The Must-See Foreign-Language Titles at Cannes Film Festival 2026
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival spotlighted non‑Hollywood cinema, with Spanish, Polish, Farsi, French and Flemish titles dominating the conversation. Pedro Almodóvar’s *Amarga Navidad* led the buzz, while Paweł Pawlikowski, Asghar Farhadi, Hirokazu Kore‑eda and Lukas Dhont presented ambitious works that explore identity, ethics and technology. The shift reflects lingering writers’ and actors’ strikes, costly LA production, and a broader fatigue with U.S. cinematic exceptionalism. Hollywood entries remain, but they no longer set the agenda on the Croisette.
Five Pavilions to See at the Venice Biennale
The 2024 Venice Biennale showcases five standout national pavilions. Japan invites visitors to hold 5.5‑kg baby dolls that hide QR‑code poems, creating an intimate, comforting ritual. Britain’s Lubaina Himid pairs bright, multi‑canvas paintings with a pastoral soundscape to interrogate migration...
Let’s Build Better: Three Hong Kong Design Projects to Watch
Monocle highlights three Hong Kong design interventions that tackle the city’s density challenges. Onebite Design Studio turned a car‑park roof in Tin Shui Wai into a 32,000‑sq‑ft playground with nine attractions and vivid floor graphics for low‑energy play. New Office Works repurposed an...
Culture in Bloom: Three Museums to Visit in Tokyo This Spring
Tokyo’s spring cultural calendar now features three standout venues. The Edo‑Tokyo Museum reopened after a four‑year overhaul, with OMA revitalising its historic halls through immersive projections and restored artifacts that trace four centuries of city life. Mon Takanawa, Kengo Kuma’s...
Fondazione Vico Magistretti Connects the Prolific Designer’s Legacy with Students and Art Lovers Alike
The Fondazione Vico Magistretti, led by the designer’s granddaughter Margherita Pellino, safeguards an extensive archive of Vico Magistretti’s work and opens it to students and design enthusiasts. The foundation curates thematic exhibitions, such as the upcoming "Vico Magistretti and Japan"...
In Fear of Ukrainian Retribution, Putin Bunkers Down for a More Muted Victory Day
President Vladimir Putin is staging a markedly subdued Victory Day parade on May 9, citing a Ukrainian terrorist threat after a recent drone strike hit a Moscow apartment block. The war in Ukraine has cost Russia roughly 1.3 million casualties, according...
Jet Fuel Shortages Might Hurt Your Summer Travel Plans but Could Bring Advancement to the Aviation Industry
Lufthansa Group has slashed 20,000 summer flights, retired its most fuel‑intensive aircraft and grounded a subsidiary as jet‑fuel prices doubled following the Iran conflict. The surge in fuel costs has already forced airlines to cancel more than 150,000 international flights...
Australia Wants Tech Giants to Fund Journalism – but Is It Too Little, Too Late?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is advancing the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI), which would force Meta, Google, TikTok and other large platforms to negotiate commercial deals with Australian media or face a 2.25% levy on their local revenue. The scheme...
Songtsam Gives Travellers a New Way to Experience Tibet Through a Locals-First Approach
China’s domestic tourism boom is driving affluent travelers toward authentic, off‑beat experiences, and Songtsam is capitalising on this shift with a network of boutique hotels across Yunnan’s Tibetan border. The Yunnan‑based group runs about 20 properties that blend minimalist design...
Even Buzzing Bangkok Feels Flat when the Spark Is Missing
Monocle columnist Tyler reflects on a weekend in Bangkok that felt unusually flat despite bustling hotels and full bars, attributing the mood shift to the recent loss of veteran journalist Gwen Robinson. He contrasts the subdued atmosphere with the high‑energy...
How Exploring the Death-Care Industry Brought Anselm Chan the Highest-Grossing Film in Hong Kong Movie History
Anselm Chan’s 2024 feature *The Last Dance* turned a gritty look at Hong Kong’s death‑care industry into the city’s highest‑grossing film ever. The story of a wedding celebrant turned funeral director struck a chord, selling over two million tickets and breaking...
Why I’m Hooked on the French Reality Show, ‘L’Agence’
Netflix’s French reality series L’Agence returns for a sixth season, chronicling the Kretz family’s ultra‑luxury property deals across Paris. The show highlights extravagant listings such as Brigitte Bardot’s 16th‑arrondissement mansion and a €100 million (≈$108 million) chateau still on the market. Viewers...
