Featured Events in London in August, 2025 (June Updated)

The 2025 BBC Proms season brings together many of the world’s finest international artists and orchestras, featuring more than 40 outstanding ensembles from across the UK: a series of concerts that can only be experienced at the world’s greatest classical music festival. The BBC’s own orchestras and choirs form the backbone of the Proms, making nearly 50 appearances throughout the season. The BBC Singersperform at 11 Proms, including the First and Last Nights, showcasing their broad range of repertoire. Sakari Oramo conducts the First Night of the Proms, with tenor Caspar Singh, baritone Gerald Finley, violinist Lisa Batiashvili – including the world premiere of The Elements by Master of the King’s Music Errollyn Wallen, commissioned by the BBC. The Last Night of the Proms is conducted by Elim Chan and features trumpeter Alison Balsom and soprano Louise Alder, with two world premieres, by Camille Pépin and Rachel Portman: the latter being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The BBC Proms makes its debut in both Bradford, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, and Sunderland, bringing the festival to new audiences. The Proms also returns to Bristol and Gateshead for two three-day weekend residencies, and a special Prom in Belfast marks the centenary of Radio 4’s popular Shipping Forecast. The season features a compelling line-up of international orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Major soloists include pianists Yunchan Lim and Sir András Schiff, violinists Hilary Hahn and Janine Jansen and soprano Golda Schultz. Nineteen world, European or UK premieres will be performed, including 10 works commissioned by the BBC, showcasing an extraordinary range of contemporary composition. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Chineke! Orchestra for the first time, in their tenth-anniversary year. Anna Lapwood co-curates the first overnight Prom since 1983, featuring pianist and YouTube sensation Hayato Sumino, cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge and the boundary-crossing Norwegian ensemble Barokksolistene. The Proms marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Shostakovich with eight of his works performed during the season, including Aurora Orchestra playing Symphony No. 5 entirely from memory. Other composer anniversaries include Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Arvo Pärt. Legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi makes his Proms debut, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in his symphony inspired by the tragic events of Hiroshima: The End of the World. Across the season there is a wealth of opera, including a collaboration between the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the English National Opera for The Lady Macbeth of the Mtensk District by Shostakovich – only performed in its entirety once before at the Proms. Glyndebourne brings their new production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro to the festival, and Puccini’s Suor Angelica is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Chief Conductor, Sir Antonio Pappano. Large-scale choral repertoire features throughout the season, from Ralph Vaughan Williams’s rarely performed oratorio Sancta Civitas on the First Night, to Striggio’s Mass in 40 Parts from Le Concert Spirituel. There is also a Proms debut from Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus, with Handel’s Alexander’s Feast. The Proms continues its tradition of collaborating with other BBC brands. In addition to the 100 Years of the Shipping Forecast Prom in Belfast with the Ulster Orchestra and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Claudia Winkleman hosts The Traitors Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, exploring themes of treachery and betrayal in classical music. Concerts for children include a new CBeebies Prom: A Magical Bedtime Story as well as the CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree in Gateshead. The Proms continues to welcome non-classical artists, presenting their music in new orchestral settings – this year hosting the multi-Grammy winning musicians St. Vincent and Samara Joy. Trevor Nelson presents the Soul Revolution Prom and Anoushka Shankar makes a welcome return to the Proms with the world-premiere performance of her new album.

See a new special commemorative display of ceramic poppies installed at the heart of the Tower of London to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The display will see nearly 30,000 of the original poppies, made for the 2014 installation, ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, return to the Tower, marking the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War. The specially commissioned installation will resemble a ‘wound’ at the heart of the Tower, which was itself bombed during the Blitz. Poppies will pour across the lawn overlooked by the ancient White Tower, where the blood-red flowers will form a crater, with ripples flowing outwards.

A major exhibition featuring more than 350 objects, including precious jewels, historic gemstones, iconic watches and clocks, that chart the evolution of Cartier's legacy of art, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century.

From Garfield to Simon’s Cat, Krazy Kat to Bagpuss and everything in between, there is a long line of iconic cartoon cats. For the first time, The Cartoon Museum is collecting many of the greatest cats to grace or comics, newspapers and magazines to explore why people love cats so much and what cats tell us about life.

