The V&A East Museum has just unveiled London based artist Thomas J Price’s tallest work to date, before the Museum opens to the public next month.

The 18-foot sculpture titled A Place Beyond sits outside the museum on the East Bank in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Park and will be there upon its opening on 18^th April 2026.

Welcoming guests to the museum, the artwork has been created in the form of a fictionalised young person in casual dress, with phone in hand, looking out to a horizon full of possibilities.

A narrative derived from observation and 3 scans; the statue has been crafted in bronze with a combination of digital technology and ancient techniques.

Celebrating the diversity in the East London area, the V&A East Youth Collective were consulted in the build, as the piece is designed to bring the visitors own thoughts into the interpretation of the work, as the theme rejects social or racial profiling.

Thomas J Price, said: “Being based in east London, it means so much to have my public work, A Place Beyond, on display at V&A East Museum. I want this sculpture to become an extension of the people who inhabit the museum, and the spaces around it. This commission is especially meaningful to me as I was taken to the V&A as a child with my mother and it has shaped much of my critique of museum collections. I’m excited to be part of the next chapter in the V&A’s evolution in east London.”

Thomas J Price is one of the most important contemporary artists of his generation. Having studied at Chelsea College of Art, he completed his MA at the Royal College of Art. This V&A sculpture is not the first work in east London by Thomas J Price: Warm Shoes was one of his works that was commissioned by Hackney Council to celebrate the Windrush generation and their descendants in the UK, it was unveiled in June 2022 and is a permanent work of art.

V&A East Museum is FREE to all and opens on Saturday 18 April 2026. Opening hours are 10:00-18:00, seven-days-a-week, with late night openings to 22:00 every Thursday and Saturday.

This season InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced its exclusive line up of experiences and headline acts for its festival Seachella 2.0.

After unprecedented success of the inaugural event in 2025, this year’s rerun will commence on Saturday 4 April on Maamunagau Island.

Oyster bars, Champagne trolleys, Easter themed tasting menus are just some of the delights on offer at the event that includes DJ acts, sound healing experiences and Easter egg hunts.

Junior participants will be entertained at the resort’s Planet Trekkers kids club, with face-painting, kids movie nights on the beach, treasure bottle hunts and Easter themed art classes.

In the evening there is a headline act from Ashley Roberts  of The Pussycat Dolls, who will be DJ-ing the night away.

This extravagant grand finale, will feature an elaborate gala dinner under the stars, hand-crafted cocktails and free-flowing champagne.

For the younger generation there are activities to partake in on the Sunday with InterContinental Maldives’ ‘Planet Trekkers’ programme, for ages 4-12, which will showcase the wonders of the Indian Ocean through arts, crafts and mini-expeditions.

The hotel runs a  ‘Teen Programme’ including culinary classes for promising chefs, boho body art sessions, blue water adventures in the crystal clear lagoon, private movie screenings under the stars, football matches, mocktail masterclasses, and a selection of spa treatments expertly tailored for teens.

Rates starting from USD 1,445++ per night in an Overwater Pool Villa, including breakfast and dinner for two. For Two-Bedroom Family Villas, rates start from USD 3,655++ per night, including breakfast and dinner. For more information, please visit www.maldives.intercontinental.com or email  reservations.icmaldives@ihg.com.

Currently in its tenth decade the opera house has a renowned reputation for providing fifteen weeks of splendour with over seventy performances between May and August.

With benefits for under thirties and under forties, membership opportunities have never looked better.

Stephen Langridge, Artistic Director of Glyndebourne, said: “Festival 2026 presents masterpieces from three-and-a-half centuries of opera, ranging from Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo in 1607 (arguably the first masterpiece of the form) to Britten’s Billy Budd in 1951. Our new L’Orfeo brings William Kentridge, Jonathan Cohen and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment together, while Billy Budd unleashes the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nicolas Carter, and Allan Clayton singing his first Captain Vere in Michael Grandage’s extraordinary production. In between them you can find Mozart, Rossini, Puccini and Strauss. We are excited and proud to have assembled outstanding international artists – singers, directors, designers, conductors – to bring these great works of music theatre to life in a packed summer of opera at Glyndebourne.”

