Liv Kelly

It’s been another stellar year for music in 2025, packed full of belters, breakouts and hook-laden earworms.  Lorde returned to her angsty roots, Pulp dropped their first album since, and Bad Bunny reigned supreme on the streamers. We were blessed with new music from pop heavyweights Lady Gaga, Lily Allen and Robyn. In a plot twist, Rosalía dropped a classical album packed with religious references, and Turnstile made hardcore mainstream. Breakout stars CMAT, Addison Rae and Jim Legxacy proved that they are here to stay. Here Time Out editors and contributors have hand-picked the tracks they’ve had on repeat this year. These are the 40 best songs of 2025.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 best albums of 2025. 

Planning your travels for the new year? You should absolutely factor in those long-standing bucket list entries, but if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, 2026 promises a world of brand-new travel experiences.  From sleeping over in an open-air museum to journeying through ancient landscapes on e-bikes, ziplining over glorious wildlife reserves and partying through a solar eclipse – yes, really – there’s a shedload of off-the-beaten-track, out-of-the-box stuff happening over the next 12 months. Scroll on for our handpicked selection of the 26 coolest, weirdest and most exciting things to do in 2026.  RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest streets in the world🏘️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🌃 The best cities in the world right now Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.

Reminiscing on festival season 2025? Well, the good times ain’t over yet, and if you ask us, it’s never too early to start planning which festivals to book in next year. Loads of great music festivals have already announced their headliners, and some of them kick off as early as February.  It’s worth noting that, in 2026, one of the planet’s biggest and best music festivals is not happening. That’s right – after an electric 2025, good old Glastonbury is on a fallow year to allow the land a bit of TLC. Not to worry, mind. No matter your music taste, who you’re going with, your weather preference or your capacity for camping, the world will have a festival that’s right for you, from Europe to the USA, Canada to Japan and Australia to India. Overwhelmed? Don’t sweat – here’s our comprehensive roundup of the best festivals in the world taking place in 2026. RECOMMENDED:🌤️ The best festivals in Europe in 2026🎭 The world’s coolest neighbourhoods to explore🌃 The best cities in the world right now

Visiting New York is a frantic experience, and when you’ve only got a number of days to get through shedloads of dining, cocktail-drinking, sightseeing and museum-hopping, that oh-so-precious shut-eye becomes all the more important. Thankfully, even though New York’s famous moniker is the ‘city that never sleeps’, the Big Apple is brimming with stylish, innovative, and world-renowned hotels. So, we’ve combed through all the neighborhoods and avenues to bring you this hand-picked roundup of the very best, from swish new-openings in Brooklyn to opulent institutions in Manhattan.  New additions for fall 2025 include Brooklyn’s gleaming William Vale, Manhattan’s iconic Knickerbocker, the elegant, Park Avenue-adjacent Loews Regency and the beachy Rockaway Hotel. But that’s only the beginning—scroll on for Time Out’s fresh roundup of the best places to stay in New York City.  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best budget and Midtown hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content.

There’s a long (and we mean really long) list of reasons why one might choose to visit old New York—the food, the theatre, the bars and the art galleries, to name a few—but up there with the best things about this city is, without a doubt, its skyline. And while heading up to Top of the Rock or the One World Observatory are worthy ways to soak it up, your hotel room could be, too. So, that’s why we’ve compiled a round up of the best hotels in NYC with proper, show-stopping views. Sit back and enjoy. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in New York City

This list is old. Here are the best things to do in the world in 2026.  2025 is set to be a momentous year when it comes to travel. Citywide celebrations and milestone anniversaries will be taking place in Amsterdam and Rome, sparkling new cultural centres are flinging open their doors in Rotterdam, New York and Abu Dhabi, and there are fresh chances to see some wonderful wildlife in Australia, Singapore and Greenland – but that’s just the beginning. Read on for our roundup of the 25 coolest, weirdest and most adventurous new things to do across the world in 2025, no matter your whereabouts or budget. RECOMMENDED:🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK in 2025🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2025🌃 The best cities in the world right now  

This year of music has started with a bang. We’ve seen Chappell Roan go country, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco smothering audiences with gushy love songs and Playboi Carti’s rapturous return from the underground. We've even been blessed with the return of Lorde! Alongside these pop heavyweights, we’re witnessing rap superstar Doechii continue her chart domination and the breakthrough of Gen Z artists like 2hollis, Tate McRae and Kai Bosch. What songs are defining 2025? Well, we’ve searched through our playlists and extracted the best songs of the year so far, to give you a mid-year vibe check of where we are currently at. But it doesn’t stop there. Keep your eyes peeled for updates to this list throughout the year as we’re still awaiting albums from Turnstile, Miley Cyrus, Pulp, A$AP Rocky and many more. RECOMMENDED: 🎧 The best albums of 2025 (so far)🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)📺 The best TV of 2025 (so far)