Featuring more than 150 works in drawing, printmaking, painting, sculpture, installation and ceramics, this comprehensive exhibition offers audiences the opportunity to immerse themselves in Nara’s personal and creative worlds. Celebrated across the globe for his powerful portraits with eyes that gaze back at the viewer, and his drawings that engage with daily experiences, Nara is also known for his wood, fibreglass and ceramic sculptures as well as his installations of little houses. Nara’s work explores themes of resistance, rebellion, isolation, freedom and spirituality. This thematic exhibition reveals enduring influences on the artist’s work, particularly nature and its mythology, the peace movement, the significance of home, and his interest in punk and rock music and popular culture. Born in 1959 in Japan’s Aomori prefecture, Yoshitomo Nara completed the Master of Fine Arts programme at the Aichi University of the Arts in 1987. Nara subsequently moved to Germany in 1988 and began his enrolment at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. After residing in Cologne, he returned to Japan in 2000. He has exhibited in numerous museums and galleries in Europe, the United States, Japan, and Asia since the late 1990s.This is an expanded version of the touring exhibition from the Guggenheim, Bilbao, and Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, featuring additional work, including early sculptures and new paintings.

Entering this exhibition hall is like embarking on an artistic journey with the 19th-century print master Utagawa Hiroshige. In his paintings, you can appreciate the scenery of the Edo period and the bustling city scrolls. This is the first exhibition of this ukiyo-e artist in the British Museum. It includes woodblock prints, sketches, illustrated books and paintings.

Feel the Sound with the bold new multi-sensory exhibition experience that explores our relationship to sound and embraces a world of listening. Frequencies, sound, rhythms and vibrations define everything around us. From the soundtrack of our environments to the rhythm of our heart, frequencies are constantly creating and changing how we see, hear and feel the world. Feel the Sound invites you to awaken your senses, embrace our sonic world and discover personal frequencies in a series of unique installations. Move to the beat of international car sound systems, sing with a digital quantum choir, uncover your inner symphony, experience music without sound and discover a song for your future self. Each installation gives you the chance to explore your body as a listening device, rethinking our relationship with ourselves.

The sower, the woodcutter, a shepherd girl. These are the subjects that made French artist Jean-Francois Millet famous. Marking the 150th anniversary of his death, this is an opportunity to see some of Millet’s best-loved paintings and drawings. Born into a farming family in Normandy, Millet moved to the village of Barbizon in 1849 where he put the people who spent their life working on the land, often the poorest of the poor in 19th-century France, at the heart of his work. He knew these people and his realistic, unsentimental approach to painting them was completely new. See his iconic 'L’Angelus' (1857‒9) from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, a painting typical of the dignified way he captured the working people of his age. A husband and wife stand with their heads bowed. Lit by an almost ethereal, filtered light, they’ve stopped working in the fields to say the Angelus prayer. Admired and copied by Vincent van Gogh, he inspired Impressionists and Post-Impressionist artists including Edgas Degas and Camille Pissarro. His combination of subject and effects of light and tone saw his popularity soar at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Experience the beauty and quiet power of Millet’s work – an artist who created some of the most realist yet timeless paintings of the 19th century.

Touch a piece of Mars, wrap your hands around a fragment of the Moon and snap a selfie with the Allende meteorite, which – at 4.567 billion years old – is even older than Earth! Today, there’s more evidence than ever before to suggest that life could exist beyond Earth. Our newest exhibition explores the big question – are we alone in the universe? Travel from Earth’s extreme environments out into space, stopping off at asteroids, Mars, the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn and planets beyond our solar system in the search for life. Smell planets, touch parts of our solar system, design your own space mission and see what scientists believe could be out there in our out-of-this-world exhibition.

Featuring over 20 international artists, Virtual Beauty will delve into the influence of artificial intelligence, social media, and virtual identities on self-image. The exhibition will feature interactive installations and pioneering works that challenge traditional beauty standards. Highlights include ORLAN’s Omniprésence (1993), a groundbreaking performance in which the artist live-streamed her own facial aesthetic surgery to critique Western beauty ideals, and Amalia Ulman’s Excellences & Perfections, a powerful commentary on the authenticity of social media personas. Artificial intelligence’s perception of beauty will be examined through AI-generated portraits by Minnie Atairu, Ben Cullen Williams, and Isamaya Ffrench, while Harriet Davey, Frederik Heyman, and Andrew Thomas Huang explore digital self-expression and the creation of avatars beyond human boundaries.

