Aliens, Pan-Africanism and Olivia Rodrigo: What to see, do or hear this week in Europe

Hello, and welcome back for another round of cool things to do, see and hear this week.

While blockbuster season is in full swing with the release of Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, the small screen is winding down, with the return of easy-watch comfort shows like Sweet Magnolias and Sesame Street: Volume 3 coming to Netflix.

Although the opening of JR's 'La Caverne du Pont Neuf' in Paris has now been delayed indefinitely, the Grand Palais calls with a sensory and thought-provoking new exhibition that positions visitors as particles. Those in London should also head to the Barbican for a fantastic season on Pan-African art.

Keep scrolling to find out more - and to see what else should be on your radar in the coming days.

Exhibitions

Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica

When: 11 June - 6 October 2026

Where: Barbican (London, UK)

A dedicated exploration of Pan-Africanism and its influence on art and culture, 'Project a Black Planet' is not just an exhibition, but an entire season of events. Featuring talks, screenings, installations and much more, it will also include more than 300 works from artists across the African continent. It's a richly diverse deep dive into the stories of different communities - and the creativity that arises from them. Find out more here.

Laure Prouvost: We Felt A Star Dying

When: 10 June - 26 July 2026

Where: Grand Palais (Paris, France)

French artist Laure Prouvost invites visitors to contemplate existence from the perspective of quantum particles in her dizzying new exhibition. Featuring kinetic, six-limbed sculptures, mineral scents and meteorite-like structures suspended from the ceiling, everything dazzles and expands beneath the glass roof of the Grand Palais. Prouvost's hope is to remind people of our interconnectedness; how even if we feel very small, we are part of something much, much bigger. Find out more here.

Bonus highlight: The abstract expressionism and disorientating symbolisms of contemporary artist Jasper John are being celebrated at The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao until 12 October 2026. There's also a landmark new exhibition opening on 13 June at Yorkshire Sculpture Park: 'Hold to This Earth: Works by Contemporary Indigenous North American Artists from Tia Collection'.

Movies

Disclosure Day

Where: Cinemas

When: 12 June

A new sci-fi blockbuster by Steven Spielberg? As if we need to say more! It's one of the most anticipated movies of 2026 and an assured return to event cinema - a big screen is the only way to watch this one. After a Kansas City meteorologist (Emily Blunt) suddenly begins transmitting alien-style messages during a live broadcast, she pairs up with cybersecurity expert and whistleblower Connor (Josh O'Connor) to expose what the government has been trying to hide. Will it be the best film of the summer? We want to believe...

Bonus highlight: German musical drama Köln 75, about a teenager organising a jazz concert, is continuing to rollout across select European cinemas.

TV series

Sweet Magnolias

Where: Netflix

When: 11 June

Set in the small (and aptly titled) fictional town of Serenity in South Carolina, Sweet Magnolias follows three best friends: Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley) and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott). As the trio navigate various career and relationship obstacles, their close bond remains a raft that helps them navigate it all. Adapted from a book series by Sherryl Wood, it's twee, comfort TV that's equivalent to a warm drink and pat on the head. It's also now entering its fifth season, so for those new to the series, there's plenty to catch up on.

Bonus highlights: If you're looking for some more comfort TV, Sesame Street: Volume 3 and seasons 1-3 of Shrill are also coming to Netflix on 8 June.

Music

Olivia Rodrigo: You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love

When: 12 June

Just in time for our summer playlists, Olivia Rodrigo is dropping her third studio album: 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love'. The 23-year-old, who broke records with her 2021 single 'Driver's License', told the New York Times that she was "really inspired by just all of the ways in which love makes you insane and miserable." The album features 13 tracks and is split onto two sides - each one capturing the thin line between love's euphoria and madness.

Bonus highlight: Rick Ross's 12th studio album, 'Set in Stone', is an introspective collection that considers the American rapper’s dramatic rise to fame and lasting legacy. Out on the 12 June.