Adland’s 2025 Culture Guide

The creative industry is full of a fantastic array of creative, cultured people from all walks of life. So who better to help plan our year and fill all 365 days with inspiring cultural moments?

To kick off the year, we’ve gone in search of the events and experiences that adland is looking forward to most over the next 12 months – and we were not disappointed. From exhibitions to gigs, conventions, book launches and even daytime raves, it seems 2025 will be a year packed with excitement and adventure for many.

If your cultural calendar is looking a bit empty right now, or if you’re just looking to spice up your free time this year, check out all of the highlights below.

Lara MacAlpine

Senior talent partnerships lead at Amplify 

An exhibit I'm really looking forward to is the Tate Modern's celebration of artist, performer and original club kid Leigh Bowery. Bowery had a huge influence on the art, nightlife, fashion and drag scenes in 1980s London and his influence can very much still be felt across pop music, fashion and of course the modern drag scene. The Tate Modern is planning an immersive exhibition showing some of Bowery’s looks as well as collaborations with various artists. The exhibit runs from February 27th to August 31st next year, giving everyone plenty of time to experience it!

Another cool exhibit on my list is The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at the National Portrait Gallery. The Face is of course known as a trail-blazing publication in the 1980s and beyond, featuring musicians and models who later went on to become household names. It also launched the careers of several iconic photographers. The exhibition will run from February 20th to May 18th and will bring together a collection of over 200 photographs from the magazine, and I’m sure there will be many familiar faces amongst them.

I am also chomping at the bit to see Sigourney Weaver’s West End debut as Prospero in ‘The Tempest’, directed by Jamie Lloyd. I read the play in secondary school and its blend of comedic and tragic themes really stuck with me. Jamie Lloyd has been redefining contemporary performance here in London with his innovative yet emotionally charged approach to artistic direction. This has technically already opened and I’ve heard great things. I cannot wait to secure my ticket.

Bolu Akindoyin

COO at Miai Brand Partnerships

I’m most looking forward to attending the annual Gamescom Convention in Cologne during August. It’s an amazing spectacle for anyone who has not seen over 300,000 people gather to celebrate the artform of video games. From game publishers to independent developers, esports enthusiasts, and cosplay artists, there’s truly something remarkable for everyone. 

Over 100 nations attend, making this the biggest global gaming convention, and if you’re passionate about gaming, it's an unmissable event. The energy is electric, with attendees getting the first look at new technologies, gaming innovations, and partnerships that will shape the future of gaming. The networking opportunities are invaluable, as the convention bridges continents and cultures, offering a unique platform for collaboration and inspiration. 

Whether it's experiencing the latest in VR tech or meeting the minds behind upcoming indie games, Gamescom encapsulates the pulse of the global gaming community. It was once said that not having a gaming strategy is like not having a social media strategy. So what are you waiting for?

Matt Buttrick

Head of brand strategy at Bountiful Cow

In 2025 I’ll be looking forward to these tasty morsels.

On the music front it will be Kruder and Dorfmeister at The Royal Festival Hall in London. I've been waiting 25 years to see them bring alive their iconic remix album, ‘The K&D Sessions’. I’ll be there for the ‘Bug Powder Dust’ alone.

There are a lot of good photography exhibitions coming up in 2025 that I want to catch. February sees the launch of The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at The National Portrait Gallery. A great fit if there ever was one; the exhibition celebrates the best iconic images from its archives and reminds us of how truly influential its covers really were across ‘80s and ‘90s contemporary culture.

A book I’ll be snapping up will be ‘Lorne’ by Susan Morrison. The definitive biography of Lorne Michaels, the man behind ‘Saturday Night Live’, America’s most beloved and influential comedy show. Featuring interviews from Tina Fey and Will Ferrell to Chris Rock and Dan Aykroyd it promises to lift a lid on a man singularly obsessed with a show that went on to define so much of what followed and still influences American popular culture to this day.

Barnaby Girling

ECD at Supernova at the7stars

So, I’m going to pass on Rod Stewart at Glastonbury and Oasis at 50, not because I don’t love them both but because I thought I’d pick some people in their absolute prime:

A24 - Death of a Unicorn

For the uninitiated, A24 are a New York-based entertainment company who just keep coming up with brilliantly innovative shows and films. From ‘Beef’ to ‘Euphoria’ on TV to movies like ‘Midsommar’, ‘Uncut Gems’ and ‘Everything Everywhere all at once’. A24’s spring release starring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Richard E. Grant and Téa Leoni, looks a riot.

