Spider-Man, Ariana Grande and Andy Warhol: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week
As The Odysseyfever begins to dissipate, the week ahead hopes to whisk us away into even more fantastical worlds. From the dark and whimsical paintings of Richard Dadd, to the webbed wonders of Spider-Man,...
As The Odysseyfever begins to dissipate, the week ahead hopes to whisk us away into even more fantastical worlds.
From the dark and whimsical paintings of Richard Dadd, to the webbed wonders of Spider-Man, there's plenty to keep you and the whole family enthralled.
In case you've missed it, we've also been publishing our round-ups of the best music and movies so far this year — must-reads for the culturally cool out there (as anyone of you reading this surely are!).
Without further ado, let's get into what's coming up next...
Exhibitions
Richard Dadd: Beyond Bedlam
When: Until 25 October 2026
Where: Royal Academy of Arts (London, UK)
Famous for his richly detailed fairy paintings, Victorian artist Richard Dadd's works feel like portals into enchantment. Imbued with the fantastical ambience of legends and memory, they also became a way for Dadd to explore and exorcise his delusions. After killing his father in 1843, the artist spent the rest of his life in psychiatric institutions, where he continued to paint and imagine worlds beyond the four walls of his seclusion. This fascinating exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts explores both his life and art through more than 100 of his works.
Andy Warhol: Line and Image
When: Until 10 January 2027
Where: Musée du Luxembourg (Paris, France)
When people think of Andy Warhol, they often think of his iconic Pop art: Iconographies disorientated with vibrant collages of colour. However, he also created thousands of drawings throughout his career. The medium was foundational to his works as an artist, the simplicity of a pencil and paper allowing Warhol to experiment and evolve his ideas. In other words, it's what shaped Warhol as we remember him. From portraits, to caricatures to self-promotional portfolios, the Musée du Luxembourg displays approximately 150 of these drawings — alongside paintings, silkscreen prints on paper and more. A must for Warhol fans and hopeful artists alike.
Bonus highlight: ‘War is hell: Childhood in War’ is a free exhibition that explores children growing up in conflict - from 1914 to the present day. It opens at the Imperial War Museum in London from 31 July.
Movies
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Where: Cinemas
When: 29 July
Watch out, here comes the Spider-Man! Tom Holland returns as the web-shooting superhero in his fourth solo film of the series. Following on from the events of 2021's No Way Home, in which Doctor Strange erased Peter Parker from the world's memories, Brand New Day sees the weight of Parker's responsibilities lead to some strange metamorphoses... Meanwhile, ruthless crime lords and a (yet unknown) evil villain force him to confront one of his most dangerous threats yet.
Bonus highlight: It's a relatively quiet week for new releases at the moment, but something worth flagging for the London-based David Lynch fans among you is the upcoming annual 'A Gathering of the Angels' convention. Tickets recently went on sale with some guests still to be announced. Find out more here.
TV series
Batman: Caped Crusader (Season 2)
Where: Prime Video
When: 31 July
If Prime Video's recent Spider-Noir series left you craving more gritty comic book capers, look no further than Batman: Caped Crusader. Having first premiered in 2024, the animated series has grown a dedicated following for its mature themes, pulpy ambience, and return to the comic book's roots. Season 2 continues to follow Bruce Wayne's early years of becoming Batman, as he navigates allies and antagonists within the rotten underbelly of Gotham City.
Bonus highlight: Furious, a psychological crime series starring Emmy Rossum as an FBI agent on the hunt for a female serial killer, is now steaming on Disney+.
Music
Ariana Grande: Petal
When: 31 July
Glinda the Good witch is gone and pop princess Ariana Grande is back with her eighth studio album. The essence of Glinda is still here, however — it's an album all about shedding negativity and overcoming tough challenges. As the album's title alludes: this is music to bloom to; watering our eardrums with an uplifting blend of pop styles and R&B.
Bonus highlight: American singer Shaboozey releases his conceptual Western album, ‘The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales’, on 31 July.