It's easy to get so tangled up in the tinsel-decked glories of Christmas that you forget there's another big bash, just a week later. But New Year's Eve is the kind of night that you forget at your peril. Attempt to wing it and you might well end up stuck at home in front of Jools Holland's Hootenanny, because all London's best clubs and parties book out weeks or months in advance.  But fear not, we're here to make sure you give 2025 a seriously good send-off. Here's our list of London best NYE bashes for ringing in 2026, from never-ending club nights to LGBTQ+ friendly celebrations. Assemble your crew, book your tickets, plan the perfect ‘fit and prepare to say a big fat goodbye to the year gone by. London’s best NYE parties at a glance 🎆 Best for views of the fireworks: New Year’s Eve at Sky Garden 🦖 Best for a one-of-a-kind party: NYE at the Natural History Museum 🍴 Best for midnight snacks: New Year's Eve at Aram, Somerset House  🏳️‍🌈  Best for LGBTQ+: Horse Meat Disco at Village Underground 🌟 Best for glitz and glamour: New Year's Eve at W London RECOMMENDED: Find things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

City breaks in the summer holidays are fun and all, but we’d go as far as to argue that a ton of the most well-loved holiday hotspots in Europe are even better in winter. After all, winter is when summer destinations lose their throngs of tourists, and cosy wintery cities lean into the wintery-ness.  If we’ve tempted you into heading out on a very wintery city break this year, don’t go anywhere. We’ve rounded our favourite winter city breaks on the continent for 2025, including famous classics, underrated spots and cities with packed-out festive events calendars. Here are the best winter city breaks in Europe for 2025, chosen by our experts.  Europe’s best city breaks at a glance 💏 Best for couples: Paris, France 🍜 Best for foodies: Edinburgh, Scotland 🎊 Best for families: Zagreb, Croatia 💎 Most underrated: Ljubljana, Slovenia At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts across Europe who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

The humble brunch is perhaps one of the greatest inventions of the modern age, especially if it incorporates pancakes, bacon and those aforementioned eggs. (Or you can enjoy a totally vegan take on proceedings at LD’s at The Black Heart). London is particularly well stocked with places to indulge in the famous breakfast/lunch hybrid. Let us guide you to the best restaurants for a fabulous brunch, from a traditional full English to innovative twists on the majestic meal, such as a bacon bao brunch or fried eggs on chilli-cheese crumpets. Booze optional.  Best brunches in London at a glance: 🌽 Best for vegans: LD’s at The Black Heart, Camden 🍖 Best for Spanish-style brunch: Lolo, Bermondsey 🏰 Best for a spectacular setting: Aram, Somerset House 🌳 Best for an al fresco brunch: Pavilion Cafe, Victoria Park  🌮 Best for a Mexican feast: Corrochio’s, Stoke Newington  RECOMMENDED: Like unlimited fizz with your fry-up? Here are the best bottomless brunches in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. December 2025: Now that we're fully into cosy season, we've highlighted some of the more appropriate seasonal spots for brunch. Sulk in the dark like a massive (vegan) goth at LD's at The Black Heart in Camden; try Lolo in Bermondsey if you want a Spanish take on brunch; start your day with some heat at Chet's; and feast on prawn toast scotch eggs at Jikoni in Marylebone. We've also included a few

As you've almost certainly noticed, December's here and that means that this city is going into festive overdrive. All around London, people are untangling fairy lights, crowding into tinsel-decked pubs and pacing the streets in search of pressies. But isn't it time you slowed down a bit and did something a little cosier? As winter arrives, Christmassy pop-ups spring up all over central London, with plenty of fairylit atmosphere that makes them perfect for a festive tete-a-tete. We’re talking riverside heated igloos, Alpine-themed lodges and kitschy nostalgia-themed bars that will keep you warm and, most importantly, full of food and festive drinks. Here are the best hideaways, markets and quirky festive experiences waiting to lure you in from the cheek-tingling cold in 2025. London's best winter pop-ups at a glance: 🎢 Best for coaster kids: Winter Funland, West Kensington🎅 Best for partying with Santa: Humbug, Waterloo🥌 Best for silly sports: Club Curling, various locations🐷 Best for old-school feasting: The Great Christmas Feast, West Kensington🥶 Best for daredevils: Up at the O2's snow globe climbs, Greenwich PeninsulaRECOMMENDED: Here are the best things do in London this Christmas

