Cultural reasons to travel in 2025, from art fairs to festivals
From eyeing up architecture in Palm Springs to rubbing shoulders with the art crowd at Frieze London, here are 2025’s key cultural happenings around the world, and where to stay once you get there
There is a bumper crop of biennales, festivals, and art and design fairs coming your way in 2025, from London to Los Angeles and Mumbai. We’ve scoured programmes worldwide and pinpointed the events worth bookmarking for a culture-rich year ahead – and where to stay when you get there. From the 2025 World Expo to Venice’s Architecture Biennale, here are the top cultural reasons to travel in 2025.
January
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai
What: A nine day festival dedicated to the arts, crafts, and cultural heritage of Kala Ghoda
When: 25 January – 2 February 2025
Where: Mumbai, India
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is a free-to-attend festival that takes place over nine days in January or February each year in South Mumbai’s C-shaped arts district. This multicultural celebration is considered India’s biggest street art festival, where visitors can catch a dance performance, embark on a heritage walk or shop craft stalls all over the course of a day while the festival is on.
kalaghodaassociation.com
Where to stay: Tucked away on a quiet lane, Abode Bombay is housed in a heritage turn-of-the-century building with just 20 rooms, and a cafe on the ground floor. From 163 GBP per night. Discover more of the best hotels in Mumbai here.
February
Hay Festival Cartagena
What: Global literary festival in the home of magical realism
When: 30 January – 2 February 2025
Where: Cartagena, Colombia
With its origins in the book-loving British town of Hay-On-Wye, Hay Festival today is among the world’s most prominent literature festivals. In 2025 Hay celebrates the 20th edition of its successful offshoot in Cartagena, Colombia, held there in honour of the city’s rich literary heritage, including a formative role in the life and career of author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. More than 160 authors from 25 countries will be appearing across the festival, whose blend of talks, presentations, readings and film screenings add up to a complete cultural experience. Can’t make the dates? Attend the original Hay Festival in the UK in May.
hayfestival.com
Zona Maco, Mexico City
What: Four annual art, design and antique fairs
When: 7-11 February 2024
Where: Centro Citibanamex, CDMX, Mexico
Mexico City is a year-round mecca for art and design. This peaks in February, led by the annual Zona Maco. CDMX’s feted contemporary art fair is held at Centro Citibanamex and sees more than 210 exhibitors from 26 countries presenting across the four fairs of the Zona Maco platform: Zona Maco México Arte Contemporáneo (national and international art galleries), Zona Maco Diseño (furniture, textiles, and jewellery), Zona Maco Salón Del Anticuario (antiques) and Zona Maco Foto (photography). Tickets start from 350 MXN.
zsonamaco.com
Where to stay: Rest your head across the park in Roma Norte, Mexico City’s creative neighbourhood lined with bars and restaurants, and take a 15-minute Uber to the event. Alternatively, Polanco is closer with no shortage of smart boutique hotels.
Modernism Week, Palm Springs
What: An 11-day festival celebrating mid-century design
When: 13-23 February 2025
Where: Palm Springs, CA, US
Held every February, Modernism Week is an 11-day festival held in the desert city of Palm Springs. A celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion and culture, hundreds of events, activities and private properties are open to the public, from tours of iconic homes to fashion-related events and landscape talks. Some events are free and don’t require a ticket, while others must be booked in advance for a fee. As with previous years, the ever-popular ‘Signature Home Tours’ will make an appearance in 2025 – a self-guided tour of some of the area’s most notable residences. A second, shorter celebration of modernism is held each year in October, which is also worth checking out.
modernismweek.com
Where to stay: The Ace Hotel Palm Springs is well placed for exploring Modernism Week, and there is always a party happening by the pool, which looks like it’s straight out of a David Hockney painting. From 407 USD per night, discount code available via the Modernism Week website.
Frieze Los Angeles
What: Contemporary art far
When: 20-23 February 2025
Where: Santa Monica Airport, Los Angeles, CA, US
The 2025 edition is the third time that Frieze Los Angeles takes place at Santa Monica Airport. The crème de la crème of the art world will congregate in the WHY studio-designed tent to experience the best in contemporary art. Ogle over more than 120 galleries’ displays, including new specialists in 20th-century art gathered in the Barker Hangar. Works by Ed Ruscha, Jennifer Bartlett and Alighiero Boetti will all be on display. Those not in LA can check out the fair’s digital platform, Frieze Viewing Room, to explore hundreds of artworks and 3D presentations.
frieze.com
Where to stay: Frieze Los Angeles has a number of hotel partners, including the nearby Palihouse Santa Monica, a boutique beach house with 38 rooms. From 737 USD per night.
