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

Euronews · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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February might be a fast and short month, but it's making up for missing time with this week's sweep of exciting offerings. From British artist Tracey Emin's neon musings, to an exploration of the use of yellow in Van Gogh's works, new exhibitions continue to launch across Europe that offer visitors the chance to both discover and re-discover iconic artists through new perspectives. In cinemas, there's the return of iconic villain Ghostface in Scream 7, while TV offers more high-society salaciousness with part two of Bridgerton's fourth season. We also highly recommend keeping an eye out for Orwell: 2+2=5, a powerful, politically-charged new documentary by Raoul Peck, who recently spoke to Euronews Culture about the urgency of its themes. Here are this week's recommendations. Exhibitions Tracey Emin: A Second Life When: 27 February - 31 August 2026 Where: Tate Modern (London, UK) One of the most important contemporary artists of our time, Tracey Emin was a key figure of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement, gaining widespread acclaim in the 90s for her Turner Prize-nominated installation 'My Bed'. Tender, aching and sometimes grotesque, Emin’s works broke down the barriers between art and authenticity, unashamed in the rawness of their confessions. The Tate Modern celebrates this legacy through a sweeping new retrospective, which highlights 40 years-worth of Emin's most influential creations, including her philosophical neons, figurative sculptures and acerbic writings. Yellow. Beyond Van Gogh's Color When: Until 17 May 2026 Where: Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) As we move towards spring, and the sun’s warm glow breaks through the winter clouds, the colour yellow comes to mind. Associated with optimism, hope and renewal, it was also an integral hue within Van Gogh’s palette. Most notable in his 'Sunflowers' masterpiece, yellow was more than just a shade for the artist. It was an atmosphere, a feeling, and a bold representation of emerging new ideas - ones that dared against dullness. Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum illuminates this impact through a carefully curated exhibit of 1900s fashion, literature, music and more, which together provide a shade of fresh understanding. Bonus highlight: The Leopold Museum in Vienna celebrates French painter Gustave Courbet, a pioneer of the realism movement, until 21 June 2026. Movies Scream 7 Where: Cinemas When: 26 February Ring, ring - it's your favourite scary movie calling. Despite controversy behind the scenes, hopes remain high for the return of slasher franchise Scream, with original writer Kevin Williamson helming an entry for the first time. Many of the old cast favourites also return, as Ghostface sets his sights on Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) daughter, leading his previous targets to band together - and end the bloodshed once and for all. Please, people, triple check the killer's (killers?) dead this time! Bonus highlight: Baz Luhrmann returns to the subject of Elvis with his hip-shaking documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. Out at select cinemas from 27 February. TV Shows Bridgerton Season 4 (Part Two) Where: Prime Video When: 26 February If Emerald Fennel's "Wuthering Heights" adaptation sparked within you a lust for more melodramatic yearning amidst a historical (but far from historically accurate) time period - we've got one word for you: Bridgerton. Part two of the fourth season drops this week, and promises more masked balls, sexy scandals and class skewering. After asking Sophie (Yerin Ha) to be his mistress (oof!) in the last episode, Benedict (Luke Thompson) continues to navigate how to make their relationship work despite their mismatched social standings. The rest of the Bridgerton family's interferences don't make matters any easier! Bonus highlight: Mystery drama Vanished, about a woman searching for her partner who goes missing during a romantic getaway, airs on Prime Video 27 February. Music Gorillaz: The Mountain When: 27 February Fresh from celebrating their 25th anniversary last year, Gorillaz, the British virtual band founded by Blur's Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, are releasing their ninth studio album 'The Mountain'. Their first full-length project since 2023's 'Cracker Island', it's set to "embody the very essence of Gorillaz’ collaborative ethos”, with Johnny Marr, Jalen Ngonda, Kara Jackson and Sparks among the long list of contributors. And for fans, there's more good news: the band are due to perform a stadium arena tour in the UK and Ireland this spring. Bonus highlights: Here to make up for a slow start to the year, the final Friday of February also sees the release of Blackpink’s ‘Deadline’, Bill Callahan's 'My Days of 58', Mitski's 'Nothing’s About to Happen to Me', and Iron & Wine’s ‘Hen’s Teeth’.