Can you believe December is here already? One day you're necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wondering why you don't seem to have a night off til January. But make some time in your packed schedule and you'll find loads to do: you can shop in quaint Christmas markets, arrange family pantomime outing, drag your friends to a jolly carol service, check out seasonal pop-ups and get stellar pics of London's OTT light displays. Time Out’s editorial team started thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground. We've beaten the crowds for a spot at Somerset House ice rink and strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market, year after year, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season. Read on for everything you need to make the absolute most of the holiday season, London style. London’s best Christmas events at a glance:  Best for families: The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo Best for buying gifts: DIY Christmas Art Market  Best for a party: Humbug: The Immersive Christmas Dive Bar Best for music: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Best for festive feels: Christmas at Kew  RECOMMENDED: 🎅Check out our full guide to Christmas in London🎄Discover the best hotels in London for unforgettable Christmas stays

Through the MacSmiths Repair Shop on Hackney Road is where you’ll find this cave-like, perfect-for-the-winter cocktail bar. We arrived drenched from the rain into the pleasantly toasty, warmly but lowly-lit space which sits at the bottom of a small staircase, and the vibe feels most like the den of a whacky old professor – think kooky portraits, cluttered old computer monitors and even something called a poem-o-graph. This is the place to come if you’re trying to ‘get into’ whisky. As of 2025, the bar is run by the same team behind the nearby Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, and not only does it have 24 different kinds on an evolving roster (when a bottle runs out, a new whisky replaces it), but they also have Whisky Wednesdays for tastings and specially curated cocktail menu. It’s no surprise they refer to themselves as a ‘whisky bunker’. For a crash course on whisky without committing to a full drink, there were three flight options on the menu: the ‘world wonderer’, the ‘smoke stack’ and the brilliant dessert trolley, which included notes of tropical vanilla, honeycomb and banana bread – it’s definitely one for those of us with a sweet tooth. Service is suitably laid-back, and if you’re overwhelmed by the lengthy list of options, you won’t feel too intimidated to seek out some recommendations from the bar staff about the drinks or well-paired snacks. Order this If, like me, you’re a fan of cocktails that’ll make your face scrunch up, order the Pickleback Sour.

St Martin's Voices and St Martin's Brass will this year be bringing us some stunningly festive performances of glorious music, carol singing and festive readings. Conducted by Andrew Earis, expect to hear beloved classic songs such as ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and ‘O Holy Night’ plus the audience carols of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Set against the beautiful backdrop of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, these concerts promise to be a magical start to Christmas. 

What’s the vibe?  This space is one of Brighton’s most refined restaurants. It sits on Upper Market Street unbeknownst to the majority of passers-by, which gives it an exclusive, elevated vibe. The restaurant is tastefully and simply furnished with lots of pale wood and natural light giving it a beachhouse feel, and that is reflected in the menu.  What should I order?  The menu here changes regularly, but there’ll be a three-course set lunch menu for £35 per person or a decadent six-course option at dinner time which costs £85 per person. Each will include simple but super elegant seafood dishes, and the restaurant’s signature dish, the egg and soldiers, will (hopefully) be available at dinner time.

What’s the vibe?  In a nutshell, the vibe here is casual, speedy and really, really tasty. It’s unlikely you’ll wait long for your food to arrive, nor will you be at the table for much more than an hour, but we guarantee every second will be worth it. Why? Well, Bincho’s isn’t just a favourite of Brighton’s locals, but also of its chefs. What should I order? The chef here describes himself as an Izayaka fanatic, and after spending three years in Japan finessing the cooking techniques, you can bet that this is the most authentic take on southeast Asian cuisine that Brighton has to offer. There aren’t any duds on this menu – the only mistake would be not arriving ravenous.  