US-Venezuela Relations Warm as American Airlines Launches Caracas Service From Miami
American Airlines resumed daily service to Caracas on a 76‑seat Embraer from Miami, marking the first U.S. carrier flights to Venezuela in over seven years. The launch follows the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and the gradual normalization of diplomatic...
Mark Carney’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Is a Throwback to a Harder-Working Canada
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s first national sovereign wealth fund, the Canada Strong Fund, with an initial $18.5 bn (CA$25 bn) endowment. The fund will be run by an independent Crown corporation and will focus on domestic infrastructure such as mining,...
Inside Monocle’s May 2026 Issue
Monocle released its May 2026 issue, featuring the publication’s annual Design Awards, an in‑depth tour of Cairo’s regenerated downtown, and a dedicated timekeeping special. The issue highlights a rising creative director, a recommended camera, and a designer‑approved dining chair, while...
Three Exceptionally Stylish People on the Art of Dressing Well
Monocle interviewed three style authorities—Atsushi Hasegawa, Maria Lemos, and Hirofumi Kurino—who shared practical advice on building a lasting wardrobe. All three stress rejecting fleeting trends, especially pre‑ripped jeans, and investing in quality pieces that reflect personal identity. Their tips range...
Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? No, It’s a Rapidly Evolving Space Race
The Artemis II mission showcased a hopeful vision of shared lunar exploration, yet the article warns that space is rapidly turning into a contested strategic arena. Existing arms‑control frameworks, such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, are thin and unable to...
Explore The Floating City’s Unseen Corners with Monocle’s Guide to Venice
Monocle has released an online Venice guide that spotlights hidden alleys, independent workshops, and locally‑run hotels, restaurants, and shops. The piece reflects the author’s personal encounters with the city’s water‑based emergency services and the everyday rhythm of its sestieri. While...
The Collapsible Electric Tatamel Bike Is Changing How Cities Can Move
Japanese startup Icoma has launched the Tatamel Bike, a foldable electric scooter that collapses to suitcase dimensions, winning Monocle’s 2026 Smartest Mobility Solution award. The scooter reaches 45 km/h and offers a 30 km range, priced at ¥498,000 (about $3,300), with roughly...
To See the Real Bangkok, Head to Lumphini Park at 06.00
At 6 a.m., Lumphini Park becomes a microcosm of Bangkok’s bustling life, where tai chi practitioners, elderly gym‑goers, and tech‑savvy runners share shaded pathways. Street vendors set up stalls, offering traditional dishes that feed commuters heading to the BTS and office...
Hydro Is the Norwegian Firm Making Aluminium the Designer’s Material of Choice
Norwegian aluminium giant Hydro launched the R100 program, turning post‑consumer scrap into premium design pieces within a 100‑kilometre radius around its Dutch plant. The initiative, showcased at Milan’s Salone del Mobile and Dutch Design Week, uses Hydro Circal 100R, a...
As Regional Conflict Takes Its Toll, Dubai’s Hoteliers Are Responding Strategically
Dubai’s hospitality sector, long buoyed by high occupancy and premium rates, is now feeling the strain of regional conflict. Iconic properties such as the Burj Al Arab are closing for an 18‑month refurbishment, and industry data shows nearly 2,000 rooms across...
Salone and the City: Nic Monisse Wraps up Milan Design Week 2026
Milan Design Week 2026 concluded with a blend of high‑profile product launches, cultural installations, and interdisciplinary events across the Salone del Mobile fairground and the city. Organisers reported that the 2025 edition generated €278 million (≈$306 million), underscoring the week’s economic heft....
Muh Shoou’s Latest Hotel Is a Sanctuary for City Dwellers
Muh Shoou has opened its second boutique hotel, the 65‑key Zhujing property, an hour’s drive from downtown Shanghai in the Jinshan district. Designed by the Group of Architects, each room features a private garden and the layout draws on classical...
Why the Indignity of 05.25 Is Redeemed by the Right Airline
Air France turned a pre‑dawn 05:25 departure from Lisbon into a smooth, productive transatlantic journey. The carrier’s door‑to‑door assistance, La Première lounge access, and curated in‑flight French films kept the traveler comfortable and engaged. While waiting for a three‑hour connection,...