Between shows, audiences may take a picnic or dine in one of the site’s fine dining restaurants. For this is the year to enjoy a timetable of glorious festival newcomer highlights like:

Giacomo Puccini – Tosca 21 May – 22 June 2026 4 – 30 August 2026

With Director Ted Huffman making his mainstage debut, this Puccini classic has Music Director Robin Ticciati, who will conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the first of two performance runs. Cast for the first run includes Caitlin Gotimer as Floria Tosca, cast for the second run includes Natalya Romaniw as Floria Tosca, Atalla Ayan as Mario Cavaradossi and Alfred Walker as Baron Scarpia

Claudio Monteverdi – L’Orfeo 14 June – 25 July 2026

This new production for the 2026 Festival will be directed by William Kentridge, while Jonathan Cohen conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. There is a cast including Krystian Adam as Orfeo, Francesca Aspromonte as La Musica/Euridice, Leia Lensing as Proserpina, Callum Thorpe as Caronte and Davide Giangregorio as Plutone.

Richard Strauss – Ariadne auf Naxos 19 July – 29 August 2026

A new production for the 2026 Festival directed by Laurent Pelly. Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Cast includes Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Ariadne, Samantha Hankey as Composer, David Butt Philip as Bacchus and Alina Wunderlin as Zerbinetta.

Glyndebourne Festival 2026 runs from 21 May to 30 August. Public booking will open in March 2026. Glyndebourne Members enjoy priority access to tickets – get one step closer to your must-see productions by joining the family at Membership and Support – Glyndebourne

The daughter of the late artist and designer William Morris was May Morris one of the most pioneering talents of the Arts and Crafts movement.

From 25^th April to 1^st November 2026, The Lady Lever Art Gallery will display around 50 objects from museums and private collections across the UK, including from the Victoria and Albert Museum and the William Morris Gallery.

May Morris was a designer, maker, tutor, lecturer, editor and writer and she was a socialist much ahead of her time.

Embroideries, wallpapers, designs, sketches, books, costume and jewellery will be displayed in this exhibition that has been developed in partnership with the William Morris Society.

The younger daughter of William Morris and Jane Burden, May’s childhood was spent with her family friends in the crafts industries, including those associated with the family interior design business Morris & Co. Some of William Morris’ textiles and wallpapers were sold in Liberty.

As time went on May would be introduced to needlework by her mother and aunt, she then went on to study embroidery at the National Art Training School, South Kensington.

By 1885, aged 23, May had become manager of Morris & Co.’s professional embroidery workroom. She provided apprenticeships for working class girls from a school in London.

Fiona Slattery Clark, Curator of Decorative Art at National Museums Liverpool, said: “May led an intriguing life, throughout which her ardent socialist beliefs influenced her actions. From the forward-thinking career opportunities that she offered to other women, to her dedication for advocating the importance of women’s artistic practices, May’s influence is fascinating – and remains relevant to this day.”

For tickets to the exhibition visit: May Morris: Crafting a Legacy | National Museums Liverpool

From 27^th February until 31^st August 2026 there is a major tribute to the iconic treasure of expression, featuring her work through ninety pieces of art in an exhibition titled A Second Life at The Tate Modern.

There has been a calling to exhibit this conception that features painting, video, textile, neon, sculpture and installation created by Dame Tracey Emin (b.1963).

Displaying over forty years of a career that has been shaped by the prolific life of the artist, this exhibition explores what has contributed to her works as a major voice in the art world.

Storytelling by Emin reflects on her life before and after her studies in London at the Royal College of Art in 1987, through to her continuous relationship with her hometown Margate where she now resides, close to her free studio-based art school. Works of such are apparent in Mad Tracey from Margate: Everybody’s Been There 1997, which are depicted through handstitched phrases, letters and drawings.

Throughout spouts of pain and trauma, Emin produces the addressment of sexual assault, abortion and other factual matters in the mix of a difficult life. These works are reflected in her creativity taken from I Could Have Loved my Innocence 2007 through to How it Feels 1996, an account of an abortion that went wrong.

Classics such as My Bed 1998 will be on display and need no introduction, as this was the first marker of when Emin established herself in the creation of her art. All accounts are taken from her first life right through until her second life, post illness and surgery.

Dame Tracey Emin said “I’m very excited about having a show at Tate Modern. For me, it’s one of the greatest international contemporary art museums in the world and it’s here in London. I feel this show, titled ‘A second Life’, will be a bench mark for me. A moment in my life when I look back and go forward. A true celebration of living”.

To book tickets visit: Tracey Emin | Tate Modern

From 24^th to 27^th March 2026 InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort launches the Manta Retreat.

This marks the time that the manta rays can be found in the resort’s lagoon, seconds away from the shore.

InterContinental Maldives has partnered with one of the world’s manta ray organisations, Manta Trust, to co-host the retreat and give guests the experience of living like a marine biologist.

