Budapest's cultural scene is already buzzing with anticipation for 2025, with several museums having unveiled their programmes. We've compiled a preview of the exhibitions we're most looking forward to this year.

Ludwig Museum

While the museum's end-of-year programme is still being finalised, its spring schedule is already looking promising, judging by the announcement of its first two exhibitions – both of which are opening soon. Following the recent closure of Women's Quota 01, a showcase of local women artists' work which ran until 12 January, the museum in the Müpa building will launch its sequel, Women's Quota 02, on 24 January, running for two months. This exhibition highlights the significant progress made since the museum's inception, when only 5% of its collection was attributed to female artists, compared to today's impressive figure of one-third. The upcoming exhibition will present a selection of these works.

Another of Ludwig's recent offerings is a museum education exhibition inspired by common queries about art, particularly contemporary art. This has directly informed the exhibition's title: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), opening on 14 February and running until 29 June. This concise exhibition aims to enhance visitor understanding and illuminate the connections between contemporary and classical art. It achieves this by showcasing a selection of works from the museum's collection that are not currently displayed. The exhibition's playful and accessible nature is further reflected in the interactive games and exercises accompanying the artworks.

House of Music Hungary 

The House of Music Hungary, situated in City Park, will launch a major exhibition, LISTEN. – A Musical Journey Around the World, running from 18 February until 13 July. This ambitious exhibition offers a stylish, musical exploration of our planet, posing thought-provoking questions such as: how would one introduce Earth to an alien entity, and what would be included in a time capsule destined to be opened in 1,000 years? Drawing on films shot in over thirty countries and featuring over a hundred performers, the exhibition aims not only to showcase our rich musical and cultural diversity but also to emphasise our shared origins.

Mai Manó House

While the opening of the Frida Kahlo photography collection has been extended slightly, the renowned photography space has unveiled a stellar line-up of exhibitions for 2025. The year kicks off with a focus on Hungarian talent. First up is Dezső Szabó, a contemporary artist who transitioned from monochrome painting to photography. His exhibition, Phenomenon, will showcase a mix of previously unseen works and brand-new pieces created specifically for the event. Following will be a retrospective on Ylla (1911-1955), a Hungarian-born photographer internationally acclaimed for her innovative and unconventional approach to animal photography. Her pioneering work captures animals in their natural environments and behaviours, offering a fresh perspective on their visual representation.

Spring brings a new arrival to Mai Manó House: renowned art collector György Pálfi's collection of photographs, Americana. This exhibition delves into the heart of everyday American life through a curated selection of car-focused imagery. The photographs hail from a range of esteemed artists, including William Eggleston, Joel Meyerowitz, Helmut Newton, and Ruth Orkin. Running concurrently will be an exhibition by British photographer Eleanor Macnair. Macnair's playful style involves crafting three-dimensional versions of iconic photographs from history using coloured modelling clay. What began as an experimental hobby has garnered significant attention. Her creations draw inspiration from influential figures like Cindy Sherman and Diane Arbus.

Summer at Mai Manó House will be dedicated to André Kertész's first wife, André Rogi, whose portrait and documentary photography developed into a distinctive and impactful style. Her work captured prominent social and political figures alongside key historical events. Autumn will shift the focus to South KoreaNuncchi – The Power of Silence, opening in September, will showcase the work of six South Korean photographers. Running concurrently will be Somewhere in Korea, an exhibition featuring photographs taken in both North and South Korea by two Hungarian artists, Imre Benkő and Zoltán Molnár. The year will conclude with Mary Ellen Mark's first-ever exhibition in Hungary. The Lives of Women will present her powerful documentary images, exploring the complex and often challenging realities of women's experiences.

Hungarian National Gallery

Approximately two years ago, the Hungarian National Gallery hosted a highly popular exhibition exploring the poster and environmental culture of Hungarian Art Deco. Perhaps building on this success, and reflecting the enduring appeal of the style, the gallery will present an exhibition dedicated to the poster and environmental culture of Art NouveauThe Art of Life, as the exhibition is titled, will cover the period from 1895 to 1914 and will be open to the public from 3 April until 5 October.

Museum of Fine Arts

The museum, located on Heroes' Square has a significant year ahead, with several compelling exhibitions planned. Opening on 10 April and running until 20 July, Master MS and his Age will focus on the enigmatic Hungarian artist Master MS, his work, and the main altar he created for St. Catherine's Church in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia. This exhibition, the result of extensive research, aims to bring this medieval master – about whom relatively little is known, with some even suggesting the name represents not one but multiple individuals – into sharper focus for contemporary audiences, offering a deeper understanding of the artistic environment in which he worked.

From mid-September until mid-January 2026, the museum will present The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, an exhibition exploring the life, work, and era of William Blake, the uniquely visionary poet and painter. Finally, at the very end of November, Guardians of Eternity will open, bringing the original terracotta army of the first Chinese emperor to Budapest (following previous displays of replicas in the city). This art historical exhibition, running until 31 May 2026, will recount a pivotal chapter in ancient Chinese history and explore the people's beliefs about the afterlife. Alongside the iconic clay soldiers, visitors will encounter bronze ceremonial vessels and garments, as well as architectural and funerary ceramics.

(Cover photo: a  previous exhibition at the Ludwig Museum, Polyák Attila - We Love Budapest)

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