March
Art Basel, various locations
What: Four international contemporary art fairs held across the world
When: 28-30 March; 19-22 June; 24-26 October; 5-7 December 2025
Where: Hong Kong, China; Basel, Switzerland; Paris, France; Miami, FL, US
Connecting collectors, galleries and artists, this lauded network of art fairs brings the global art world together, catering to different markets throughout the calendar year. International contemporary art fair Art Basel kicks off its circuit in March, beginning in Hong Kong. The Swiss edition follows in June at Basel’s Messeplatz and features more than 200 leading galleries and upwards of 4,000 artists from five continents. Miami Beach rounds things out in December, while Paris+ par Art Basel returns for its fourth iteration in October. For our money, Basel wins out for contemporary works, while Miami Beach is more party centric.
artbasel.com
Holi Festival, worldwide
What: The Hindu festival of colours
When: 14 March 2025
Where: Worldwide
Celebrated throughout India and by its diaspora around the world, the Hindu festival of colours, Holi, represents the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Rainbow-hued events are hosted everywhere from New York to Mumbai, London to Jaipur, to mark the vivid festival. Handfuls of coloured powder are thrown, and each colour carries a particular meaning – green, for example, symbolises new beginnings. Friends and family commonly gather at home to enjoy traditional foods and sweet treats as a continuation of Holi celebrations over several days. Dictated by moon cycles, Holi is held on a different day every year, with the festival falling on 14 March in 2025.
Hanami Festival, Japan
What: Annual celebration of sakura (cherry blossom)
When: March-April 2025
Where: Across Japan, with prominent celebrations in Tokyo, Kyoto and Sapporo
Hanami (meaning ‘flower viewing’) is the celebration of the annual cherry blossom, which turns Japan’s cities and countryside into a tide of delicate pink flowers. The fleeting natural phenomenon lasts for two weeks each year and has great cultural significance as a symbol of mono no aware, meaning ‘nothing lasts forever’. The celebrations take on a festive atmosphere in the major cities, where families, friends and couples stake out a spot in public parks for picnics, barbecues and takeaways. The evening celebrations, known as Yozakura (‘night blossom’), take over once the sun dips, where revellers drink sake late into the night. It’s hard to predict exactly when the sakura display will occur, but it usually falls in late March in Tokyo, and late April in Sapporo, in the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Multiple Japanese weather stations make frequent sakura forecasts as spring approaches.
Where to stay:
The Muji Hotel offers complete immersion in the Muji brand, located above its expansive flagship store in Ginza. Minimalist rooms are curated with Muji products, which can be bought from the shop below. From 187 USD per night.
April
Salone del Mobile, Milan
What: The ultimate furniture and interior design fair
When: 8-13 April 2025
Where: Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds, Milan, Italy
Split between the Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds and various vibrant satellite popups across the city, the renowned furniture fair sees the design set flock to Milan for five days to ooh and ahh over new collections and reflect on the design world at large. Split into three style categories – Classic, Design, and xLux – the fair blends business and culture and is bolstered by events curated by leading international artists and designers. Salone del Mobile’s full cultural programme is yet to be unveiled, but expect the majority of Europe’s design studios to be represented in the exhibits.
salonemilano.it
Where to stay: The M1 metro line connects the Rho-Fieramilano station with several central locations across Milan, but be wary that rates usually sky rocket during the fair. The nhow hotel is suitably placed in the Tortona design district (host to a heap of satellite events), with bright, eclectic interiors (563 GBP per night). Those with exceptionally deep pockets can opt for the dazzling new Portrait Milano hotel from the Ferragamo family.