You might expect a Grade I National Trust property to be a bit of a stuffy and impersonal place to stay for a weekend, but Bodysgallen Hall, a lovingly restored manor house on Pydew Mountain in north Wales, is quite the opposite.  The hotel provided us tired, post-hike guests with a stay so comforting that, despite its looming size, felt more like we were at the home of an impossibly wealthy relative than a high-end hotel. Swathed by crackling fires, good, tasty food and amiable staff, this place is primed for a properly restful weekend.  Why stay at Bodysgallen Hall?  If you don’t just want a break from your day-to-day life but some proper respite from the 21st century, this is the place to stay. Bodysgallen Hall’s Main House feels a bit imposing as you approach it, but there’s something undeniably old-timey and welcoming about the place once you’ve stepped inside.  It brags all the traditional quirks that a proper country estate should, with comically low ground-floor ceilings, dark wood-panelled walls, heartily-stoked fires and marshmallow-like armchairs throughout the reception area and jumbled hallways, and much of it was built around 600 years ago. Though modern elements (speedy wifi and high-pressure showers) have seeped through, a weekend here still feels like you’ve dipped back into a different era.  What are the rooms like at Bodysgallen Hall? The Main House bedrooms could well remind you of a grandparent’s house, and I mean that as a compliment. The furnishings are

What’s the vibe?  Picture crisp white tablecloths, immaculately manicured waiters and an elevated, classy atmosphere, and you’ve pretty much got the opposite of Halisco. This is not the place for a formal evening dinner, but it most definitely is the place to take someone you’re trying to impress. Lip-smacking cocktails, inexplicably tasty Mexican-inspired small plates and an efficient, friendly, knowledgeable team of locals are what make this place so damn brilliant – and I bet my margarita that you’ll be telling your friends about it.  What are the prices like? The menu here follows a small-plates format – you’ll have snacks sitting around or just below £4, small plates, which range roughly from £8-£12, and of course the tacos, which tend to start at £9.50 for two. Lucky enough to swing by in the summer months? There could well be a salad and ceviche section, which last year started at £6. Mix it up, and don’t expect things to arrive in order.  What should I order? Halisco’s menu changes seasonally, but be sure to start your dinner with corn chips and guac, order the tenderstem broccoli (if it’s available) in whatever form it comes, and – even if you’re a meat eater – the oyster mushroom birria tacos. To wash it down, my go-tos are either a hibiscus margarita or a modelo chelada.  What’s worth visiting nearby? The newly opened Bar Halisco! Perched just over the road is Halisco’s brand-new sister venue, which opened just in time for National Margarita Day 2025. It’s got all

Despite being labelled by a cursive, neon pink signpost above its entrance, you could easily miss Viajante87 – it’s hidden in plain sight amidst the noise and fluorescence of Notting Hill Gate, and once you’re inside, feels miles away from all that too. The room is draped in moody layers and furnishings of rich teal with touches of gold, giving it a particularly luxe feel which is matched by the vibe of the service. Everything here is quite formal: we were met by a security guard who radioed a host to collect us at the bottom of the stairs, and, behind a heavy velvet curtain, were greeted with a cheery and unnervingly synchronised ‘hola!’ from the bartenders. That’s because, as is detailed on the cocktail menu, Viajante87 is based around the concept of ‘drinking like a local’, with your choices all inspired by flavours which hail from Central and South America. The three main sections on the menu are organised to mimic the stages of a journey: they’re branded as ‘comfortable’ (aperitif-like drinks), ‘curious’ (a little stronger) and ‘courageous’ (digestifs). If you’re feeling really courageous, you could even ignore the order in which they’ve designed the menu, though this lot clearly know what they’re doing.  Order this On the ‘be curious’ page of the menu, you’ll find the Pura Pache, a clean and fruity long drink which is a good light cocktail to kick things off. But if you’re a fan of bitter, negroni-esque flavours, don’t skip over the Blood Moon.  Time Out tip While this

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Given it’s the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), Sardinia brags quite a lot of coastline – 2,000 km, to be exact. Scenic beaches aren’t hard to come by here, but Delphina’s Valle dell’Erica occupies a particularly glorious spot on the island’s northern tip, on a plush green hillside where the coastal breeze ripples through the grass. Sounds lovely, right? On a clear day you can see across to Corsica, and when it’s hazy – as it was on my visit – you’re still surrounded by the ocean. Long story short, spectacular views are guaranteed.  Such vistas are best soaked in from the panoramic breakfast terrace in the main hotel building. Incidentally, the breakfast buffet is the only place where you’ll actually remember you’re in a resort. Valle Dell’Erica feels more like a small hilltop town: there are seven bars, seven restaurants, four pools, an enormous spa and a whopping 273 rooms. This sprawling complex houses two separate hotels: Hotel Erica (a slightly larger space with 148 rooms, catered to families) and Hotel La Licciola (a smaller, couple-oriented hotel, where 17 of the 125 rooms have access to an exclusive area and private pool). Rooms are cloistered in small blocks of three or four, each comfortably if plainly furnished, and are built with local granite and cork. From the resort’s beaches, the buildings appear to dissipate into the land – the brand calls this design ‘low visual impact’, a move to protect Sardinia’s coastline from the threat of towe

