Seven weeks, 14 opera productions, three world premieres and a wealth of concerts: this is the Munich Opera Festival 2026. The programme covers a wide range: from Baroque – with George Frideric Handel’s *Alcina* as the festival premiere at the Prinzregententheater – through 19th-century opera classics to contemporary musical theatre. With Brett Dean’s Of One Blood – a commission from the Bavarian State Opera – the world premiere production from the current season returns once again to the Nationaltheater. With the festival premiere of Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre at the Nationaltheater, Tobias Kratzer and Vladimir Jurowski set another milestone for the new Munich Ring of the Nibelung, following their acclaimed production of Rheingold.

The exhibition Spiral Economy at the Museo Correr stages a dialogue between Julian Charrière and Antonio Canova, placing stone at the center as a poetic material and witness of time. It invites reflection on the relationship between humanity, matter, and time, presenting stone as a living bearer of geological and planetary history.

The next Flow Festival takes place in Helsinki on 14–16 August 2026. Flow Festival is a premium music and arts festival that has been held in Helsinki since 2004. Over the years, it has evolved from a small club event into a pioneering festival, attracting 90,000 visitors over three days. The festival takes place in the former power plant area of Suvilahti, conveniently located near the city centre. This unique industrial setting serves as a stunning backdrop for Flow’s exceptional production and atmosphere, showcasing an innovative and content-driven program that blends popular culture with experimental arts. Already announced acts for Flow 2026 include Florence + The Machine, Zara Larsson, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Turnstile, SOMBR, Geese, Clipse, Oklou, Kettama, Honey Dijon, Nu Genea Live Band, Lambrini Girls, and many more.

Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008) is considered one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century and a pioneer of Pop Art and Conceptual Art. He became internationally renowned for his “Combines”, in which he fused everyday materials and printed media with abstract painting. Through these works, he sought to bridge the gap between art and life. The Kunsthalle Krems is presenting the first comprehensive solo exhibition of Rauschenberg’s work in Austria. The retrospective concludes an international series of exhibitions commemorating the artist’s 100th birthday.