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The 10 things you need to know for 2026, from the best new book to the hottest restaurant and crucial TV
Our top picks of what to read, what to watch and where to go this new year...
What will be the hottest read of next year? Which film or TV show will get everyone talking? And which exhibition should you book before it sells out?
We have selected the cultural highlights of the next 12 months, from the most inventive designers to the most exciting new hotel and restaurant openings, the musicians making glorious returns and the stage shows to book now.
This is your 2026 cultural crib sheet...
The Book
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
This sparkling debut is a true tour de force: unexpected, entertaining and genuinely funny. Cash’s first novel charts the falling apart of the Flynn family after the parents-of-three Catherine and Bud decide to embark on an open marriage. What follows is part emotional investigation of a family in crisis, part riotously ambitious crime caper encompassing corporate corruption, domestic terrorism and an infestation of gnats. The most wildly original book of the year. Published 5 February.
The Film
Wuthering Heights
Emerald Fennell’s take on the classic novel by Emily Brontë is one of the most anticipated cinematic releases of 2026 and has already proved a lightning rod for cultural discourse. Latex dresses! Jacob Elordi with a Yorkshire accent! Margot Robbie in a historically inaccurate wedding dress! A Charli XCX soundtrack! From the eye-catching casting of Elordi as Heathcliff and Robbie as Cathy to the striking visuals so typical of Fennell’s masterful directorial touch, it promises to be a bold and absorbing adaptation of a timeless love story.
In cinemas from 14 February.
The Restaurant
Simpson’s-in-the-Strand
This London culinary icon makes a triumphant return this year, reimagined by the dream team of Studio Shayne Brady and the restaurateur Jeremy King (pictured). The venue, which was first opened in 1828, will be restored to its former glory with a dose of contemporary flourish, uniting the restaurants the Grand Divan and Romanos with the gorgeously sinful Simpson’s bar, all under one roof, making it one of the most extravagant dining destinations to hit the scene in years.
Opening February 2026.
The Exhibition
‘Tracey Emin: A Second Life’ at Tate Modern
This extraordinary exhibition charts 40 years of the pre-eminent British artist’s career. Showcasing some of Emin’s most famous works – including her Turner Prize-nominated sensation My Bed, which caused a cultural firestorm – as well as many unseen pieces., the show will celebrate the rawness of her confessional approach and her lifelong passion for painting. This is a remarkable opportunity to interact with some of the most talked-about pieces in the world of contemporary art.
Tate Modern, 27 February to 31 August.
The TV Show
Pride and Prejudice
It is a truth universally acknowledged that any adaptation of Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice, will be met with feverish excitement. So it is with Netflix’s latest venture into the Austen world, which features a script by Dolly Alderton and a cast including Olivia Colman and Rufus Sewell as Mr and Mrs Bennet, and Jack Lowden and Emma Corrin as Darcy and Elizabeth. Netherfield is indeed let at last!
Streaming on Netflix later in 2026.
The Musician
Melanie C
The British cultural icon is the woman of the moment once again (not least because of her dazzling DJ set at Bazaar’s 2025 Women of the Year Awards). This May sees the release of Melanie C’s first solo album in six years: Sweat, named after her brilliant lead single, which was released in October. The album takes listeners back to the singer’s dance roots and reflects her immeasurable experience as a world-famous DJ. She’ll be touring the album throughout 2026, with dates in the UK, US, Australia and beyond.
Out in May 2026.
The Hotel
Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch
It’s all about the location for 2026’s most impressive new hotel opening. The Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch, opening in the autumn, will command an enviable position within the historical monument of its namesake, with 100 luxury rooms and 17,500 square feet of residences overlooking Buckingham Palace and Pall Mall. Hilton has reimagined the space in partnership with Reuben Brothers to breathe new life into the Grade I-listed building. Alongside the rooms will be a world-class spa and restaurants from culinary titans Clare Smyth and Daniel Boulud.
Opening autumn 2026.
The Designer
Matthieu Blazy
Taking the reins at Chanel as only the third creative director after Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel herself is no mean feat. Thankfully, Matthieu Blazy has more than stepped up. His ready-to-wear debut in September represented an explosion of creativity for the brand and his cruise collection, staged imaginatively in a disused New York subway station, was nothing less than a phenomenon, described by our fashion director as “the best 30 minutes of fashion anyone has seen this year”. What might Blazy do next? The fashion world waits with bated breath…
The Play
Dracula
The classic Bram Stoker gothic horror is reimagined as a one-woman play, starring the powerhouse performer Cynthia Erivo, who will impressively take on all 23 roles. The production was first staged in Sydney in 2024 and now comes to the West End courtesy of the team that brought together the award-winning one-woman production of The Portrait of Dorian Gray, starring Sarah Snook. The hottest ticket in town has arrived…
Noel Coward Theatre, 4 February to 31 May.
The Podcast(s)
The Rest is Fest
If, like millions of other listeners, you spend a disproportionate amount of time plugged into a Goalhanger podcast, the Southbank’s September 2026 festival will be the hottest ticket of the year. The venue will play host to live recordings of the top-rated podcasts The Rest is History, The Rest is Politics, The Rest is Money, The Rest is Football, The Rest is Entertainment, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, Sherlock & Co, The Rest is Politics US and Empire. The ultimate treat for podcast fans.
Southbank Centre, 4 to 6 September.
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