Landing in Keflavik on a frosty 2C afternoon is a bit of a shock to the system compared to the balmy October temperatures of the UK, but once we start winding through the snow-dusted, ash-coloured peaks that loom moodily over Iceland’s coast, the biting cold feels appropriate.  Thankfully, the nippy feeling doesn’t last long. ION’s collection of hotels includes four properties – ION City and Hotel Von (starting rates are €430 and €175 respectively) where we stay in Reykjavik, Hotel Budir (from €277), our first stop nestled cosily between the mountains and the lapping shore of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and ION Adventure (€565) which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2024. Each embody the Nordic concept of ‘hygge’, that feeling of convivial cosiness that you can only really experience in such perishingly cold places.  All are intrinsically Icelandic, but ION Adventure is the true show-stopper. A sleek glass box emerging from the moss-laden Mount Hengill, the hotel is a bold contrast to the tumbling volcanic landscape around it. But that landscape is still incorporated into the design, with furniture made from locally-sheered wool and actual lava. Sustainability is at the heart of these designs – even the sinks are made from recycled tires – and much of the interior is crafted by Icelandic architects. The hallway leading to the brand-new wing of 23 rooms (where we stayed) features bare concrete walls which will not be painted – paint is bad for the environment, guys – an

You’d be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated upon approaching Eastwell Manor. Its stern, neo-Elizabethan stone façade is dotted with boxy windows which appear as if they allow little light, and reaching reception involves dragging your luggage through an eerily still, imposing courtyard. But the vibe’s pretty different inside.  Through the comically large, dark-wood doors, the formality of the building does match the tone of the service, but we were warmly greeted by wafts from the restaurant, the excited buzz of guests from a wedding party and formally dressed but amicable team members. And that’s what’s unexpected about this place – how homely a massive country estate (particularly one with a tennis court, a hawking centre and beehives) can feel as soon as you arrive.  Our room, in the cottage buildings in the west corner of the grounds, was one designated for people on a spa break (it’s only a two-minute walk from the spa building) and other guests were flitting between the two buildings in just their dressing gowns, despite the October chill. The spa itself, the facilities of which include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant, plus treatment and ‘relaxation’ rooms upstairs, does all the things a good spa should do, but is perhaps not quite matched to the size of the hotel – we arrived mid-afternoon to cop a poolside seat but were left with only one available spot to plonk ourselves. But the hotel doesn’t just of

Chaque début d’année pose la même question pratique : comment utiliser au mieux ses nouveaux jours de congés ? Une option consiste à organiser son voyage autour de l’ouverture d’un musée, du lancement d’un festival de musique, de l’inauguration d’un nouveau sentier de randonnée ou de l’ouverture d’un nouvel hôtel. Comme chaque année, Time Out publie une sélection des nouveautés majeures à travers le monde. La liste regroupant 26 ouvertures et événements attendus pour 2026 vient d’être mise en ligne. Sont notamment recensés des événements organisés pour célébrer le nouveau titre de UNESCO attribué à Rabat comme World Book Capital 2026, le centenaire de la Route 66 aux États-Unis, l’ouverture d’un nouvel hôtel de luxe au sein d’un parc de sculptures au Brésil, ainsi qu’un festival de quatre jours en Islande conçu pour accompagner l’éclipse solaire exceptionnelle de l’été 2026. Selon Time Out, la meilleure nouveauté au monde pour 2026 est une exposition extérieure gratuite, au design remarquable, installée sur le plus ancien pont de Paris. Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1985 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation Cette mise en lumière coïncide avec le 40e anniversaire de Pont Neuf Wrapped, l’intervention artistique réalisée en 1985 par Christo et Jeanne-Claude, au cours de laquelle le Pont Neuf (situé sur la Seine entre le Louvre et les quais des Grands Augustins) avait été entièrement enveloppé de milliers de mètres de tissu. Photo: Archive © 1984 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation

