Is there anything better than a cultural escape as winter sets in?

Today we're debunking one of the lesser-known art forms - opera - as the timelessly classical La Traviata show opens in the capital, which is the most performed opera in the world.

We're joined by Netia Jones, the Associate Director of Opera at the Royal Opera, to discuss the origins of the art forum, how technology is changing it, tips for first-time opera attendees and much more.

And if you’re keen to experience some new culture this year, then read more about some of our top cultural picks for the year ahead.

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Support for Labour in London has fallen to a new record low with the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Greens and Reform UK, according to a new poll.

Just 31 per cent of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43 per cent at the 2024 General Election.

The broader picture is of a fracturing of political allegiances in London in a blow to Sir Keir as he fights to stay Prime Minister amid unrest among Labour MPs.

The Standard's Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.

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Overthrown Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York after being seized by US forces in an early-morning raid on Caracas.

But he was once instrumental in an extraordinary deal between London and the oil-rich South American nation that resulted in 250,000 low-income Londoners being able to claim half-price bus and tram fares for a year.

As the world watches on, The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest.

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It’s a new year and officially the first Monday back to work after the festive break…if that feels a little bleak, and you’re looking to schedule some laughs in 2026, then stay tuned for today’s episode. 

The live comedy scene seems to expand exponentially every year; from award nominees to TV stars to online sensations and podcast heroes, stand-ups are all getting back to their stage roots. 

The Standard’s Comedy Critic Bruce Dessau is here with a bumper guide to the best of the bunch hitting the road in the coming months, from Josh Widdicombe and Michael Spicer, to Sam Nicoresti, Bridget Christie and plenty more. 

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It’s a new year, and 2026 is set to be full of blockbuster and arthouse film releases to entice viewers to the cinema. 

Although we’re only just entering Oscars season, a brand new slate of films will be hitting the big screen very soon.  

The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, is here to discuss some of the most anticipated movies of 2026, including Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Moment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Bride, The Testament of Ann Lee and The Drama. 

You can find the full list of 2026 releases here. 

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A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.

Host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is.

Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.

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Back in 2016, Netflix released a little show called Stranger Things, which went on to become the defining megahit for the streamer. But now, ahead of the finale on New Year’s Day, the sheen appears to be wearing thin…

Fans and critics alike have complained about overstuffed plots and too many characters - and more than 280,000 people have signed a petition, demanding to see alleged unseen footage from the latest volume. 

It’s never simple to wrap up a hugely popular TV series, so we're joined by The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer, Vicky Jessop, with the latest on the end of The Stranger Things era.

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As another year draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at the past twelve months and what it’s meant for the world of video games. 

It’s been a stellar year for indie games, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 raking in heaps of plaudits (and a fair few award nominations) for its take on the JRPG genre — while smaller titles like Wanderstop and Blue Prince have proved that you can do an awful lot without the massive budgets that AAA studios command.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.

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As we settle into the festive season, it’s time for a round-up of all the best TV from 2025.

It’s been a jam-packed one, as ever, serving up lashings of humour, tragedy and a whole lot of sequels. Severance has returned for the first time in years, as has Stranger Things, and the Alien franchise has gotten its own TV spinoff for the first time ever.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights - and lowlights - of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.

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It’s well-documented that our courts system is in crisis but following an investigation, The Standard can reveal that magistrates are sitting in secret to allow utility companies to break into people’s homes, granting warrants based on applications they have never seen.

Back in late 2022, energy firms and courts were rocked by scandal when it was revealed that hundreds of thousands of warrants – including for the homes of some of Britain’s poorest people – were being “waved through” by magistrates.

The government promised a clean-up and new court process, but a year-long probe by The Standard has uncovered disturbing practices - and the Chief Magistrate is investigating the concerns. 

The Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk is here with the latest.

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It might be the festive season, but there’s fury in the corridors of power following a row which broke out regarding proposals that would see local elections delayed for a second year in a row for millions of voters. 

It comes as the government plans to abolish the two-tier system of district and county councils, creating a swathe of new local authorities that will be responsible for delivering services in their areas from 2028. 

In total, ministers have written to a total of 63 councils scheduled to hold elections in May 2026, although we won’t know for sure if they’re postponed until January.

The Standard’s Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford is here with the latest. 

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The British Library is one of the UK’s greatest cultural institutions. 

However, behind the scenes, the staff who make it function are working longer hours for less pay, in worsening conditions. Now, with help from the PCS union, they’ve decided to fight back.