Expo 2025
What: Pentennial world exhibition
When: 13 April-13 October 2025
Where: Osaka, Japan
The World Expo is a global exhibition held every five years, where nations around the world exhibit new designs, science and ideas in an effort to tackle the world’s biggest issues. Around 28 million people are expected to visit 2025’s edition, which is to be held in Osaka for the third time, after their hosting in 1970 and 1990. This year, the exhibition centre is located on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay, with views of the Sento Inland Sea. The Pavilion area, where nations around the world demonstrate architecturally striking pavilions, will be held in the centre, surrounded by the sea and green spaces. The theme is “designing our future lives”, with sub-themes of healthcare, design and connecting lives.
expo2025.or.jp
Where to stay: Stay at 212-room Zentis Osaka, part of the Design Hotels portfolio, for French-Japanese fusion cuisine, minimal interiors and a refined, tranquil atmosphere. From 214 GBP per night.
Biennale Architettura
What: Venice’s biennial architecture celebration
When: 10 May – 23 November 2025
Where: Venice, Italy
The Biennale Architettura is the world’s most prestigious architecture and design exhibition, held every other year in Venice, alternating with the Venice Biennale art show. The 19th Biennale Architettura is being held in Venice in 2025, curated by architect and engineer Carlo Ratti, who has announced a circular economy manifesto for the architects submitting their work. The manifesto calls participants to tackle the challenging truth that building construction is one of the largest contributors to the climate crisis. Architectural works on display will exemplify circular design that eliminates waste, circulates materials and regenerates natural systems, and will be found across the whole city, including at the Giardini and Arsenale.
labiennale.org
Where to stay: Venice has no shortage of spectacular stays in spoiling historic buildings, from Aman to Belmond’s Cipriani Hotel. Cima Rosa Boutique Bed & Breakfast is set in a 15th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. Rates on request.
June
Design Miami / Basel
What: International design fair
When: 11-16 June 2025
Where: Basel, Switzerland
First conceived in 2005, Design Miami – a fair and forum for collectible design – takes place in Florida each December. Twenty years on, Design Miami brings together key players from the design world in Basel, Miami and Shanghai. Sister event Design Miami/Basel takes place each June in Switzerland, presenting exhibitions of historic and contemporary furniture, lighting and objets d’art. Programme details, including a curatorial theme, are still to be announced, but expect gallery presentations, riveting design talks and unique design commissions.
designmiami.com
Where to stay: Der Teufelhof Basel is an art-filled residence in Basel’s old town, which feels more like a gallery than a hotel. From 159 GBP per night.
August
Edinburgh Fringe
What: The largest arts festival in the world
When: 1-25 August 2025
Where: Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh Fringe descends upon the Scottish capital for three weeks each August. Kicking off in 1947, the festival today spans many genres, from dance to comedy and theatre, and has grown into the largest arts festival in the world. The festival’s size reached a peak in 2019, with over 59,600 performances held across 322 different venues. This year’s festival runs from 1-25 August with the first batch of shows revealed in February 2025, and the full programme announced in June. With a mixture of ticketed and free performances in permanent and pop-up venues, as well as street performances, the festival programme is open to anyone with a story to tell and a venue willing to host them. Get half price tickets for shows starting the same day (or the next morning), at the Half Price Hut; it’s a clever way to discover new shows at a discounted price.
edfringe.com
Where to stay: Edinburgh has welcomed a slew of new openings of late, including the gorgeously swish Gleneagles Townhouse – visit for a drink if you don’t bag a room. 565 GBP per night. Staying for the full month? Choose Eden Locke on George Street for an aparthotel with all the amenities you need for a long stay. Apartments from 197 GBP.
October
Frieze London & Frieze Masters
What: Contemporary and historic art festival
When: 15-19 October 2025
Where: Regent’s Park, London, UK
One of the most prominent contemporary art fairs in the world, Frieze London (founded in 2003) takes up camp once again at Regent’s Park from 15-19 October 2025. Frieze London is focused exclusively on contemporary art and living artists, with exhibiting galleries representing a broad range of artists, from the emerging to the well-established, in their display areas in the massive Frieze tent. The fair coincides with Frieze Masters, which brings together six millennia of art and highlights the relationship between historical art and contemporary practice. There’s also Frieze Sculpture, a free display of arresting outdoor works in Regent’s Park’s English Gardens. Tickets for Frieze London 2025 are yet to be released, so keep your eyes peeled, and make sure to keep the whole weekend in October free – you will need an entire day or two to have a fighting chance of seeing even half the displays.
frieze.com
Where to stay: Maximalist Martin Brudnizki-designed decor and a gritty 1970s glam energy that could only be found in Soho are all awaiting discovery at Broadwick Soho. Rooms from 496 GBP.
