Dog Stars and Dark Matter: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week

From the pastel portraiture of Norwegian artist Asta Nørregaard, to the post-apocalyptic action of Ridley Scott's 'The Dog Stars', here's what's on this week's cultural agenda. As we near the end of August, a new season approaches — but don't go ordering any pumpkin spiced lattes just yet. The remains of summer are still lingering, and bring with them more unusual exhibitions, mind-bending TV series, and blockbuster action. From Apple TV+'s second season of the multiverse thriller Dark Matter, to the release of Interpol's hauntingly introspective new studio album, this week's releases give us something to get stuck into as the summer sun slowly begins to wane. In case you missed it, there's also our list of the best exhibitions to see in Europe — some of which end soon, so make haste! And for the contrarian music lovers out there, our ranking of the most overrated albums is not so much a recommendation, but might inspire some re-listening. Until next time, here are your upcoming highlights. Exhibitions and events Asta Nørregaard: Truth and Beauty When: Until 18 October Where: National Museum (Oslo, Norway) In the late 19th century, Asta Nørregaard became one of Norway's most famous portrait artists. After studying in Germany, she went on to paint everyone from her fellow artist Edvard Much, to Norwegian monarch King Hakoon VII; each subject depicted with delicate detail and pastel-hued personality. These form the crux of The National Museum's exhibition, which also highlights Nørregaard's keen eye for fashion and lesser-appreciated religious works. For both fans and the uninitiated, it's an opportunity to experience the breadth of a previously overlooked artist's career — and reappraise its impact. Find out more here. Jürgen Addiers: I Have No Idea What I Am Doing When: 27 August - 20 September 2026 Where: M HKA Museum of Contemporary Art (Antwerp, Belgium) The title of Belgian artist Jürgen Addiers' new exhibition is impossible to forget. Not only does it sit inside a sculpture of metal spheres that hang from the museum's ceiling — it's also a sentence we have all, at some point, felt. But as Addiers also articulates, that's not such a bad thing. The unknown is a freedom of sorts; a place where experimentation is most possible and imagination can grow. Through his mixed media, absurd collages and abstract installations, a blend of humour and doubt emerge that, together, acknowledge the strange juxtapositions of existence. Find out more here. Bonus highlight: Fans of Monet and Renoir should visit the National Gallery's 'Painting Side by Side' exhibition in London, which ends 15 September. Movies The Dog Stars Where: Cinemas When: 28 August After a virus wipes out most of humanity, a pilot named Hig (Jacob Elordi) sets up fort in an abandoned airport hangar with his dog and weapon-wielding friend, Brangley (Josh Brolin). Amidst avoiding violent scavengers and grappling with trauma, a mysterious radio message brings hope — setting Hig on a treacherous journey into the unknown. Based on a post-apocalyptic book of the same name by Peter Heller, Ridley Scott steers this action-packed film adaptation that also stars Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce and Allison Janney. Bonus highlight: Gregg Araki's I Want Your Sex, a bombastic ode to exploring pleasure, is released in UK and Ireland cinemas TV series Dark Matter (season 2) Where: Apple TV+ When: 28 August Based on the bestselling 2016 book by Blake Crouch, Dark Matter follows a physicist named Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), whose entire life is suddenly upended when he's abducted into an alternate reality. A contemplation on existence, identity, and the veil between our choices and life paths, this compelling series makes the multiverse a metaphor for confronting deeper psychological fears. Season 2 sees its characters venture stray from the original source material — and cements Apple TV+ as the current kings of sci-fi TV. Bonus highlight: The fifth and final season of teen mystery series Outer Banks is out now on Netflix. Music Interpol: This Mirror Weighs a Ton When: 28 August American post-punk band Interpol return with their eighth studio album, a follow up to 2022's 'The Other Side of Make-Believe'. Layered with intricate instrumentals, wandering harmonies and low-fi laments, it's a frequently haunting collection of tracks that feels ambient and calm — like slipping into a gentle abyss. It's also one of the band's most experimental efforts yet. Bonus highlights: The darkwave sounds of American artists Boy Harsher return with their fourth album, ‘Get Mean’, released on 28 August. For a different, rockier vibe, Alabama Shakes' 'I Must Be Dreaming' is out the same day.