This section remembers Chris Rea, the 'Driving Home for Christmas' singer, Puerto Rican music ambassador Rafael Ithier, Call of Duty designer Vince Zampella, bubblegum pop king Jerry Kasenetz, 'The Wire' actor James Ransone, and 'New York Undercover' co-creator Kevin Arkadie, alongside a broader tribute to artists lost throughout 2025.

• Chris Rea, Grammy-Nominated Singer of ‘Driving Home for Christmas,’ Dies at 74 — New York Times Arts -
• Rafael Ithier, Ambassador of Puerto Rican Music, Dies at 99 — New York Times Arts -
• Vince Zampella, Formative Designer of Call of Duty Games, Dies at 55 — New York Times Arts -

• Jerry Kasenetz, a King of Bubblegum Pop Music, Dies at 82 — New York Times Arts -
• James Ransone, Actor Known for ‘The Wire,’ Dies at 46 — New York Times Arts -
• Kevin Arkadie, ‘New York Undercover’ Co-Creator, Dies at 68 — New York Times Arts -
• Artists We Lost in 2025, in Their Words — New York Times Arts -

Barry Manilow's lung cancer diagnosis leads the music news, which also highlights an opera addressing the climate crisis, Bad Bunny's massive fan draw in Mexico City, and the Met Opera's initiative to attract younger audiences with a shorter 'Magic Flute'.

• Barry Manilow Is Diagnosed With Lung Cancer — New York Times Arts -
• Review: ‘The Seasons’ Jumbles Warnings About Climate Crisis — New York Times Arts -
• What Fans Did to Attend a Bad Bunny Show in Mexico City — New York Times Music -

• The Met Opera’s Leaner ‘Magic Flute’ Courts Young Listeners — New York Times Arts -

Film and television news includes a look back at the 25 most notable movies of 2025, Bowen Yang's departure from Saturday Night Live, reviews of new K-dramas featuring complex female protagonists, and a documentary premiere alongside other weekly TV highlights.

• The 25 Most Notable Movies of 2025: ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Roofman’ and More — New York Times Movies -
• Bowen Yang Is Leaving ‘S.N.L.’ — New York Times Arts -
• In These K-Dramas, Women Are Unjustly Accused (Maybe) — New York Times Arts -

• ‘Cover-Up,’ Plus 8 Things on TV This Week — New York Times Arts -

Cultural events feature new Banksy murals in London addressing social issues, dramatic readings of 'A Christmas Carol' at the Dickens Museum, a lawsuit against Playwrights Horizons concerning race-based discounts, and a reflection on the 100-year legacy and future direction of the Rockettes.

• Two New Banksy Murals Appear in London — New York Times Arts -
• Reading ‘A Christmas Carol’ Aloud, and Leaning Into Its Dark Side — New York Times Arts -
• Playwrights Horizons Is Sued Over Discounts to People of Color — New York Times Arts -

• The Rockettes, at 100, Need a Kick in the Right Direction — New York Times Arts -

This section covers Obsidian's successful year with new game releases, the growing trend of embracing audiobooks over traditional reading, and reviews of Betty Fussell's memoir 'How to Cook a Coyote' and Kris Bertin's 'Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 3'.

• A Game Studio’s Banner Year: Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 — New York Times Arts -
• Why I Stopped Reading and Embraced Audiobooks — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘How to Cook a Coyote,’ by Betty Fussell — New York Times Books -

• Book Review: ‘Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 3,’ by Kris Bertin — New York Times Books -