10 Exhibitions not to miss in Stockholm in 2025

Stockholm is a city where nature, ever-present, often takes the lead over culture. However, the Scandinavian capital is a city where cultural offerings are never lacking: each year, new exhibitions provide the opportunity to discover or deepen one’s knowledge about various artists. The themes covered are diverse, and Sweden also stands out for its high-quality museography, reflecting its cultural heritage.

1. Bonnard and the Nordics – National Museum

The Bonnard and the Nordics exhibition at the National Museum explores the fascinating relationship between French painter Pierre Bonnard and Nordic artists, offering a unique opportunity to discover how Bonnard’s work influenced—and was influenced by—the landscapes and artists of the Nordic region.

Pierre Bonnard, Sous l'arbre, 1915. Foto: Christies, New York Pierre

Pierre Bonnard, known for his vibrant colors and intimate compositions, was always deeply attuned to light and nature, which resonates particularly well with the painting traditions of Nordic countries, known for their bright and often melancholic landscapes. This exhibition offers a visual dialogue between the works of Bonnard and those of Scandinavian artists such as Edvard Munch, Vilhelm Hammershøi, and Sigrid Hjertén, among others, highlighting the shared stylistic and thematic affinities.

The exhibition immerses visitors in a world where geographic and cultural boundaries dissolve, creating a unique experience centered around color, light, and natural beauty. It is an event not to be missed for art lovers and those curious to explore the exchange between French and Nordic art at the beginning of the 20th century. The exhibition includes over 100 works by Bonnard, including several major paintings loaned by institutions such as the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

• Date: February 20 – May 18, 2025
• Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, 111 48 Stockholm
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm, with late hours until 8 pm on Thursdays.
• Ticket price: Adult: 160 SEK, free for under 20s, free on Thursdays between 5 pm and 8 pm.

2. Carl Milles Exhibition – Millesgården

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Carl Milles, one of Sweden's most famous artists, the Millesgården Museum (located in the artist's house on the island of Lidingö) presents the largest contemporary monographic exhibition on this exceptional artist, featuring unpublished works and a deep perspective on his complex personality. The exhibition highlights Carl Milles' artistic work while retracing key moments in his life. It takes us through his early years spent in Lagga, a small village in southeastern of Uppsala county, before bringing us to Paris in the early 20th century, where the artist experienced a decisive turning point in his career.

© Millesgårdens arkiv

The exhibition then explores his journey as a professor in the United States, a period that profoundly influenced his work and artistic vision. Finally, it presents the overarching work that is Millesgården, a true testament to his creative genius, reflecting his commitment to art and his desire to create a space where his sculptures and ideas come to life in a complete and immersive way. In addition to his remarkable sculptures, the exhibition allows us to discover the man behind the art, Carl Milles, a highly creative and complex individual. His sharp mind and incisive character are reflected in his works, as well as in his approach to art and how he positioned himself in the face of the challenges of his time. Passionate yet thoughtful, he embodies this paradoxical personality, capable of combining great artistic sensitivity with a bold willingness to innovate.

But beyond the artist, the exhibition also raises questions about the nature of his work and its impact. His personality and creative choices often sparked debates and discussions, particularly regarding how he addressed universal themes through his monumental sculptures. Interviews and testimonies from contemporary voices, including art critics, researchers, and people who knew the artist, offer further insight. These contributions allow us to better understand the multiple facets of Milles, his contradictions, and his influence in the art world.

These testimonies pave the way for new reflections, leading us to question not only his work but also the place of the artist in the society of his time. The exhibition thus invites visitors to dive into a dialogue between past and present, between the work and the man, to better grasp the very essence of Carl Milles' art.

• Date: June 14 – September 28, 2025
• Address: Herserudsvägen 32, 181 50 Lidingö (accessible from Stockholm by subway to Ropsten on the red line, then by bus or tram)
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
• Ticket price: Adult: 170 kr, student 140 SEK, free for those under 18

3. From Moomin to Chop Chop at the Prince Eugene Museum – Waldemarsudde

Launched for the 80th anniversary of the creation of Moomin in 1945, this exhibition is also largely a tribute to Swedish-language children's literature, which has remained vibrant since the 1940s. The Moomins are charming and endearing creatures living in Moominvalley, and their adventures have captivated generations of readers around the world.

The series has given rise to numerous books, comics, TV shows, and even plays. This exhibition is aimed at visitors of all ages and highlights four of the most beloved Nordic children's book illustrators, who are part of a cultural heritage to be preserved:

• Tove Jansson (1914–2001), creator of Moomin
• Ilon Wikland (born 1930), creator of Karlsson-on-the-Roof, written by Astrid Lindgren
• Pija Lindenbaum (born 1955), creator of Gittan (Bridget in english)
• Linda Bondestam (born 1977), creator of the little robot Chop Chop (not translated into english)

The exhibition includes over 300 works, ranging from sketches and finished illustrations to three-dimensional objects such as the first Moomin characters and paper sculptures. It highlights the unique relationship between the image and the text in children's books and invites viewers to reflect on questions such as: How is a character created? How are places, events, and moods represented visually? What role do colors, lines, and shapes play in the works on display? But it also sheds new light on the unique power of visual narrative art, where the images don't just complement, but enhance the magic of children's literature.

