Arts, entertainment, media, and lifestyle
Melbourne Writers Festival marks its 40th anniversary with a major program launching this week, featuring former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and international literary luminaries.
Riley Fitzgerald 
The bright red amphitheatre at Queensbridge Square has been a beloved eyesore for 20 years. Now Melbourne is redesigning the structure that defines Southbank.
James Callahan 
Contemporary speculative fiction has become a mirror for our deepest fears about the future. Authors are imagining worlds shaped by climate catastrophe, unchecked technology, and political collapse—scenarios that feel increasingly plausible.
Bruce Mackinnon 
Fresh ratings show Kyle and Jackie O lost Sydney listeners and struggled in Melbourne as their $200m radio experiment unravels
Riley Fitzgerald 
Bob Odenkirk returns to action as an interim sheriff in a picturesque Minnesota town that hides a sinister secret involving the Yakuza, in Ben Wheatley's visceral new thriller.
Aisha Khoury 
Sydney's summer art calendar includes a major showcase from Japan's most celebrated contemporary pop artist, known for his iconic smiling flowers, alongside a French exhibition producer famous for audacious immersive installations.
Priya Narayanan 
The Buffy reboot was shockingly axed by Hulu on the eve of its presumed pickup, after producers rewrote the pilot to address early concerns. A Disney executive who hadn't seen the original series appears to have sealed its fate.
Kate Morrison 
A24 has tasked Michaela Coel with reinventing Bloodsport, the campy 1988 martial arts classic. It's a bold pivot for the acclaimed writer-director.
Nina Papadopoulos 
Robert Pattinson has teased Matt Reeves' The Batman 2 as a major creative leap, confirming production begins in a couple of months with Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan joining the cast.
Sophia Vargas 
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's official trailer premiered today, featuring Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Mando, whilst Sadie Sink's mysterious character remains largely hidden despite months of fan speculation.
James Callahan 
Deadloch returns to Prime Video with a bold geographic and thematic shift, moving from Tasmania's moody coastal crime to the Northern Territory's crocodile-filled complexity.
Jimmy O'Brien With Netflix, Disney Plus and Kayo all hiking prices, Australians hunting budget entertainment don't realise free alternatives exist through their local library and free TV apps.
Ella Sullivan 
The National Gallery of Victoria's MOTHER exhibition spans from ancient art to contemporary works, offering a complex look at motherhood across cultures and centuries.
Daniel Kovac 
Warner Bros has released a new teaser for Dune: Part 3, showing Paul Atreides as emperor facing the consequences of his holy war. The film arrives December 18, 2026.
James Callahan 
Denis Villeneuve has unveiled the first trailer for Dune: Part Three, revealing Paul Atreides facing the fallout from his holy war as emperor, with Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy joining the cast.
Mitchell Tan 
The Princess of Wales marked St Patrick's Day by presenting shamrocks to troops and awarding medals to soldiers as part of her ceremonial duties as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Sophia Vargas 
FIFA has designated YouTube as a 'preferred platform' for the 2026 World Cup, joining TikTok in a strategy to boost the tournament's digital footprint. The move allows broadcasters to stream match samples free, creating a delicate balance between maximising global reach and protecting traditional media revenue.
Yuki Tamura 
Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy comes to an end this December. The first trailer teases a darker, more action-driven conclusion to Paul Atreides' story.
Jake Nguyen 
FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is being transformed into an anime series this year, with a new trailer revealing the studio's commitment to preserving the game's essence through meticulous hand-drawn animation.
Kate Morrison 
Robbie Williams is bringing his BRITPOP World Tour to Australia and New Zealand in November 2026, with stadium dates in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane, marking his biggest shows in the region to date.
Nina Papadopoulos