The dawn of every year brings with it the age-old question: where should you be heading on that renewed annual leave allowance? If you’re after some inspiration, why not plan your trip around a shiny new museum opening, a debut music festival, the inauguration of a new hiking route or a stunning new hotel? Every year, Time Out produces an annual roundup of all the most exciting, cool, wonderful and weird stuff opening or taking place for the first time, and our 26-strong list for 2026 has just landed.  Included are activities to honour Rabat’s new title as Unesco’s World Book Capital 2026, the centennial celebrations of Route 66 in the USA, a beautiful new luxury hotel in a Brazilian sculpture park and a four-day festival in Iceland to mark the summer’s once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse.  But what’s the absolute best new thing to do in the world for 2026, according to Time Out? It’s a strikingly designed, free-to-attend outdoor exhibition on Paris’s oldest bridge.  That’s right – 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Pont Neuf Wrapped, a dazzling display by Christo and Jean-Claude where the limestone bridge – which sits over the Seine between the Louvre and the quays of the Grands Augustins – was draped in thousands of metres of fabric. Below are some images of the original installation, from 1985. Photograph: Wolfgang Volz Photograph: Wolfgang Volz Photograph: Wolfgang Volz Inspired by this monumental undertaking, JR, a French street artist and photographer, has designed L

Some of the world’s most beautiful and innovatively crafted buildings are also some of the oldest. But impressive waves in engineering mean that today’s new buildings are more efficient, creative and interesting than ever.  The World Architecture Festival, as well as naming the Building and Interior of the Year, has a category spotlighting some of the most impressive, futuristic feats of architecture. And this year, the Future Project of the Year award was handed to Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan.  Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the airport will be Bhutan’s second international hub, beginning with 123 daily flights when it opens in 2029, but aiming to welcome 5.5 million passengers by 2065.  Its design champions regional crafts and natural lighting, and the grid structure of the terminal building is built from Bhutanese wood-carved timber, which helps regulate the humidity indoors.  The airport will feature spaces for gong baths, yoga and meditation, but ‘passenger experience and operational efficiency’ are its priority. Below are some images of what the airport will look like once complete.  Recommended: These are the planet’s most beautiful buildings, according to Time Out.  Image: Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Image: Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Image: Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Image: Gelephu International Airport in Bhutan by BIG-Bjarke

Architecture isn’t just about incredible buildings to look at from the outside. Just as much thought, flair and engineering is put into their interiors, and at this year’s World Architecture Festival, the very best interior on the planet was crowned.  Its official title is World Interior of the Year, and it was awarded to Fractal Chapel by INNOCAD architecture in Graz, Austria. The chapel is hidden away in a state hospital and its odd, intricate, pixelated detailing apparently nods to current research into environmental psychology and neuroscience.  ‘Biophilic’ design has been woven in (which is the incorporation of natural elements to enhance the impact on wellness), such as with the use of wood from the flooring to the ceiling, and the altar, which was made from the rootstock of a walnut tree.  As for the fractal designs on the walls, these were ‘generated using a custom computer programme that combines artistic input with scientific analysis’. Impressive, right? Scroll on for some snaps of the space.  Recommended: This Spanish church has officially been crowned World Building of the Year in 2025 – here it is in pictures.  Photograph: Paul Ott Photograph: Paul Ott Photograph: Paul Ott Check out Time Out’s list of the world’s most beautiful buildings.  ICYMI: Copenhagen’s ice bar is back. Should it be? Plus: A major French art museum known as the ‘Little Louvre’ has reopened after 14 years.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the l

In some of the world’s most visited holiday destinations, attitudes towards tourism are fraught with discontent and frustration. But in the world’s best tourism villages, 52 of which have just been announced for 2025 by UN Tourism, communities are harnessing tourism for good. 2025 marks the fifth year that the UN has been spotlighting rural communities around the world working to embrace tourism sustainably. The villages that applied for inclusion were assessed on nine different areas, including infrastructure and connectivity, cultural and natural resources and environmental sustainability.  Recommended: The 5 countries that really need more travellers right now The villages added to the list this year bring the total number of rural communities to 319. A further 20 were added to the ‘Upgrade Programme’, which supports ‘high-potential villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria’.  Standouts include Antônio Prado, a municipality in Brazil known for its steadfast preservation of Italian culture; Asuka, a village in Japan’s Nara Prefecture, famous for its characteristic terraced hills, and Akyaka, a ridiculously pretty and remarkably unspoilt spot in Muğla Province, Türkiye.    ‘Our Best Tourism Villages 2025 highlight communities that are working to safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their natural resources and create economic opportunities through tourism.’ said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. ‘These villages show that by embracing touri