Central themes such as the right to be oneself, equality of values, and inclusion occupy a central place in the work of all the artists featured in the exhibition. In addition, topics such as escape, exclusion, solidarity, and issues of identity are also explored. In one of the exhibition rooms, there is even an interactive space for creative creation and storytelling, offering both children and adults the chance to create their own stories and illustrations.

• Date: February 15 – August 17, 2025
• Address: Prins Eugens väg 6, Djurgården
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm, evening until 8 pm on Thursday
• Ticket price: Adult: 170 SEK, 150 SEK for students/seniors, free for under 18s, free on Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm

4. Corbijn, Anton at the Photography Museum – Fotografiska

Anton Corbijn is a Dutch artist, primarily known for his work as a photographer, but also as a director of music videos and feature films. He is particularly famous for his iconic portraits of bands such as Depeche Mode, U2, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and artists like Tom Waits. Corbijn has also worked with directors and artists, including Martin Scorsese and Marlene Dumas, capturing key moments in their careers through his lens. This retrospective exhibition, organized for the fiftieth anniversary of Anton Corbijn’s career, offers a chance to revisit the work of this photographer, from his early shots in the 1970s to much more recent works.

Eurythmics London 1990, © Anton Corbij

This is the artist's third exhibition at Fotografiska, a place he greatly appreciates, and an opportunity for him to take a step back and reflect on his work to remain relevant as a photographer and artist. It is also an opportunity for visitors to discover his prolific body of work.

• Date: June 13 – October 12, 2025
• Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm
• Opening hours: Monday and Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am – 10 pm
• Ticket price: Adult 200 SEK on weekdays and 230 SEK on weekends, Senior and student 160 SEK on weekdays and 190 SEK on weekends, free for under 18s.

5. Tillsammans (Together) at the Thiel Museum – Thielska Galleriet

On the occasion of the Thiel Museum's centenary, this exhibition highlights the importance of collective efforts in the creation of a museum. It naturally emphasizes the role of the founders, Signe Maria and Ernest Thiel, who together formed one of Sweden's most significant art collections, as well as the artists they supported whose works helped shape the museum. The exhibition also focuses on the very location of the Thielska Galleriet, which has always been a meeting point for the artistic scene of its time, with Prince Eugène serving as a unifier and patron.

Martin Bergström, Blå rot. Foto: Urban Jörén. (image recadré)

Drawing on significant collaborations, the exhibition offers a perspective on our time and explores how artists collaborate today, how different art forms interact with each other, and with other dimensions of life. To shed light on these questions, the museum has invited four duos of contemporary artists: Bigert & Bergström, Bella Rune and Jonas Nobel, Linda Pedersen and Henning Hamilton, as well as Martin Bergström and Thomas Klementsson. T

hese artists, who work together (and in some cases share their lives), explore a wide range of expressions and materials through various forms of cooperation – whether with their partners, other actors, or their environment.

• Date: June 13 – October 12, 2025
• Address: Sjötullsbacken 8, 115 25 Stockholm
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm, late-night until 8 pm on Thursdays
• Ticket price: Adult 160 SEK, Senior and student 140 SEK, free for under 18s

6. Lars Wallin's Studio: 35 Years of Fashion Stories – Artipelag

For more than thirty years, Lars Wallin has established himself as one of Sweden's most renowned fashion designers. With his elegant style, innate sense of glamour, and attention to detail, he has become a leading figure in Nordic haute couture. His creations have been worn by members of royal families, celebrities, and international icons, and have appeared at prestigious events, from Nobel dinners to the Eurovision Song Contest.

Photo copyright Jean-Baptiste Berenger

The exhibition offers a unique dive into Lars Wallin's creative process. The designer meticulously reveals the different stages of his craftsmanship, from the tools and machines used to the delicate handling of a beaded fabric, so fragile it must be sewn by hand. Visitors will have the chance to follow Wallin around the world and discover captivating anecdotes from the fashion universe – from studio visits in Paris to the story of an exceptional coat, covered with 80 meters of swan down, which was completed at the last minute before making its debut on the runway.

• Date: March 7 – September 7, 2025
• Address: Artipelagstigen 1, 134 40 Gustavsberg (accessible by Stromma boat from Nybroplan or by bus from the central station)
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm, late-night until 8 pm on the last Wednesday of each month
• Ticket price: Adult 165–225 SEK, Senior 135–195 SEK, Student 65–125 SEK, free for under 18s

7. Toiletpaper at the Photography Museum – Fotografiska

This exhibition is the largest display of this Italian studio ever held in Europe, a colorful exhibition that will leave you shaken, but let's allow the two artists to guide us… "Imagine arriving at the best party of your life, where everyone is completely drunk, and you’re the only sober person in the room," explain the founders of TOILETPAPER, Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari, about the experience... and this exactly captures the feeling you get when wandering through the museum's rooms – a sense of being in another world, while at the same time feeling privileged to be able to experience it.

