As Odyssey fever begins to fade, the week ahead promises to sweep audiences off into even more fantastical worlds. From the dark, whimsical paintings of Richard Dadd to the webbed wonders of Spider-Man, there is plenty to keep the whole family entranced. Here is what is coming up.
Exhibitions
Richard Dadd: Beyond Bedlam
Until 25 October 2026, Royal Academy of Arts, London
Famous for his richly detailed fairy paintings, the Victorian artist Richard Dadd created works that feel like portals into enchantment. Steeped in the atmosphere of legend and memory, they also became a way for Dadd to explore and exorcise his delusions. After killing his father in 1843, the artist spent the rest of his life in psychiatric institutions, where he continued to paint and imagine worlds beyond the walls of his seclusion. This fascinating exhibition traces both his life and his art through more than 100 of his works.
Andy Warhol: Line and Image
Until 10 January 2027, Musée du Luxembourg, Paris
When people think of Andy Warhol, they usually picture his iconic Pop art, all vibrant collages of colour. Yet he also produced thousands of drawings across his career. The medium was foundational to him, the simplicity of pencil and paper letting him experiment and refine his ideas. It is, in many ways, what shaped the Warhol we remember. From portraits and caricatures to self-promotional portfolios, the Musée du Luxembourg presents around 150 of these drawings alongside paintings, silkscreen prints on paper, and more. A must for Warhol devotees and aspiring artists alike.
A further highlight for the diary: War is Hell: Childhood in War, a free exhibition exploring what it means to grow up in conflict from 1914 to the present, opens at the Imperial War Museum in London on 31 July.
Movies
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
In cinemas from 29 July
Tom Holland returns as the web-shooting hero in his fourth solo outing. Picking up after the events of 2021’s No Way Home, in which Doctor Strange erased Peter Parker from the world’s memory, Brand New Day sees the weight of Parker’s responsibilities trigger some strange transformations, while ruthless crime lords and an as-yet-unknown villain force him to face one of his most dangerous threats yet.
For David Lynch fans in London, it is worth flagging the upcoming annual “A Gathering of the Angels” convention, with tickets recently on sale and some guests still to be announced.
TV Series
Batman: Caped Crusader (Season 2)
On Prime Video from 31 July
If Prime Video’s recent Spider-Noir series left you craving more gritty comic-book capers, Batman: Caped Crusader is the answer. Since first premiering in 2024, the animated series has built a devoted following for its mature themes, pulpy atmosphere, and return to the comic’s roots. Season 2 continues to follow Bruce Wayne’s early years as he becomes Batman, navigating allies and enemies alike within the rotten underbelly of Gotham City.
Also worth a look: Furious, a psychological crime series starring Emmy Rossum as an FBI agent hunting a female serial killer, is now streaming on Disney+.
Music
Ariana Grande: Petal
Out 31 July
Glinda the Good Witch is gone, and the pop star is back with her eighth studio album. Something of Glinda’s spirit lingers, though, in a record all about shedding negativity and overcoming hardship. As the title suggests, this is music to bloom to, watering the eardrums with an uplifting blend of pop and R&B.
Rounding out the week, American singer Shaboozey releases his conceptual Western album, The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales, on 31 July.
