOHNSON: A POEM FOR DEEP THINKERS
#multimedia

For nearly 30 years, artist Rashid Johnson has cultivated a diverse body of work that draws upon an array of disciplines such as history, philosophy, literature, and music. This major solo exhibition highlights Johnson’s role as a scholar of art history, a mediator of Black popular culture, and as a creative force in contemporary art, featuring almost 90 works, from black-soap paintings and spray-painted text works to large-scale sculptures, film, and video.

Until 18 January 2026 – Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA – More details here

THE PAINTERS
#multimedia

THE PAINTERS is a new-concept art performance that merges dynamic choreography, live drawing, and media art. Conveniently located in the heart of Seoul, The Painters is the perfect cultural experience to enjoy with family and friends. The show dramatically portrays the creation of artwork through each scene, with unexpected twists, witty performances, and stylish urban dance with vivid lighting, stunning visual effects and thrilling music.

Until 31 December – Gwanghwamun Theater, Seoul, South Korea – More details here

ARCHIBALD, WYNNE AND SULMAN PRIZES 2025 EXHIBITION
#painting #sculpture

Australia’s most popular annual arts event. The Archibald Prize has always created controversy and conversation. For over a century, artists from Australia and New Zealand have captured the spirit of their times through portraiture, reflecting the personalities and issues that define their communities. The Wynne Prize for landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture, celebrates the diversity of representations of the country, and the Sulman Prize is for subject painting, genre painting or a mural project.

Until 17 August – Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia – More details here

Joel Meyerowitz, Paris, 1967

PHotoESPAÑA 2025
#photography

Spain’s premier festival of photography offers the possibility to discover the latest tendencies in photographic art as well as the latest projects by the most internationally renowned artists. Madrid is hosting more than 80 contemporary and historical exhibitions in diverse venues like the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Prado, a former water tower and an old sawmill.

Until 14 September – Madrid, Barcelona, Santander, Zaragoza – More details here