2025: Year in review
Reflecting on WBUR's news and pop culture stories from 2025.
Cognoscenti's best stories of 2025
The 230-odd pieces Cog published this year were personal and political. We worked with new writers and bestselling authors, wrote dozens of newsletters, produced live events, dabbled in video and...
Searching for glimmers of hope in a tough year for the arts
This year was an extremely turbulent one for arts organizations across the country. But amidst the uncertainty, there were distinct signs of endurance across the Greater Boston arts landscape.
Musical mayhem: The Cog 2025 playlist
Music reminds us of what we’ve lost and what we’ve found, writes Kate Neale Cooper. Where we’ve been, and where we’re going. These are the songs and artists Cog contributors...
The best local albums of 2025, according to our critics
Even as the amount of music made by both humans and AI exceeds what any listener could possibly consume, a few local artists managed to break through the glut and...
Massachusetts art museums look back on a tumultuous year
Leaders at art museums have been grappling with a cascade of existential challenges in 2025. We checked in with directors at four Massachusetts institutions to see how they fared.
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The photos that helped us tell the stories of 2025
A big news year saw protests over federal policies and worker strikes. Voters decided another citywide election and residents across the state commemorated the 250th anniversary of the start of...
The best films of 2025, according to critic Sean Burns
Film critic Sean Burns went to the movies 204 times in the first 11 months of 2025. Here are his 10 favorite films from the year.
The best films of 2025, according to critic Erin Trahan
WBUR film critic Erin Trahan selects five films that brought joy through the experience of seeing them in a theater. "Those irreplaceable moments shared with strangers and friends turned every...