How Gilda Bojardi Helped Define Milan Design Week and Foster International Collaboration
Gilda Bojardi has steered *Interni* magazine as editor since 1994, shaping Italy’s design narrative. She invented the term “Fuorisalone,” turning Salone del Mobile into a city‑wide festival and publishing its guide since 1990. This year’s *Materiae* showcase features collaborations with...
Mark Carney’s First Fireside Chat Showed Strength in the Face of Weakness
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered an unannounced “fireside chat” in which he revived the concept of “forward guidance,” a communication tool he pioneered during the 2008 financial crisis. The ten‑minute address was timed ahead of two pivotal events: a global...
Muzeu Braga, Portugal’s Newest Art Museum Bridging Art and Critical Thought
Portuguese construction group DST’s CEO José Teixeira has opened Muzeu, a contemporary art museum in Braga’s historic centre, repurposing a former courthouse with an industrial aesthetic. The museum showcases an inaugural exhibition that blends international icons such as Alex Katz...
Geopolitics Might’ve Lost Its Shock Value but the Delphi Economic Forum Is a Good Omen for Diplomacy
The 11th Delphi Economic Forum in Greece gathered regional leaders—including Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Albania’s Edi Rama, Estonia’s Alar Karis, and Monaco’s Prince Albert II—under the theme “The Shock of the New.” The gathering underscored how geopolitical shocks have become routine...
Our May Issue Celebrates Exceptional Timepieces and the People Who Wear Them
Monocle’s May 2026 issue celebrates the art of timekeeping, pairing its annual Design Awards with stories about a delayed train to Churchill, Canada, and the revitalisation of Cairo’s historic neighbourhood. The issue features a deep dive into why professionals still...
Is the Reinvention of Downtown Cairo Egypt’s Most Controversial Comeback?
Downtown Cairo’s historic core is undergoing a high‑profile revival led by Al Ismaelia, a property fund that has bought and refurbished dozens of Belle Époque and Art Deco buildings since 2008. Legal reforms ending long‑standing rent‑control are opening the market...
The Monocle Design Awards 2026: The Most Beautiful Buildings and Architectural Design
The Monocle Design Awards 2026 spotlight a diverse slate of award‑winning buildings, from Lombard Odier’s lake‑front Swiss headquarters to Seattle’s waterfront park that replaced a crumbling viaduct. Winners demonstrate how architecture can reinforce brand values, address skills shortages, and revive urban...
Can Greenland’s New Airport Put It on the Map for the Right Reasons?
Greenland’s new Qaqortoq Airport opened this week, giving the 3,000‑resident southern town its first paved runway and a modern terminal modeled on the capital’s hub. The airport is the second of three new airfields slated for completion by 2025 and...
How African Art Is Taking over the Venice Biennale – and the World
The 61st Venice Biennale, opening May 9, will be curated posthumously by Koyo Kouoh, the first African woman ever appointed artistic director of the prestigious festival. Her curatorial team is preserving her vision as a significant proportion of the 111...
How a Journalistic Eye Can Elevate a Hotel: Adrian Zecha’s Approach to His New Resort Collaboration in Rural Japan
Adrian Zecha, the founder of Aman Resorts, approaches hotel development like a journalist, observing and amplifying the existing environment. His latest venture, Azuma Farm Koiwai, opens in rural Iwate, Japan, in partnership with Naru Developments and East Japan Railway Company....
A Canto-Pop Revival Is Putting Hong Kong’s Local Music Scene Back in Play
Hong Kong’s Canto‑pop scene is experiencing a renaissance, with more than 1,000 new tracks released in 2025 and large‑scale concerts contributing an estimated HK$2.2 billion (about $280 million) to the local economy. A new generation of artists, exemplified by Warner‑signed singer‑songwriter Kiri...
The Top-50 Things to See at Milan Design Week
Monocle’s guide lists 50 must‑see installations and showcases spread across Milan Design Week, from historic venues like the Baggio Military Hospital to contemporary showrooms such as Alessi’s Palazzo Stampa. The roster features luxury brands (Hermès, Louis Vuitton), tech‑focused concepts (Kohler’s...
