As spring settles across the continent, Europe's cultural calendar offers a rich mix of art, music, and cinema. This week, the Venice Biennale takes centre stage, while new albums and films provide ample reason to stay indoors—or at least in the shade.
Venice Biennale and Marina Abramović
The 2026 Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art and architecture festivals, opens on 9 May. This year's theme, 'In Minor Keys', promises a series of introspective exhibitions. A highlight is Marina Abramović's show 'Transforming Energy' at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, running from 6 May to 19 October. The exhibition, timed to the artist's upcoming 80th birthday, features interactive objects such as stone beds and crystal-embedded structures, inviting visitors to reflect on the material and immaterial as pathways to spiritual reckoning. It also includes iconic works like Light/Dark (1977), Balkan Baroque (1997), and Carrying the Skeleton (2008), alongside projections of her early performances and newer pieces. Together, these form a comprehensive reappraisal of Abramović's boundary-pushing career.
For those unable to attend the Biennale, London's National Gallery offers a major exhibition of Spanish Baroque painter Francisco de Zurbarán, running until 23 August. Known for his vivid religious scenes and dramatic chiaroscuro, Zurbarán's works—from crucifixions to solitary nuns—possess a timeless emotional intensity. The exhibition draws loans from galleries across Europe and the United States, making it one of the most comprehensive displays of his art in recent years.
Cinema: Mortal Kombat II and More
Video game adaptations rarely succeed, but Mortal Kombat II aims to entertain with its blend of goofy melodrama and non-stop action. Released in cinemas on 8 May, the sequel features fan-favourite characters, including Johnny Cage (played by Karl Urban), who must battle to prevent the evil ruler Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) from conquering the world. Expect fantastical CGI and over-the-top fight sequences—just leave the real fighting outside the auditorium.
Also hitting cinemas on 8 May is Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D, directed by James Cameron, offering an immersive concert experience.
Streaming: Legends and Attenborough Specials
Netflix's new crime thriller Legends, premiering on 7 May, follows a team of British Customs agents infiltrating violent drug gangs in the 1990s. Starring Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, and Hayley Squires, the six-episode series is based on true events and delves into a gritty underworld of smuggling and fake identities. It's ideal binge material for fans of the genre.
In the UK, BBC1 airs two specials celebrating broadcaster David Attenborough's 100th birthday: Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure on 3 May and David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth on 8 May.
Music: Broken Social Scene Returns
Canadian indie-rock collective Broken Social Scene releases their sixth album, Remember the Humans, on 8 May. Nearly a decade after their last release, the band—led by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning—continues its collaborative tradition, with guest vocals from Feist, Lisa Lobsinger, and Ariel Engle. Their chaotic yet melodic sound may not be for everyone, but it promises to never be boring. For fans of the band's earlier work, this album is a welcome return.
Other notable releases this week include Little Simz's new album, adding to a strong week for music.
For more cultural highlights across Europe, see our previous roundup on David Bowie, Nan Goldin, and Foo Fighters.
