Tate Modern to celebrate 25th anniversary with four-day birthday weekender
Tate Modern’s 25th anniversary will be marked with a free four-day celebration in May 2025, featuring art displays, live performances, music, workshops, and family activities.
Meschac Gaba, Art and Religion Room From Museum of Contemporary African Art 2013. Installation view. Photo: Marcus Leith and Andrew Dunkley.
Tate Modern is preparing for a landmark event in 2025, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary with a four-day Birthday Weekender from 9 to 12 May. In partnership with UNIQLO, the celebration will offer free access to its world-class exhibitions, alongside special events, including live music, workshops, talks, and curated food and drink offerings.
Live performances will be at the heart of the celebration. Meschac Gaba’s Museum of Contemporary African Art will invite visitors to participate in live tarot readings, while Abbas Zahedi’s performance within Gathering Ground will address pressing issues such as the ecological crisis and social justice. In the Tanks, Lawrence Lek will present a near-future scenario shaped by artificial intelligence through an immersive mix of live gameplay and cinematic visuals. María Magdalena Campos-Pons will also lead a new performance, responding to the history and architecture of the power station itself, a crucial aspect of Tate Modern’s identity.
Nalini Malani, In Search of Vanished Blood 2012-20 © Nalani Malani. Installation photo, Nalini Malani, The rebellion of the Dead, Castello di Rivoli-Museo d'Arte.
Music will play a significant role in the evening activities, with the Turbine Hall, Corner Café, and Terrace Bar offering a space for a celebration of London’s creative community. On Friday night, the spotlight will fall on South London’s talent, with DJ sets from Jumbi and Radiate Festival. Saturday’s musical programme will feature performances curated by DAYTIMERS and Foundation FM, culminating in a live music event in the Turbine Hall.
In addition to the performances and events, Tate Modern will also showcase highlights from its iconic collection. Louise Bourgeois’ Maman, the giant bronze spider that greeted visitors when the gallery opened in 2000, will return to the Turbine Hall. A special trail of 25 key works will be displayed throughout the building, featuring celebrated pieces such as Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych and Salvador Dalí’s Lobster Telephone. Recent acquisitions, including works by Outi Pieski and Nalini Malani, will also be on view.
To mark the occasion, the UNIQLO Tate Shop will offer a range of limited-edition T-shirts, along with art-inspired merchandise, celebrating Tate Modern’s 25 years at the forefront of global art.
Installation photography, Louise Bourgeois, Maman, Tate Modern 2000. Photo: Tate Photography.
Karin Hindsbo, Director of Tate Modern, said, “Tate Modern’s birthday isn’t just a moment to reflect on 25 years at the cutting edge – It’s a chance to keep pushing artistic boundaries and to give a platform to the next generation. Our birthday weekend will be a truly public celebration of art and creativity to which everyone is invited. We are incredibly grateful to our longstanding partner, UNIQLO, for their support of the Birthday Weekender, reflecting our shared values and belief that art is for everyone.”
Date: 9-12 May 2025. Location: Tate Modern Bankside London SE1 9TG. tate.org.uk.
