Culture staffers list 41 memorable arts moments from 2025

The New York Times Culture desk published a roundup on Dec. 13, 2025, in which its staff listed 41 works and moments that stuck with them over the year, spanning dance, music, film, theater, visual art, television, podcasts and more.

The selections cited a wide range of items: Wally Cardona’s reconstruction "Times Four" in dance; Tyler, the Creator’s album "Don’t Tap the Glass" and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter stop in New Jersey in music; Renate Reinsve in Joachim Trier’s "Sentimental Value" and Park Chan-wook’s satirical film "No Other Choice" in film; stage entries such as the revival of "Bat Boy: The Musical," Bess Wohl’s "Liberation," and the Broadway transfer of "Ragtime"; museum shows including Anselm Kiefer at Amsterdam’s Stedelijk, Ruth Asawa at MoMA, Helene Schjerfbeck at the Met and the Casa Susanna installation at the Met (running through Jan. 25); plus opera nights like Lise Davidsen in "Fidelio," podcasts such as "The Telepathy Tapes," and documentaries including "Come See Me in the Good Light."

The piece is presented as a series of personal impressions from staff writers, with images and credits accompanying many entries; it also notes, for example, that FX canceled the sitcom "English Teacher" this year. The roundup captures what Culture staffers said lingered for them in 2025 rather than offering a ranked list.

Key Topics

Culture, Beyoncé, Wally Cardona, Anselm Kiefer, Moma, Stedelijk Museum