Charli XCX launches her highly-anticipated new album, while exhibitions on Lucian Freud and M.C. Escher stir imaginations. Here's what to look out for this week.
Brat summer might be long gone, but could 'Music, Fashion, Film' summer be just around the corner?
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It's not quite as catchy, admittedly, but Charli XCX's highly-anticipated new album is released this Friday and the impending hype is inevitable.
If that's not your thing, there's plenty of exhibitions to sink your mind into - including Lucian Freud at the Louisiana Museum and M.C. Escher at Somerset House. A shout out also to the Gaudí–Miró–Gomis: Deconstructed exhibition at Barcelona's Casa Batlló, which Euronews Culture journalist Theo Farrant recently covered.
For the rest of this week's recommendations, keep scrolling...
Exhibitions
Lucian Freud
When: Until 27 September 2026
Where: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (Humlebæk, Denmark)
Lucian Freud was one of the 20th century's most famous figurative painters; his intimate portraits capturing the fine lines and flawed textures of the human experience. Denmark's Louisiana Museum shares his mastery of drawing in all mediums - from pen to charcoal -and compares it with his oil paintings. This invites a fascinating reflection on Freud's career - and his dedication throughout to portraying subjects with emotional truth.
M.C. Escher. The Exhibition
When: Until 6 September 2026
Where: Somerset House (London, UK)
Fame found Maurits Cornelis Escher (M.C. Escher) late in life. The Dutch artist, who produced stunning optical illusions inspired by mathematics, was 50 when he gained widespread recognition - and 70 when his first retrospective was announced in 1968. Since then, Escher's unique visual constructions have continued to inspire awe; capable of teleporting peoples' minds to mysterious, paradoxical worlds. More than 150 examples are currently on display at London's Somerset House.
Bonus highlight: Explore the final chapter of Henri Matisse's career at Paris' Grand Palais. But hurry, 'Matisse, 1941–1954' ends on 26 July.
Movies
Jana Nayagan
Where: Cinemas
When: 24 July
A high-octane political thriller about an ex-cop on a mission to resolve social injustice - and bring power back to the people. J_ana Nayagan_ stars Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Joseph Vijay, one of India's biggest movie stars, in what is reportedly his final ever role. It's a chaotic (and somewhat convoluted) explosion of clashing ideologies that attempts to skewer corrupt leadership. It's also already been subject to some controversy, having faced lengthy release delays due to censorship battles.
Bonus highlight: For a very different vibe to the above: 72 Hours, starring Kevin Hart as an executive on a three-day bender with a group of twenty-somethings, streams on Netflix from 24 July.
TV series
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
Where: HBO Max
When: 23 July
While the writer of this digest cannot confess to understand it, The Big Bang Theory remains one of the most popular American sitcoms of all time. After airing for twelve seasons, the show launched three spin-off series: Young Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, and now, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. This time, It stars Kevin Sussman as the owner of a comic book shop who becomes responsible for saving the entire universe, alongside his girlfriend Denise (Lauren Lapkus) and nerdy best friends Bert (Brian Posehn) and Barry (John Ross Bowie). Despite its garish geekiness, this is cosy comfort TV that encourages switching your brain off.
Bonus highlight: Season 2 of Netflix’s Western drama Random Canyon streams from 23 July.
Music
Charli XCX: Music, Fashion, Film
When: 24 July
No longer just a pop princess, Charli XCX has become THE pop princess; a zeitgeist-capturing icon for the sultry, sensitive, and culturally sophisticated girlies. After Brat summer turned the world slime green, the British singer moved into cinema - notably soundtracking Wuthering Heights and starring in several indie features. It's a blending of these creative worlds that underpins her latest release, aptly titled 'Music, Fashion, Film'. With a bold album cover featuring titans from each category (John Cale, Marc Jacobs and Martin Scorsese), it marks a transition from her previous club rat vibes; one that explores artistry, fame, and finding a new voice in a post-Brat era.
Bonus highlight: ‘Reality Awaits’, the seventh studio album from the Strokes, is released 24 July.
