Image credit: Bandeau in emerald, ruby, sapphire, diamond and platinum, Cartier London, 1928 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The V&A have just announced their London exhibitions for 2025 – Cartier, Design & Disability and Marie Antoinette Style at South Kensington, and Making Egypt at the Young V&A.
Cartier (12 April – 16 November 2025)
The first major retrospective of Cartier in 30 years will explore the evolution of the maison. The exhibition will feature over 350 objects including historic gemstones, jewels, watches and clocks. Also on display will be previously-unseen drawings from the V&A and Cartier archives.
Design & Disability (7 June 2025 – 15 February 2026)
Design & Disability will explore disability as an identity and a culture through art, design, architecture, fashion and photography over the past 80 years. Acting as both a celebration and a call to action, it will look at how people with disabilities have contributed to design and contemporary culture, and “demonstrate how design can be made more equitable and accessible and aim towards design justice.”
Marie Antoinette Style (20 September 2025 – 22 March 2026)
Sponsored by Manolo Blahnick, Marie Antoinette Style is the first UK exhibition concentrating on the most fashionable queen in history. It will explore her fashion and interiors, and the influence they have had ever since through the means of design, fashion, film and decorative arts.
Making Egypt (15 February – 2 November 2025)
This fascinating exhibition will be divided into three areas: imagining, communicating and making. With lots of opportunities for interaction, Making Egypt will take visitors from ancient Egypt to the present day, looking at how the influence continues to be seen through fashion, jewellery, comics, film, games, sculpture and ceramics.
V&A comment
Tristram Hunt, V&A Director, explains: “From showstopping jewels and ancient amulets to innovative architecture and product design to fashion fit for a queen, the V&A’s ambitious 2025 programme across our family of sites will celebrate creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship. The V&A will mix the historic with the contemporary and academic rigour with spectacular exhibition design to champion design and creativity in all its forms, advance cultural knowledge, and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere.”
Getting there
V&A South Kensington:
The V&A is a 30 minute-walk from Hertford Street. It can also be reached by taking the Piccadilly line from Green Park to South Kensington.
Young V&A:
The Young V&A can be reached by taking the Central line from Bond Street to Bethnal Green.
Also in the area
V&A South Kensington:
Natural History Museum
Science Museum
Harrods
Young V&A:
Whitechapel Gallery
Columbia Road Flower Market
Spitalfields City Farm