Photo recadrée prise dans le musée

Driven by a shared passion for photography, absurdism, and creativity, artist Maurizio Cattelan and photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari founded the visual magazine TOILETPAPER Magazine in 2010, as a reaction against the conservative art world. Thanks to this exhibition, the magazine comes to life in 3D, immersing visitors in their world: installations, videos, and photographs that highlight the absurdities of our time and our obsession with beauty, power, and consumption.

All the props are made in their creative studio in Milan, with no AI-generated effects, whether for the photographs or the films.

• Date: March 8 – June 8, 2025
• Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm
• Opening hours: Monday and Sunday 11 am – 9 pm, Tuesday to Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
• Ticket price: Adult 200 SEK weekdays, 230 SEK weekends; Senior and Student 160 SEK weekdays, 190 SEK weekends; free for under 18s

8. What No One Wants to See – Dick Bengtsson – Sven-Harrys Art Museum

Dick Bengtsson (1936–1989) is an iconic figure in Swedish art history, a singular voice whose work breaks boundaries and evokes strong reactions. His bold and uncompromising art leaves no one indifferent. In spring and summer 2025, Sven-Harrys Art Museum will host an exhibition titled "Det ingen vill se" ("What No One Wants to See"), dedicated to Dick Bengtsson's works from the 1960s and 70s. Over 20 years have passed since the last major retrospective of his work, and the 2025 exhibition offers the new generation the opportunity to discover this unique body of work.

Dick Bengtsson, Hitler och Drömköket, 1974. Foto: Åsa Lundén / Moderna Museet

Recognized for his use of powerful and often controversial symbols (such as the swastika), Dick Bengtsson made a significant mark on contemporary Swedish art with his reflections on the power of images and their interpretation, sometimes qualified as provocative.

Bengtsson was one of those artists who wasn't afraid to break conventions and shock the public, urging everyone to question what they took for granted. His works are often signals to go beyond the obvious and to look deeper than the surface of things, with a strong critical stance towards power structures and preconceived ideas.

• Date: April 3 – September 14, 2025
• Address: Eastmansvägen 10-12, 113 61 Stockholm
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10 am – 6 pm, with extended hours until 8 pm on Thursdays; Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
• Ticket price: Adult 170 SEK, Senior and Student 140 SEK, free for under 18s

9. Carola Grahn, Drick Drick (“Drink! Drink!”) – Liljevachs

Carola Grahn is one of the most notable contemporary artists from the Nordic countries. Born in 1982 in Jåhkåmåhkke (Jokkmokk), she is a Sámi artist who obtained her Master's degree from the Kungl. Konsthögskolan in Stockholm in 2013 and has also studied at Beckmans Designhögskola and Gamleby Fotoskola. T

his exhibition, titled Drick Drick, explores themes close to the artist’s heart, such as societal issues, colonialism, and the place of the individual within a larger cultural context. Her works, both conceptual and sensual, alternate between portraying the everyday and the mythological, drawing from her personal experiences while also offering a sharp critique of our societies: “Visiting the exhibition will likely feel like entering my mind, rummaging through my thoughts, and observing the present through my eyes. It’s about being in thirst, desire, and despair,” explains Carola Grahn, the artist.

Photo Gustav Almestål

This is the very first major exhibition of the artist, offering visitors the opportunity to better understand her work and aesthetic.

• Date: March 28 – August 10, 2025
• Address: Falkenbergsgatan 3, Djurgården.
• Opening hours: Daily from 11 am to 5 pm, with extended hours until 8 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
•  Ticket price: Adult 160 SEK, Senior and Student 130 SEK, free for under 18s.

10. Designing Motherhood: The Things That Shape and Break Our Births – ARKDES

When was the menstrual cup invented? What will the gynecological chair of the future look like? Designing Motherhood is an exhibition that explores the impact of design on human reproduction over the last 150 years, facilitating, enabling, or even limiting our entry into the world.

Nearly 300 objects, both historical and contemporary, are displayed: from the menstrual cup, breast pumps, and baby monitors, to medical tools and maternity clothing. The exhibition examines these objects and processes through art, photography, product design, posters, advertising, fashion, and architecture, offering insights from various cultural and geographical perspectives.

Photo Felix Speller (image recadrée)

Designing Motherhood, an exhibition and project originally created in the United States, is enriched with a Swedish perspective on the design of reproduction. The exhibition also highlights global challenges and taboos related to this field. Come explore this fascinating and complex topic that concerns us all, at ArkDes.

The exhibition was created by the American team consisting of Zoë Greggs, Michelle Millar Fisher, Gabriella Nelson, Juliana Rowen Barton, and Amber Winick. Swedish researcher and author Karin Carlsson contributed materials from Sweden and the Nordic countries.

• Date: September 27, 2024 – August 31, 2025
• Address: Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm, with extended hours until 8 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.
• Ticket price: Free