Discover the top art and culture festivals for summer 2025 on Bloomberg Connects

To celebrate the warm summer weather, explore all the exciting cultural festivals that let you experience their host cities in new ways. From the West Side of Manhattan to the docks of Liverpool, you can view outdoor art in parks and urban settings, participate in free cultural activities, or discover emerging artistic talents.

West Side Fest is a free art festival in New York City that celebrates the vibrant cultural community on the western edge of Manhattan. What began as a one-day event is now three days of festivities, ranging from exhibition tours and film screenings to live music and craft classes. This multi-site arts celebration partners with a mix of museums, parks, and performing arts centers from the West Side Cultural Network, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Joyce Theater, and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

During West Side Fest, Dia Chelsea will offer a curator-led tour of their current Steve McQueen show, as well as a Kishio Suga film program. The opening event for White Columns’ summer exhibition will feature a musical performance by Private Time, and special tours (July 12 and July 13) of Stephanie Comilang’s solo exhibition at the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) invite visitors to sample the Filipino dessert halo-halo. If you prefer to experience arts and culture outdoors, The High Line will have a family workshop and a wellness break, while Hudson River Park will host Jazz on the Beach, a Shoreline Stroll with their River Project team, and a Painting Nature workshop. 

There’s something for everyone in the West Side Fest guide, where you can view recommendations for family-friendly art events, film and performance highlights, or see the full schedule for each day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

Founded in 1932, the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is dedicated to showcasing local artists and artworks significant to the California city’s rich cultural heritage. The annual contemporary art festival includes a juried fine art show, a junior art exhibit, and nightly Pageant of the Masters performances. Their exciting array of events also includes the Festival Fashion Show, Art & Fashion Affair Gala, and a series of country, jazz, and blues concerts.

Staged in an outdoor amphitheater with a live orchestra, this year’s pageant, Gold Coast: Treasures of California, takes visitors on a journey through the state’s art and history, showcasing its most prominent museums and monuments. The fine art show exhibits the work of 120 contemporary Orange County artists working in a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, glass, ceramics, and photography.

Highlights from the Festival’s permanent collection of over 1,000 artworks can be explored in their digital guide, which also offers a self-guided tour of the sculptural works on display in the Festival gardens. If you’re an Orange County artist, you can also learn how to apply for next year’s juried exhibition.

Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest free contemporary art festival. Since its founding in 1998, the biennial has presented works by over 590 leading artists and received over 50 million visits. The 13th edition, curated by Marie-Anne McQuay, explores the theme of ‘BEDROCK’. This invokes the region’s geological underpinnings and the sandstone that forms its architecture, while also referencing the social foundations of Liverpool’s people and culture. 

The Biennial extends through venues across the city, ranging from cultural organizations such as Tate Liverpool and Walker Art Gallery to the local pharmacy Eurochemist and the social housing association Pine Court. At Liverpool Cathedral, artists Ana Navas and Maria Loizidou celebrate women’s contributions to the city, while Odur Ronald’s aluminum installations at Bluecoat and SEVENSTORE consider ideas of migration, access, and identity. At The Black-E community arts center, Turner Prize-winning artist Elizabeth Price considers the architectural history of Catholic churches in Britain.

In the Liverpool Biennial guide, you can follow the trail of permanent public artworks across the city, view newly commissioned outdoor works, or access the Art Against the World podcast, which explores the exhibition’s theme in detail.

Whether you’re an art aficionado or culturally curious, prefer to be outside or indoors, traveling solo or with family, there’s something for everyone in this summer’s cultural calendar. Discover these art festivals and other cultural institutions on Bloomberg Connects!