Given the opportunity to understand about manta rays and their natural habitats, guests can also enjoy guided reef snorkelling tours, manta excursions by the Manta Trust, coral restoration and planting workshops.

Visitors of this retreat will additionally be invited to adopt and name their own manta, alongside taking part in educational workshops.

Starting the partnership in 2019, this activity has continued to thrive in every year since its launch. The Manta Trust’s base leader, Meral Hafeez said “No matter how many times I’m lucky enough to encounter these animals, each interaction feels like I’m seeing them for the first time – the sense of awe never diminishes. The ocean is full of surprises, and I can’t wait for everyone to get to experience their first manta ray and the wonders of the deep”.

Since 2023, the Maamunagau Lagoon has been recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), marking the first step in identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a conservation priority.

How to Book: The participation fee for the Manta Retreat is USD 1,550 per night, per room based on double occupancy, with a minimum of 4 nights stay per guest. This includes one manta ray research trip, guided house reef snorkelling, the chance to adopt a manta ray, several educational workshops, and a stay in a luxury villa or residence on a half board rate.

The 2026 Manta Retreat Brochure can be viewed here.

With a growing trend in marathon tourism, more and more cities are being visited by runners wanting to compete in different locations.

Exploring the regions that hold the events has become a new craze for hotel groups wishing to provide accommodation for those on a run cation.

Key marathon cities are the setting for a different type of tourism and with Ruby Hotels owning twenty-one hotels across Europe, it is no surprise that they can deliver in some of these prime locations.

With a 24/7 bar, comfy beds, rainfall showers and drinking stations on each floor they can deliver a perfect place of wellbeing.

Rome Marathon (22 March 2026)

Just a few footsteps away from the starting line at Via dei Fori Imperiali, there is a newly opened Ruby Giulia which is an iconic retreat for runners. Offering a blend of modern comfort and local character, this 164 room hotel’s location is just moments away from Rome’s historic streets and the city’s culture and cuisine. €268 per night for single occupancy, excluding breakfast

Vienna City Marathon (19 April 2026)

Overlooking the city’s main shopping street, Ruby Marie has 186 rooms and is directly opposite Wien Westbahnhof station. Transport links are paramount to this location and there is a tram ride back from the Ringstrasse finish. Enjoy the city’s famous cafes in a truly convenient marathon tour. Room rates start from €128 per night for single occupancy, excluding breakfast

London Marathon (26 April 2026)

A walk away from waterloo Station, there are excellent transport links at the Ruby Lucy . Nestled close to this area are London landmarks such as the London Eye and Borough Market. There are 75 rooms available at this hotel in a place famed for its street food, theatre and pop-ups. Room rates start from €208 per night for single occupancy, excluding breakfast

Dublin Marathon (25 October 2026)

With 272 stylish rooms at the central location, Ruby Molly  gives access to post-race tourism like Guinness Storehouse and Phoenix Park. Just a twenty- minute walk away from the marathon start, this is in a prime location, with great amenities such as a spacious bar and café. Room rates start from €232 per night for single occupancy, excluding breakfast

With twenty-one hotels open for stays and sixteen more hotels in the planning phase or under construction, Ruby Hotels are a growing group that offer lean luxury stays for its guests in Europe. Ruby also offers Ruby Workspaces – perfectly equipped workplaces and a creative atmosphere with access to an inspiring office community.

Whether it is for a singleton’s girl’s night out or for some quality time spent with your partner, we have selected some last-minute deals to enjoy on this romantic day.

London Girls

On February 13^th  UBA have designed a night for a Galentine’s celebration with your girlfriends.  Situated in Shoreditch this chic Pan-Asian restaurant offers sharing platters of curated dishes such as Yuzu Edamame, Prawn Har Gao Dim Sum, Buttermilk Chicken Katsu Hirata Bun, Vanilla Cheesecake and a welcoming Cosmo Cocktail. A DJ sets the scene for the evening. The Galentine’s Set Menu is £55 per person, see the menu here

Manchester High Tea

In one of the city’s most refined hot spots, The Midland Hotel is offering an afternoon experience coming as tea for two. Couples are also treated to a complimentary upgrade to Pommery Rose Champagne, a fresh red rose, Valentine’s card and bespoke heart sharing cake as part of their afternoon tea experience. The Valentines Afternoon Tea Package costs £100 per couple. To book, please visit www.themidlandhotel.co.uk/tearoom 

Brighton Spa Escape

The The Grand Hotel  launched the L.Raphael Beauty Spa & Wellness in September 2025, following a 16.2 million refurbishment on the hotel. This is the first UK hotel to collaborate with the Swiss skincare brand and the spa has state-of-the-art facilities with transformative treatments, from restorative massages to re-balancing facials. Featuring a luxurious thermal suite, complete with a hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi sauna, steam room, and experience shower, the expansive spa area creates a serene oasis that feels far removed from the surrounding city. The perfect Valentine treats for two.

