Culture Digest: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week

Hello and welcome back for another round of cultural highlights.

The week ahead sees the beginning of two major film festivals in London and Lyon, with packed schedules full of award season contenders, special talks and some world premieres. Meanwhile, Tron: Ares takes over the big screen - and continues the theme of artificial intelligence (AI) being 2025's biggest villain.

In the world of exhibitions, you'll want to look out for the Tate Modern's new showcase on Nigerian Modernism, and Fondation Beyeler's Yayoi Kusama retrospective. As a bonus, there's the 'Robert Capa - Truth is the Best Picture' photography show, which is on until 22 March 2026 at the Ara Güler Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Whether you're looking for a new TV show to binge or music that isn't Taylor Swift, here are our recommendations.

Exhibitions

Nigerian Modernism

When: 8 October - 10 May 2026

Where: The Tate Modern (London, UK)

Within their bold colours and striking geometry, Nigerian modernist art holds a rebellious power fuelled by defiance and cultural expression. It's a subject being explored at London's Tate Modern in an expansive new exhibition that explores the works of over 50 Nigerian artists from both before and after the decade of national independence from British colonial rule in 1960. From striking photography to vibrant textiles, potent poetry and eye-catching paintings, there's a collective recognition of how creative expression can evolve and diversify to continue standing strong against oppressive power structures.

Yayoi Kusama

When: 12 October 2025 – 25 January 2026

Where: Fondation Beyeler (Basel, Switzerland)

Best known for her iconic polka dots and infinity mirrors, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is one of contemporary art's most towering figures. For her first ever retrospective in Switzerland, the Fondation Beyeler has curated a vast collection of her sculptures, paintings, drawings, fashion and more to highlight the breadth of her luminous 7-decade career.

Bonus highlight: 'Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last' is now open at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam from, exploring the artist's relationship with postman Joseph Roulin.

Events

DJ Awards 2025

Where: Ibiza

When: 9 October

An awards show that promises plenty of vibes! Founded 27 years ago, the DJ awards celebrates the very best in the global electronic dance music (EDM) scene. After a four year hiatus, it's now returning to its home of Ibiza, with an exciting new edition that includes the new categories of Balearic and Hard Dance/Bounce - once again proving the awards' commitment to spotlighting the genre's different subcultures. Fisher, Black Coffee, Armin Van Buuren, Sam Divine and Róisín Murphy were last year's winners, but we'll have to wait a little longer to find out 2025's...

Movies

TRON: Ares

Where: European cinemas 

When: 10 October 

Greetings, programs! Fifteen years after Tron: Legacy hit cinemas (and 43 since the original), we’re about to be abducted back into the franchise’s neon-hued, techno-fused game-scape. Starring Jared Leto as the titular Ares, and Greta Lee as computer programmer extraordinaire Eve Kim, it centres around Ares’ mission into the real world where sinister digital forces (AI) have begun to take over. Sound uncomfortably familiar? At least there’s a new Nine Inch Nails soundtrack to distract us. Stay tuned for our full review - out on Friday.

London Film Festival

Where: London, UK 

When: 8 - 19 October

The British Film Institute’s (BFI) London Film Festival returns for its 69th edition. Over the course of eleven days, there are hundreds of screenings of highly-anticipated films, including Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, Julia Ducournau’s Alpha and Óliver Laxe's Sirāt. There will also be six world premieres, like Rowan Athale's British boxing drama Giant and James Lucas' intimate documentary about Kate Moss and Lucien Freud. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be plenty of workshops and talks - including one on 'The Work and World of David Lynch'. View the full programme here.

The Lumière Film Festival

Where: Lyon, France

When: 11 October - 19 October

As if London Film Festival's line-up wasn't enough, the birthplace of cinema's 17th edition brings even more filmic gems. This year will see Michael Mann honoured with the prestigious Lumière Award, with the legendary director also due to host a masterclass and screen his filmography, which includes classics like Heat, Collateral, and The Insider. There's also due to be silent film showings with live musical accompaniments, and a subsection dedicated to the art of French actor and filmmaker Louis Jouvet. Stay tuned for Euronews Culture's upcoming coverage of the event - and view the full programme here.

Bonus highlights: British comedy-drama I Swear, about John Davidson, who campaigned for those with Tourette's syndrome, is out in UK cinemas 10 October. Another reminder also for Palme d'Or winner It Was Just an Accident, which is out in France. Read our review here. 

TV series

The Woman in Cabin 10 

Where: Netflix

When: 10th October

After the success of last year's Black Doves, Keira Knightley takes on another Netflix thriller in the form of the ominously titled The Woman in Cabin 10. Playing a travel journalist who witnesses a murder aboard a luxury cruise, she sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth after nobody will believe her. Dark secrets, lavish settings and rising tension; it’s perfect autumn telly - but might put you off boats for a while. 

Bonus highlight: Drama The Last Frontier, which centres around a US marshal's suspicions that a plane accident setting free convicts was not an accident, premieres on Apple TV+ on 10 October. 

Music

The Antlers: Blight

When: 10 October 

After a four year hiatus, American indie band The Antlers are releasing their seventh studio album. Warning: It's not a cheerful listen, but a hauntingly impactful one that deals with prescient themes like eco destruction, toxic consumerism, and the insidiousness of passive violence. “These singles were metaphysical songs about connection with nature, which in turn put me in touch with all the ways that nature is under threat,” frontman Peter Silberman told Pitchfork. For a taster, two of the album's tracks, 'Something in the Air' and 'Carnage', are available to stream now.

Bonus highlight: Songwriter Emily A. Sprague releases her haunting new collection of ambient sounds, ‘Cloud Time’. And if you don't know where to start when it comes to all things Tom Waits, here's a full guide - as Waits' album 'Rain Dogs' celebrated its 40th anniversary last week.

Until next time...