WSL - Tudor Nazaré

Big wave surfing streamed live to your desktop from Nazaré Portugal, courtesy of the World Surf League. Nobody knows when the monster swells will hit the break made famous by Amazon’s ‘100 Foot Wave’ (also worth a watch) but at some point before March 31st it does, so don't miss the spectacle! Keep tabs on WSL site for details.

Danny Boyle - 28 Years Later

Although not generally a fan of zombies (they’re way too easy to kill with a spade to be scary) I can’t resist a Danny Boyle film reportedly shot entirely on iPhone. The trailer for the latest in the ‘28’ series, written by Alex Garland, is too haunting for words… 

Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke - The Seagull

Thomas Ostermeier's adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s landmark play marks an acting reunion for Blanchett and Burke, who recently completed filming for Steven Soderbergh's forthcoming film ‘Black Bag’. This is a great chance to see an Oscar winner up close at the Barbican from Feb.

Markus Nonn

Associate creative director, environments at Wolff Olins UK

Moving into 2025 and the last quadrant of my forties I wonder if dancing the night away in a warehouse somewhere in [London’s] Zone 3 or 4 is any longer suitable for a man of my age and stature. Don’t get me wrong, I am not planning to hang up my dancing shoes just yet - but seeking the joyful communion of likeminded spirits during waking hours instead of the night. 

Thankfully, London, like other cities before it, has begun to embrace daytime club culture. Colleen Murphy’s Lucky Cloud Soundsystem, inspired by David Mancuso’s legendary Loft parties, has long been a forerunner in this respect. Others - such as All Our Friends, Beauty and the Beat, Giant Steps or The London Loft - have followed suit.  

What unites them is a love of good music, dancing, vinyl records and an audiophile’s obsession with sound quality. Notably, the emergence of this type of daytime parties coincides with the continued success of hi-fi bars such as the established Spiritland in King’s Cross or newer additions like the Marquee Moon in Dalston or Space Talk in Farringdon. 

Kicking things off in 2025 is Sheffield legend Luke Una at Giant Steps in Hackney Wick. Here’s to a year of joyful dancing and fearless self expression!

Ned Borgman

Editor at PS 260

After the rosé in Cannes runs dry at the end of June, I want to head north to Frankfurt, Germany for the 2025 Eurobike trade show. First thing I’ll do is jump on some of the world’s fanciest ebikes for a test ride and learn about the latest in two-wheeled mobility and sustainability. We’re talking commuter bikes, ecargo bikes, high torque motors, and the pure, child-like joy of a bicycle ride.

A little closer to home, I’m excited for this year’s touring schedule of the Bread and Puppet Theatre, the politically radical theatre troupe that’s been around since the 1960s. Their tour runs the month of April, but I think the best experience is at their home base in Glover, Vermont. Catch a show in the natural amphitheater, check out their archive of puppets tucked away in a barn, and then buy some amazing art out of a school bus-turned-gallery.

Larissa Cortes

Creative producer at Chromista

I’m a huge music buff, so gotta give a huge shout out to the tours taking place next year: Kendrick Lamar x SZA (can’t wait to see LA go crazy), Coachella 2025 with one of the best lineups in a long time (Gaga and The Marias), My Chemical Romance’s ‘Black Parade’ Tour (literally my inner emo is crying), and the When We Were Young festival next year looks insane also. Aside from that, I can’t wait to see what goods come out of Adobe Max’s 2025 Summit, especially all their AI integrations. I’m also headed to Japan in April for Star Wars Celebration (literally freaking out).

Paul Amorese

Executive producer, live-action at LOBO

The Pixies with Kurt Vile and the Violators at Brooklyn Paramount is easily one of the shows I’m most excited for in 2025. The Pixies have this raw, untouchable energy – every song feels like it’s coming straight from their gut. Their music has been a part of my life for so long, and seeing them live is always something special. Kurt Vile brings such a cool, laid-back vibe to his music, so this lineup feels like magic with them together. It’s the kind of show that reminds you why you love music in the first place.