Welcome to the J & A Summer Ball Masquerade! Get ready for a night of mystery and fun at Chak 89. Put on your fanciest attire and don't forget your masquerade mask! Join us for an evening filled with dancing, delicious food, entertainment and great company. This is your chance to let loose and enjoy a magical night under the stars. Grab your friends and get ready to make unforgettable memories at the Summer Ball Masquerade! Information Source: J & A Opulence Events | eventbrite

The artwork is displayed on powder-coated steel gates, designed by Whittle and made at Glasgow Sculpture Studios. It was unveiled on 5 October 2023 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. Feeling Blue has been developed in response to RMG’s large and varied collections, as well as the history and cultural significance of Greenwich. The 160 x 155 cm tapestry is filled with richly evocative textures, symbolic shapes, and tropical colours. It was woven by hand over a period of six months by Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios. They used a variety of techniques, yarns, and over 150 colour mixes to add variety and depth to the surface of the tapestry. Dominating the tapestry is the phrase ‘feeling blue’ which stands out from a background of blues and greens, the combination of different shades resembling water in motion. Blue is immediately associated with oceans and seas but there are also more emotive connotations which Whittle chose to explore. The colour blue, and in particular the term ‘feeling blue’, is used to describe sadness or depression. While the exact origin of the term is uncertain it has been suggested that it comes from the tradition of ships flying blue flags and officers bearing a painted blue band when a captain or officer died. For others, blue symbolises tranquillity. In the Queen’s House the colour blue is used throughout for decoration, notably the balustrade of the Tulip Stairs. Drawing on her research of the British naval uniform, Whittle also reflects on the legacies of British colonialism. From the mid-eighteenth-century, the Royal Navy introduced a uniform for officers made from a deep blue fabric. The colour was achieved using a dye from the indigo plant that was native to India. Until the end of the eighteenth century the indigo plant was grown, harvested and processed by enslaved people on North American plantations. Indentured labourers in India and modern-day Bangladesh also produced indigo for the East India Company. Today, Navy blue endures as a colour of authority from police to military officers, though the history of the colour and connection to colonialism is little known. Whittle continues her exploration of maritime worlds by the inclusion of coloured ropes – reminiscent of those used on ships. For Whittle, rope is a symbol of both hope and oppression. Ropes are associated with bondage, imprisonment and even execution but are equally symbolic of lifelines for people in distress. Whittle’s ongoing engagement with the climate crisis is found in the decorative coral that frames the tapestry. The delicate pastel pinks and vibrant yellows evoke the beauty of tropical oceans and are a reminder of the importance of reefs. Decorative cultured freshwater pearl beads have also been stitched onto the tapestry. As well as representing an oceanic realm, Whittle connects Feeling Blue with two sixteenth-century paintings the Armada Portrait and Sir Francis Drake which will be displayed alongside the tapestry. In both portraits, pearls are used as a symbol of wealth, some of which was derived from colonial trade and exploitation. The tapestry is hung on a set of blue ‘gates’, which are an important component of Whittle’s work. Whittle sees the ‘gates’ as reminiscent of fencing, suggesting containment and control. Placed within the gallery space the gates no longer act as a barrier. Instead, Whittle uses the gates to expand rather than restrict as visitors are free to walk around them and view the tapestry from both sides. The decorative fretwork on the panels evokes the architecture of the Queen’s House, in particular the Tulip Stairs. Alberta Whittle, said: “The commission has been a wonderful opportunity to think deeply about maritime histories and consider the powers in place that decide how these histories are portrayed. This new tapestry is a chance to explore these ideas of power alongside the rhythms of the ocean and its vulnerability under climate colonialism. The commission has also provided me with the opportunity to continue to work with Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios and the rest of the fantastic weaving team.” Celia Joicey, Director of Dovecot Studios, said: "This commission represents the contemporary significance of tapestry as a collective medium. Started in the midst of the 2021 lockdown, it is testimony to a group of people responding creatively and collaboratively to the Museum collections. Feeling Blue embodies the passion, focus and skill of Dovecot’s weavers, Alberta Whittle’s endlessly interesting ideas and the care and enterprise of the commissioning team." Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art, Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “At Royal Museums Greenwich, we are committed to working with contemporary artists whose practice engages with our historic sites and collections, as well as with the present challenges facing our communities and our planet. The opportunity to commission a contemporary tapestry from Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios spoke powerfully to this ethos. The finished tapestry will go on public display in the Queen’s House, our flagship art gallery. When the Queen’s House was built in the early 17th century, it was at the cutting edge of art and design. Commissions like Feeling Blue help us to honour that legacy, ensuring that, four centuries after the building’s completion, the Queen’s House continues to showcase artistic innovations and new perspectives.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feeling Blue Alberta Whittle Tapestry by Dovecot Studios 2023, cotton, linen, synthetic yarn, cultured freshwater pearl beads Tapestry woven for Dovecot by Naomi Robertson, Master Weaver, and Elaine Wilson Displayed on powder coated steel gates made by Glasgow Sculpture Studios Purchased with assistance from the Contemporary Art Society