Cast your minds back to early 2024, and you might remember that a European airline announced that it would start weighing its passengers.  While this sounded like some horrendous materialisation of diet culture, it was actually just a simple process to better balance planes, and only check-in clerks were able to view the scales. However, another weight-related policy has been announced by Southwest Airlines, and it’s proving understandably contentious.  From January 27, travellers who ‘cannot fit within their seats’ armrests’ will be required to book two tickets, and will only be entitled to a refund on the second if their flight isn’t fully booked.  Previously, the rules were that passengers would be guaranteed to receive a refund on the ticket later or be offered an extra seat for free at the airport, according to Fox 2 Detroit. It’s also worth noting that avoiding booking an extra seat online will just mean you’re asked to purchase one at the airport.  Recommended: Ryanair is axing all routes to the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ from March next year.  Are there any more specifics on who, exactly, this applies to? Well, no. According to Men’s Journal, the operator said that ‘customers who encroach upon the neighbouring seat(s) should proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel’ and that ‘the armrest is considered to be the definitive boundary between seats’ but that’s as far as the details go.  It all sounds pretty awkward, doesn’t it? Jason Vaughn, who runs Fat Te

There are some prestigious architecture awards out there, but being dubbed the World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival has got a particularly reputable ring to it, right?  It’s the title that has just been awarded to – take a deep breath – The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Centre of Las Chumberas, a project by Spanish architect Fernando Menis in La Laguna, Tenerife. Announced at a glitzy gala in Miami, attended by hundreds of architects, the winner was decided by a ‘super jury’ which included Victoria Wiley, professor of design and distinguished service at Harvard, among other big-name architectural experts.  The site not only features a church but also a community centre and public square, which is an integral gathering space for locals. It’s nestled in La Laguna, which is in northeast Tenerife.  The building was completed in four different phases due to various funding channels, and its design is inspired by the island’s surrounding volcanic landscape. There are enormous, roughly textured concrete walls and sculptural use of metal and glass to control the entry of light. It’s dramatic and severe but beautiful to look at, and the innovative use of smooth and rough, concrete and volcanic surfaces means the building has acoustics comparable to an opera house. ‘The judges particularly admired the intensity of the architecture and the way light has been used to shape the quality and character of the interiors, enhancing the tactile nature of the surfac

O ritual repete-se todos os anos: aquela notificação que aparece no telemóvel e nos lembra que ouvimos certas músicas vezes demais e outras vezes de menos. O Spotify Wrapped está a chegar e a curiosidade instala-se sempre da mesma maneira. Nunca há data oficial, nunca há comunicado pomposo. Há apenas um padrão. E, este ano, tudo indica que o resumo anual está mesmo aí à porta. O Wrapped costuma aterrar entre a última quarta-feira de Novembro e a primeira de Dezembro. Uma já passou, a outra é amanhã. A margem de erro é mínima. Respire fundo. Está quase. Como ver o seu Spotify Wrapped 2025 Não tem ciência nenhuma. Abre a aplicação e deixa-se guiar. Quem tiver a app no telemóvel recebe uma notificação que funciona como convite: entre, percorra, admita o gosto duvidoso de certos dias e partilhe o resto com quem tiver paciência. Até quando conta o que ouvimos? O Spotify regista tudo desde 1 de Janeiro até sensivelmente meados de Novembro. As últimas audições ficam de fora. Um alívio para quem começa a ouvir música de Natal em modo reincidente. Os nomes do ano que já mexem com os números Os dados finais ainda estão a ser afinados, mas o Spotify Pie deu conta de uma tendência clara: The Weeknd lidera 2025. Logo atrás surgem Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber e Ariana Grande. Nas músicas, o Kworb.net aponta um top três composto por “Ordinary” de Alex Warren, “DtMF” de Bad Bunny e “Golden” de HUNTR/X. Falta apenas o veredicto oficial do Spotify para confirmar o pódio. Um olhar rá