But what does this means more broadly in terms of who is able to access and benefit from our cultural institutions? 

The Standard’s Culture Writer Claudia Cockerell is here with the findings of her special report on the subject - alongside footage of the strikers in action, from London tour guide Jenny Draper.

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A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.

Host Evgeny Lebedev sits down with Professor Tim Spector and Dr Federica Amati — the leading scientific minds behind personalised nutrition company ZOE — to rethink everything we’ve been told about food.

They challenge myths around fats and calorie counting, unpack the damage caused by ultra-processed foods, and explain why eating for your gut microbes could be the key to better health.

Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.

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 More than 17 million people arrive in the capital each year to celebrate one of London's most beloved cultural gemstones - theatre.

But seeing a central London play can set you back hundreds of pounds, and the costs are only going up. Audiences are now being priced out with the average price of a top ticket rising by 50% between 2023 and 2024 to 146 pounds and 61 pence a seat.

So who or what is to blame for the situation? Is this just a callous cash grab, and what does it all mean for the future of London’s West End?

We're joined by The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop, who has been investigating the issue for the latest special report. 

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At least 15 people including a London-born rabbi have died and dozens more remain in hospital following a shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach. 

The attack was declared a terrorist incident, and targeted a Hanukkah celebration at a park next to the beach on the first day of the Jewish festival of lights.

It comes as Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones has said that Britain is being blighted by an “abhorrent” rise in anti-Semitism. 

We’re joined by Emily Hilton, who grew up around Bondi beach in Sydney and is the international policy director at Diaspora Alliance, a Jewish-led organisation that works to oppose antisemitism and its politicisation.

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Londoners will have to pay more in transport costs from March 2026, as mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has revealed that tube fares are set to rise.

The cost of a single tube journey in zone 1, central London will be hiked by up to 7.1 per cent, which is about double the current rate of inflation. 

According to details published by City Hall, most Tube and train fares – for TfL services such as the Elizabeth line and London Overground – will increase by a maximum of 20p, although many fares will only increase by 10p.

For the first time in years, bus fares will also be increased, although not until July.  

The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest - and also shares what action he’d take if he were London mayor for the day.

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Londoners are being urged to get the flu vaccine in the next few days to get maximum protection by Christmas Day, as the capital experiences a tidal wave of contagious super flu.

Cases are rising sharply in the capital, new figures revealed, as health chiefs warned the NHS was facing a “worst-case scenario” with the doctors’ strike set to start next week.

Those with flu-like symptoms are being urged to stay at home rather than risk spreading the virus on the Tube, trains, buses and in the workplace.

The Standard’s Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.

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A “world-leading” social media ban has been enforced by the Australian government, to prevent under-16s from accessing social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. 

Platforms that do not comply risk fines of up to $49.5m.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as "the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies". The ban has garnered worldwide attention, with several nations indicating they will adopt a ban of their own, including Malaysia, Denmark and Norway.

But could similar legislation be introduced in the UK? We’re joined by Daisy Greenwell - founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, a movement of families standing together to delay smartphones and social media - to discuss. 

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Jamie Oliver is to relaunch his Italian restaurants in 2026 - seven years after the chain went out of business - having reached a deal with Brava Hospitality Group, the owners of Prezzo.

At its peak, there were more than 40 Jamie’s Italian sites across the UK, but after rapid expansion and a changing market, the company ran into trouble.

Now the first UK branch in six years is set to open in Leicester Square next year, at a time when UK hospitality bosses have complained of a tough trading environment, increased costs and changes to business rates. 

So can the celebrity chef pull off this comeback - and does the capital need another Italian chain restaurant? 

The Standard’s Food & Drink Writer Josh Barrie is here with the latest.

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Nominations for the Golden Globe Awards 2026 are in - effectively kicking off a film awards season that will last until the Oscars in March. 

Leonardo DiCaprio film One Battle After Another has swept up with nine nominations, whilst Netflix drama series Adolescence and Hamnet actor Paul Mescal are among the other nominees.

Other Hollywood heavyweights recognised for their work include Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Emma Stone for Bugonia, and George Clooney for Jay Kelly. 

But there was shock, as Wicked: For Good was snubbed from the category of Best Picture - Musical or Comedy - though leads Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo made history by being the first two actors from the same film to be consecutively nominated for their respective roles as Glinda and Elphaba.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here with the latest. 

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