The Heart of Provence

Nestled in the heart of Provence landscape  Crillon le Brave  is in the perfect setting for a romantic getaway for two. Its Ventoux Signature Suite with a double bathtub overlooks the breathtaking views, creating an idyllic setting for shared moments of relaxation. Set beside rolling vineyards and lush countryside this is the perfect scenery for a shared romantic memory. Nightly rates start from €370 on a B&B basis.

Maldives: Romantic Paradise

Offering an indulgent Love in Paradise Package  this resort is ideal of an extravagant gift to a partner. Ifuru Island Maldives has curated a themed escape including floating cocktails and canapés, a private three-course dinner, a romantic turn-down with bed decoration and bubble bath setup. This also includes a fifty-minute spa treatment, an art painting session, a massage lesson, one lagoon dive session, and a one-hundred-dollar resort credit per person per stay. In addition to this, the resort offers complimentary use of non-motorized water sports and snorkelling gear, as well as the option of a private sunset cruise with sparkling wine and canapés. Upon departure, guests are given two bottles of exclusive perfume. There are additionally kissing spots scattered around the resort, ideal for a backdrop for a thirty-minute photo session on the island, with one digital photo to take home. Nightly rates start from $600 for a Sunset Sky Suite on a double occupancy all-inclusive basis.

Dating back to 1981, the artist Basquiat broke into the art world appearing on the streets, in the clubs and in the art scene of New York City.

Featuring drawings of heads with a stamp of the consciousness of a young black artist, his work has been headstrong throughout his career.

His identity is more than art. It carries the symbol of a legendary artist who speaks through over fifty works at this new exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

The collection of drawings spans the life of this movement from 1981 until 1983. At the end in 1988 the artist was just aged twenty-seven when he died.

The human head became a motif of this era that reveals an interest in anatomy, caricature and symbolic abstraction.

Curated by Anders Kold, the show also contains a fundamental interest in how the human interior manifests itself in the exterior.

God bless the soul of this unique artist that lived a short life, which was full of his passion for art.

Basquiat Headstrong Exhibition is to be held from January 30^th until May 17^th at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art for further information visit: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

Louisiana Channel has released the film Drawings Between Life and Death (45.52 min), in which five contemporary artists talk about Jean-Michel Basquiat from a modern perspective. The five artists are: Alvaro Barrington, Ouattara Watts, Julie Mehretu, Arthur Jafa and Dana Schutz.

In the New Year we focus on healthiness becoming incorporated into our lifestyles. But why not take some of this away into a respite? Conscious of leaving behind the indulgent behaviours of the festive season, we look to form a new essence of fitness. Travellers make the new demand for restoration with a plan that will become the highlight of this year. Wellness travel will be redefined in 2026.

Lifespan V Healthspan: The Beginning

Quick fixes of hardcore exercise are less relevant to those seeking to reward themselves proactively with a gentler form of fitness. In Croatia, Villa Dubrovnik’s Serenity Walk offers a mindful journey at Lokrum Island, combining breathwork, private yoga, sea swimming and time spent beneath ancient olive trees – a reminder that longevity often begins with simplicity.

Recovery Programmes: The Growth

The starting point of the recovery programme can be simplified in a resort that offers rejuvenating stays in this new year. No longer just led by wellness circles, this is a movement in the mainstream path for travellers. At COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, Wellness Paths are built around targeted recalibration, pairing therapeutic treatments with lifestyle guidance to support sustained wellbeing. In California, Pendry Newport Beach offers a signature Wellness Journey that blends cryotherapy with CBD-infused scrubs, wraps and massage for full-body restoration. Hotels are also investing in purpose-built recovery environments.

Wellness: The Social Experiment

The strength of connection with other human beings can be found in various travel plans of 2026. Community is paramount this season and the richness of sharing social spaces can be found in a selection of resorts. At Ibiza Gran Hotel, a resident run club offers guests a social, endorphin-led way to explore the island together. ZEL Hotels place community-based wellness at the heart of their offering, with inclusive programming ranging from run clubs and tennis sessions to relaxed, sociable movement that feels accessible rather than prescriptive.