Museums need just as much care as the artefacts and artworks they house. Just this year, Paris’s Centre Pompidou shut up shop for a five-year revamp. But renovations on this particular institution in the French Basque country have taken so long that locals wondered if it would ever reopen.  Luckily, it has. After shutting its doors for a facelift back in 2011, the fine arts Bonnat-Helleu Museum in Bayonne, which houses an extensive collection of French Old Masters to rival the Louvre’s, officially reopened on November 27.  So, what took so long? Well, according to Le Monde, the cost of the renovation was woefully underestimated. Originally earmarked with a budget of €10 million, this didn’t factor in the cost of new furniture, roadworks surrounding the building and educational resources. There were also plans to update the building’s basement, but its proximity to the Adour River (and the subsequent potential for flooding) weren’t considered. The cash spent has since built up to to €35 million.  On top of that, the museum’s leadership has turned over quickly – in fact, there have been three directors in the last three years, and plans only started to take proper shape when Barthélemy Etchegoyen Glama, an École Normale Supérieure graduate and former advisor to Louvre president Laurence des Cars, joined the project.  Now that it’s reopened, the museum aims to double its pre-renovation intake of visitors, which will be between 60,000-80,000 per year. To do that, there’s going to

Yes, the most wonderful time of year is upon us once again – the season of Spotify Wrapped. While we never quite know when the annual, personalised recap of all our most-streamed music from the year is going to land, we can make an educated guess that, based on previous years, the Wrap is imminent.  So, how do you view yours, when does Spotify actually track your listening habits, and who are looking like the year’s top artists? We’ve answered all that below – scroll on for everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2025, and keep your eyes peeled for that all important notification.  Recommended: These are the best albums of 2025, according to Time Out.  What date does Spotify Wrapped come out? While the date varies a little each year, Spotify wrapped tends to land either on the last Wednesday of November or the first Wednesday of December. One of those was obviously last week, and the other is tomorrow, so it’s looking pretty likely that the roundup is imminent.  How to see your Spotify Wrapped for 2025 All you need to do is open the Spotify app – if you have it downloaded onto your phone, you’ll have a notification to say that it’s ready and waiting for you to click through, cringe at or boast about, and share.  How long does Spotify Wrapped track your listening and when does it stop?  The app tracks your listening from the beginning of the year until around mid-November, so any very recent listening habits won’t be reflected in your overall stats. Good news for tho

Our cities are growing rapidly – there’s no doubt about that. Almost half of the world’s 8.2 billion people live in cities (according to the World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report) and while back in 1975 only eight of them could be considered ‘mega’ – that means they’re home to more than 10 million people – today, there are 33.  Of those 33, 19 are in Asia, and while Tokyo held the crown as the world’s largest city for the last few years, it’s now been overtaken by Jakarta, according to a UN report. Indonesia’s capital is home to a staggering 42 million people – it’s a megacity four times over.  Recommended: These are five countries that really need more travellers in 2025.  What are the other largest cities in the world? The rejig of the ranking is partly due to changes in the criteria. There are now much clearer definitions of what a city, town and a rural area actually are, according to the Guardian. Based on this, Jakarta technically took over back in 2010.  Closely following with a population of 36 million is Dhaka, the Bangladesh capital, and Tokyo now sits in third place. Following is New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata and Seoul.  Is every city’s population set to grow? While cities expanding might conjure images of prosperity and accompanying economic growth, Jakarta buckles under being home to so many people. On top of being prone to earthquakes, the city is often flooded, overcrowded, and according to NBC, rapidly sinking. However, the report s

Hot on the heels of fresh openings in New York and Budapest, Vancouver will soon be the newest city to join the Time Out Market family, and we’ve already bagged a cheeky look at what will be on the menu. Time Out Market Vancouver is slated to open its doors in spring 2026 in Oakridge Park shopping centre, boasting three bars, a handful of event spaces, more than 1,000 seats and 18 kitchens.  So, who’s going to be showcasing their food? Well, below we can officially unveil the first six kitchens and chefs – scroll on for a look at the drool-worthy plates we can expect, plus some info about why they were selected.  Feenie’s  You can’t really go wrong with a dirty, juicy burger, and that’s precisely what Chef Rob Feenie will be bringing to Time Out Market Vancouver. This guy has previously won accolades such as Iron Chef Canada, and he’s created a special menu especially for this venture – don’t sleep on the Time Out Market Burger, made from house-ground wagyu and gruyeré. Yes, we’re drooling too.  Photograph: Feenie’s / Time Out Market Vancouver Mee Bar Head to Top Chef Canada 2024 champion Chef Yen’s outpost, and you’ll sample delicious, innovative takes on classic Cambodian cuisine. The Mee Kola is a rice bowl topped with seafood and smoky charcoal-grilled meat, and the Nom Banh Chok is a traditional-style curry broth with rice noodles, herb salad and vegetables – make sure you arrive hungry.  Photograph Mee Bar / Time Out Market Vancouver Lunch Lady Is Vietnamese food mo