In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. One of the most successful musicals of all time, Cabaret features the songs Willkommen, Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time, Money and the title number. It has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. Before the show, guests are invited to enjoy the Kit Kat Club with drinks, dining and pre-show entertainment all on offer. When booking, guests will receive a ‘club entry time’ so they’re able to immerse themselves in the club. We encourage people to arrive early, leaving plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny of the Kit Kat Club before the show begins. Please note that once the main show begins, we cannot guarantee readmission to the auditorium. This is for both your safety and the safety of the cast. It may be up to a 30-minute wait before being allowed back to your seat. If you have any requirements which mean you are likely to need to leave the auditorium for whatever reason, please speak to a member of staff before the show begins.

With a career spanning over five decades, Giuseppe Penone (b. 1947 Garessio, Italy) has created an expansive body of work that encompasses sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, and photography. Born in a village near Cuneo, Italy, his practice is deeply influenced by the forested landscapes of Northern Italy, shaping his lifelong exploration of the relationship between humans and nature.

Three groundbreaking exhibitions position historic sculptures by Alberto Giacometti with new works by contemporary artists, in an intimate new space. One of the most significant European sculptors of the 20th century, Giacometti is known for his distinctive, elongated sculptures which experiment with the human form. Responding to the pain and devastation caused by the Second World War, his works proposed a new perspective on humanity and the collective psyche.

The Estrick Collection is to present the first institutional exhibition in the UK dedicated to the Italian contemporary pioneer Claudio Parmiggiani (b. Luzzara, 1943). A selection of works from the last 50 years, the exhibition highlights the artist’s unique exploration of themes of memory, absence and silence, aiming to “search for images, objects or assemblages that transcend time and individual experience to evoke universal truths”.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award returns for 2025. The prestigious painting competition celebrates the very best in contemporary portraiture and will include captivating works from around the world, by both self-taught and more established painters.

Traditionally attributed to Gu Kaizhi (about AD 345–406), it probably dates to between AD 400 and 700. Due to conservation precautions, it can only be displayed for six weeks a year.The Admonitions Scroll depicts a poetic text composed by an official Zhang Hua (about AD 232–300) aimed at correcting the behaviour of an empress. The Scroll carries inscriptions by later collectors including the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736–1795). The British Museum purchased the Scroll from Captain Clarence Johnson (1870–1937) who was in Beijing in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901). Originally a handscroll, the painting and later inscriptions were separated and mounted onto panels in 1914.

A Virtual Reality Art Exhibition that you can view in any location and on any device. Please see the above picture instructions for how you can view it on a tablet/mobile. You can view the exhibition with or without a virtual reality headset. Copy this link to view the Virtual Reality Art Exhibition on a computer/laptop: https://edu.cospaces.io/PMB-KAV The Virtual Private View of the Exhibition was held on Thursday 14th of May 2020 at 8:15pm on Zoom (Virtual drinks provided.)

Serpentine unveils a new site-specific mural by artist Esther Mahlangu. On view in the garden at Serpentine North, the monumental painting celebrates concepts of community and unity. Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, which translates directly from Ndebele as ‘I am because you are’, marks her first public artwork in the UK.

Priscilla The Party! is an immersive reimagining of the iconic and award-winning musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Delivered in three acts with breaks between for fine dining in the Mezzanine or bar snacks on the Dance Floor. Featuring the dance-floor classics like I Will Survive, It's Raining Men and Finally, doors open one hour before show time where two cocktails cost just £15 and a pre-show entertains you before the main event. The performance ends with a dazzling finale show-casing the award-winning costumes and head-dresses which the show is famous for. The evening ends with a disco from our resident DJ. The audience can expect an extravagant display of eye-popping costumes, an exhilarating soundtrack that encourages everyone to sing along and a show which unfolds all around them. There will be immersive dance floor tickets as happens at Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, with DJ and pre-show entertainment similar to Here Lies Love at the National Theatre, a party sing-a-long atmosphere like ABBA Voyage at the ABBA Arena, cabaret tables with dining options similar to Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre and dining options and post-show party as happens at Mamma Mia! The Party – in other words, something for everyone! From its dazzling debut in Sydney in 2006, the musical created by Allan Scott and Stephan Elliott has taken the world by storm. It initially graced the London stage in 2009, before conquering Broadway in 2011. The enduring message of acceptance and inclusivity that Priscilla carries remains as significant today as it was when the curtains first rose.