‘The Perfect Kitchen Is Where There Is No Fear.’ Seven Global Chefs Share Their Tips for Running a Successful Restaurant
Recent revelations of abuse at Noma have intensified scrutiny of kitchen culture, prompting chefs worldwide to champion humane workplaces. Leaders from Baroo, Attica, Masala y Maíz, Kenji López‑Alt, and Asma Khan detail concrete measures—fair wages, capped hours, profit‑sharing, open‑book finances,...
The Tote-Bag Economy Is Taking over Retail
The global tote‑bag market is booming, valued at $2.75 bn in 2025, and has become a status‑driven souvenir trend. Retailers in Paris and beyond are dedicating registers and signage solely to sell branded totes, often crowding out their primary merchandise. Shoppers...
On the Up: ITA Airways Joins the Star Alliance but Will Growth Dilute Its Italian Identity?
ITA Airways officially joined the Star Alliance at a gala in Rome, cementing its partnership with the Lufthansa Group, which owns a 41% stake. The carrier reported its first full‑year net profit in 2025, €209 million (about $228 million), and has relaunched...
Sign of the Times: Houses Vie for Cultural Relevance at Watches and Wonders
The annual Watches and Wonders fair in Geneva showcased a fierce battle for cultural relevance among luxury watch houses, with brands unveiling new collections and immersive booth designs. Executives discussed the impact of the Iran war on consumer spending, noting...
Israeli Ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Avraham Shelley, on What It Will Take to End Strikes on Lebanon
Israeli ambassador to the UAE Yossi Avraham Shelley told Monocle Radio that Israel cannot accept Iran's nuclear and missile threats and that Lebanon remains a separate conflict because Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, still wields political and military power. He said...
The New V&A East Museum Has Culinary as Well as Cultural Clout. Café Jikoni Is a Fresh Idea for Feeding...
Café Jikoni, the acclaimed Marylebone eatery, has opened inside the new V&A East museum in Stratford, offering a menu that fuses South Asian, Kenyan, Persian and British flavors. Chef Ravinder Bhogal and co‑founder Nadeem Nanjuwany emphasize house‑made dishes, traceable Ugandan...
Is Finland in Trouble? Ukraine’s Wayward Drones Expose Europe’s Hidden Weakness
Finland, long touted as Europe’s model of preparedness, recently failed to detect Ukrainian drones that entered its airspace before crashing en route to Russia. The incident exposed gaps in low‑altitude surveillance and prompted confused official statements that dented public confidence....
‘A Ceasefire Is Not the End – It Is only the Beginning.’ Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi on the UAE’s...
UAE Minister of State Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi said the country has endured more than 3,000 missile attacks over the past 40 days, yet remains resilient and focused on continuity. A fragile cease‑fire holds, but the UAE stresses accountability and...
Hong Kong Charts a Course to Become Asia’s Premier Yachting Destination
Hong Kong’s government unveiled a plan to add 600 new yacht berths at former quarry sites, the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter and a Hung Hom waterfront development, while relaxing entry requirements for visiting vessels. The initiative targets a burgeoning yachting market that...
‘Perfume Doesn’t Have to Be French’: Why Australia Is an Untapped Source for Olfactory Brands
Goldfield & Banks, founded by Franco‑Belgian perfumer Dimitri Weber in 2016, celebrates its 10‑year anniversary as the first luxury perfume house built around uniquely Australian botanicals. Weber launched the brand with a €20,000 (~$21,800) seed investment, sourcing ingredients like boronia,...
Don’t Wing It. Here’s How to Behave on a Plane
Monocle columnist Andrew Tuck offers a 15‑point etiquette guide for airline passengers, covering everything from phone use at takeoff to seat‑recline etiquette. The piece emphasizes simple courtesies—turning off devices, respecting window‑blind control, and keeping conversations low‑key—to reduce cabin friction. Tuck...
Trump’s Disdain for Nato Is Nothing New – for Europe to Assume Otherwise Is to Live in Denial
Donald Trump’s opposition to NATO dates back to a 1987 full‑page ad that accused the United States of shouldering “idle, ungrateful allies” costs. Since his candidacy, he has repeatedly dismissed the alliance as a “paper tiger” and threatened withdrawal, most...
China’s Culture of Design Is Catching up with Its Capacity for Growth
China’s design scene is undergoing a quiet transformation, moving from a global image of speed and scale toward a nuanced "New China style" that fuses traditional aesthetics with contemporary practice. The shift is evident in fashion label Samuel Gui Yang’s...