Aesthetic Wellness: Glow-cations

A mix of beautiful vacation backdrops with the prospect of a tailored science led treatment makes a stay a pleasurable experience.  At Shangri-La Paris, organic facials by Alaena are complemented by a dedicated Skin Studio in partnership with Innerskin, offering advanced treatments including HydraFacials with PRX-T33, radiofrequency and LED light therapy. In Greece, Conrad Athens, The Ilisian delivers highly personalised aesthetic treatments overseen by Dr Costas Papageorgiou, also known for his work at Harrods, seamlessly blending medical-grade expertise with luxury hospitality.

The Resident Herbalist: The Appointment

The popularity for trained herbalists prescribing authentic blended treatments in spas has become the new flavour of 2026. At Magma Resort Santorini, Lava Spa treatments incorporate indigenous ingredients such as olive oil, red grapes and volcanic minerals, inspired by ancient Greek practices. Zelia Halkidiki champions olive-based rituals sourced from surrounding groves, while Albaro Wellness & Spa at Grand Park Hotel Rovinj draws on Istria’s herbal traditions, using wormwood-based botanicals, wild herbs and locally produced olive oil in restorative scrubs and massage treatments.

There are so many avenues to explore in this new movement of the new year. The new travel care programme has begun with many travellers thinking outside the box and going to stay in one of these specialists’ resorts. The offering of a better, fulfilled start to 2026 is consumed by a healthy mantra of a healthier enlightenment.

Coming to the most sought-after area of the Bellecote Piste, Maisons Pariente is to open a second address in the region, creating an opulent backdrop for skiing seasons.

Just a few moments away from Yves Saint Laurent’s famous Datcha, this exclusive hotel has been designed with flawless detail by sisters Leslie Kouhana and Kimberley Cohen.

Showcasing true craftmanship, the Friedmann and Versace design studio is a triumph for the most idyllic setting in this spot.

With 37 rooms and suites there is an assortment of luxury amenities inside the hotel. From the Tata Harper Spa to a fitness room, a kids’ club, a restaurant and a ski shop: this is a paradise that incorporates all of the details needed to become an exquisite escape time and time again.

As snowflakes fall on the exterior, the interior leaves an imprint of excellence and is a short walk away from the centre of Courchevel 1850.

“At Maisons Pariente, we see travel as a different way of inhabiting the world. This fifth address reflects the growth of our collection, with each hotel deeply rooted in its own landscape”, says Leslie Kouhana, co-founder and President of Maisons Pariente. “Hôtel Saint Roch is a true Courchevel institution, and we’re committed to keeping its spirit alive and sharing it with our guests”, adds Kimberley Cohen, co-founder and Artistic Director of Maisons Pariente.

The fifth address will open in December 2026 for the Groupe and other locations include: Le Grand Mazarin in Paris, Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Méribel.

For further information visit: Pariente Houses | The Official Site | 5* Hotels

With up to 50% savings on accommodation and a $150 spa credit this offer makes an attractive experience that looks like the perfect way to escape from the Christmas blues.

With a limited-edition booking from now until 2^nd February 2026, one can escape to the Windjammer Landing Resort in Saint Lucia. The attractive discounts are valid for travel until December 2026.

There is a further ‘Warm up for Winter’ proposal for those seeking to travel in January or February 2026 with bookings for post-Christmas blues or a recharge experience. Up to $500 may be applied in resort credit. Restoration in a sun-soaked vacation is on the table.

Set in 65 acres of the rich hillside in the northwestern side of Saint Lucia, the resort is on a stretch of coast with a large luxurious beach.

Six swimming pools, and seven signature styled restaurants and bars are accompanied by a medley of fitness and wellbeing highlights including:  the Serene Spa, a fitness centre, water sports and a kids club.

The hotel is a unique Mediterranean style resort which has 220 rooms and villas under its roof. There is a combination of hillside rooms, beachfront suites and waterfront villas to choose from with this escape. This comes with the promise of views across the Labrelotte Bay and the Caribbean Sea.

Since 2025 Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences has become the only hotel on the island to be part of the Leading Hotels of the Worlds.

Windjammer Landing Resort and Residences (www.windjammer-landing.com) offers offers Hilltop 1 Bedroom villas rates starting from $972/night USD on a B&B basis or starting at $1321/night USD – for a premium all-inclusive (kids 11 and under eat for free).