On the first Saturday of each month Abbas Zahedi hosts a support group for the collective processing of ecological grief. In collaboration with thinkers, artists and musicians, participants are invited to consider ‘How can we make sense of a world increasingly shaped by loss and disconnection?’. The discussions take place in a new commission entitled Begin Again. As part of the installation, instruments and playback devices have been plugged into Tate Modern’s utility pipes and deeper architecture. The sound composition shifts between moments of harmony and disintegration. Each sonic collapse prompts the piece to rebuild, emphasising the power of renewal and beginning again. The commission creates a space for collective listening where participants can reflect on how to protect and restore ecological connectivity.

A celebration of the boundary-pushing career of artist Leigh Bowery Leigh Bowery’s short but extraordinary life left a distinct, undeniable mark on the art world and beyond. An artist, performer, model, TV personality, club promoter, fashion designer and musician, Bowery took on many different roles, all the while refusing to be limited by convention. From his emergence in the nightlife of 1980s London through to his later daring and outrageous performances in galleries, theatres, and the street, Bowery fearlessly forged his own vibrant path. He reimagined clothing and makeup as forms of painting and sculpture, tested the limits of decorum, and celebrated the body as a shape-shifting tool with the power to challenge norms of aesthetics, sexuality and gender. Embracing performance, club culture and fashion design, Bowery created some of the most iconic images of the 1980s and 90s that continue to resonate, with his influence seen in the work of figures such as Alexander McQueen, Jeffrey Gibson, Anohni, and Lady Gaga. This eclectic and immersive exhibition is a rare chance to experience many of Bowery’s ‘Looks’ alongside his collaborations with artists including Michael Clark, Charles Atlas, Nick Knight, Fergus Greer, Stephen Willats, Nicola Rainbird, Mr Pearl, and Lucian Freud. It will provide a fresh insight into the creative scenes in London, New York and beyond featuring Sue Tilley, Princess Julia, Jeffrey Hinton, RuPaul, Les Child, Andrew Logan, Cerith Wyn Evans, Lady Bunny, Trojan, Rachel Auburn, Scarlett Cannon, Lanah P, MINTY and Boy George. Moving from the club to the stage, to the gallery and beyond, step inside Bowery’s dynamic creative world that blurred the lines between art and life.

Step into the world of regal elegance with Royal Style in the Making, a captivating new exhibition at Hillsborough Castle. Unveiling the intimate bond between royal clients and fashion designers, discover how the British fashion industry has crafted the iconic style of the British royal women. The exhibition showcases three stunning outfits on display, including the extraordinary toile used in the design of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s coronation gown, worn in 1937. Original design drawings feature some of Britain’s finest designers including Madame Handley Seymour, Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies and Oliver Messel. Don’t miss sketches from David Sassoon, for Diana, Princess of Wales, including her handwritten comments. A thrill for fashion fans, don’t miss this unique journey into regal elegance and history, only until 04 January 2026.

A major exhibition celebrating our enduring love of the water over the last 100 years. Explore the full spectrum of the design of swimming — from sports performance and fashion, to architecture.

Explore the opulence and glamour of the Edwardian age through the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary – from their family lives and personal collecting to their glittering social circles and spectacular royal events. More than 300 objects from the Royal Collection will be on display – almost half for the first time – including works by the most renowned contemporary artists of the period, including Carl Fabergé, Frederic Leighton, Edward Burne-Jones, Laurits Tuxen, John Singer Sargent and William Morris. The exhibition covers the period from Edward and Alexandra's wedding in 1863 up to the start of the First World War.

Through paintings, sculpture, site-specific murals and installations, Michaela Yearwood-Dan endeavors to build spaces of community, abundance and joy. Yearwood-Dan’s debut exhibition with Hauser & Wirth takes place in London, featuring new paintings ranging from monumental to intimate in scale, including an expansive 11m-long panelled landscape painting, alongside richly adorned ceramic sculptures and benches. The lyrical quality of the paintings is complemented by a new sound piece made in collaboration with the composer Alex Gruz, a reflection on the analogous experience of art and music alike. The title of the show, ‘No Time for Despair,’ is a call to action, referencing an article written by Toni Morrison for The Nation, which states, ‘In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.’