5 – 16 October

Whether you’re hankering after celeb-draped, red carpet glitz; 360-degree XR immersion, or analogue arthouse marathons – the BFI’s annual bash has it covered.

This year’s gala slate boasts world premieres of AMY director Mr Asif Kapadia’s Creature, and Mr Guillermo Del Toro’s stop-motion Pinocchio; alongside UK debuts from global auteurs such as Mr Alejandro González Iñárritu with his comic epic Bardo: False Chronicle Of A Handful of Truths and Decision To Leave, Mr Park Chan-Wook’s sensational noir romance. She Said, the cinematisation of Mses Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s investigative reporting into Mr Harvey Weinstein, which they co-scripted with Ida Oscar-winner Ms Rebecca Lenkiewicz, is a further gala highlight.

Meanwhile, the Official Competition sees Ms Marie Kreutzer’s Cannes-delighting Corsage vie for top prize with multi-award-nabbing, documentary-maker Ms Alice Diop’s first feature: Saint Omer, and heat-generating, 1990s Toronto hip-hop scene-set Brother by lauded Canadian filmmaker Mr Clement Virgo.

For meta-inclined cinephiles, a major exhibit of storytelling technology runs concurrently at 26 Leake Street, as an interactive VR acid house extravaganza drops at the National Theatre.

1 October – 2 January 2023

In bucolic Bruton, Hauser & Wirth presents a career-spanning trove of the phenomenal, Ms Louise Bourgeois’ artworks and artefacts as illustrative of her innermost realm, both creative and personal. Across two serene spaces, visitors will encounter rarely-seen, early plaster sculptures and wall reliefs as well as never-before-shown, latter-stage drawings and paintings.

The show itself is curated as metaphor for the need, in Bourgeois’ sage words, “For peace, a complete peace with the self, with others, and with the environment.” Given how rare opportunities for such moments are, perhaps extend the experience into a Somerset sojourn. Handily, this locale has lately become quite the culinary destination.

19 – 23 October

Unless you’re still fuming over Art Basel’s inelegant ouster of FIAC (Paris’ prior premiere fair) with 156 participating galleries, including 61 native spaces, the temptation to hop to the 7th arrondissement mid-October is pretty high.

Among the behemoths – your Messrs David Zwirners, Larry Gagosians et al – choice Parisian stands to scope out include Galerie Chantal Crousel, Kamel Mennour, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury and Perrotin. Simultaneously, PARIS+’s collaboration with Musée du Louvre, Sites, will see additional displays mounted within Jardin de Tuileries and at Place Vendôme, Musée National Eugène-Delacroix and Chapelle des Petits-Augustins des Beaux-Arts de Paris.

26 September – 2 October

For those acutely missing the rave, or simply desiring a boutique isle finale to festival season, Beat Hotel offers a tantalising week (or weekend) beach- and club-roving happening, culminating with a duet of headline shows by disco queen, Ms Roisin Murphy.

Aligned with Ibiza’s pre-mega club vibe, this year’s programme entails a special performance of jazz maestro Mr Sarathy Korwar’s dance-floor-primed, Indian classical collaboration with Auntie Flo and sets by international tastemakers, such as Ms Jennifer Cardini, Ms Paula Tape and Mr Bradley Zero, as well as key local residents, such as Mr Mark Barrott of International Feel, Mr Phat Phil Cooper and Pikes’ Camilo Miranda.

Week-long attendees can balance dusk-till-dawn antics with a holistic daytime programme featuring yoga classes led by London’s Stretch, psychedelic sound meditation and lucid-dreaming sessions, in addition to creative workshops hosted by the likes of publishing outfit White Rabbit Books.

19 October – 22 January 2023

To mark its silver anniversary, the Guggenheim Bilbao is dedicating its gargantuan interior to a series of themed presentations, which cast its most treasured pieces in contemporary light, as they by turn illuminate significant modern trends and touchstones. For first-time visitors and regulars alike, this landmark exhibit offers a chance to bask in renowned large-scale works, such as Mr Joseph Beuys’ “Lightning with Stag In Its Glare”; (re-)encounter pieces by influential figures, including: Ms Jenny Holzer and Mr Ernesto Neto, and get acquainted with the Basque region’s finest artists – all in one (albeit lengthy) saunter.

After exiting the iconic Mr Frank Gehry-designed structure, keep absorbing the best of the Basque by meandering up the River Nervión towards Plaza Nueva’s bounty of pinxto bars. And if seeking to make a mini break of it, the gastronomically blessed San Sebastián lies less than two hours away.

27 – 29 October

Lifted, groundbreaking contemporary choreographer Mr Christopher Rudd’s latest creation for the American Ballet Theatre, promises to uplift and amplify Black artistry. Set to music by acclaimed rising composer Mr Carlos Simon, with costumes by New York-based designer Ms Carly Cushnie, this autumn season centrepiece notably features ABT’s first all-Black cast. Its partner in the Gala programme is a revival of the seminal Sinfonietta by eminent contemporary dancer and maker, the former Nederlands Dans Theater director Mr Jiří Kylián.

7 – 9 October

Fancy christening autumn with a cultural desert pilgrimage? Initiated as a free multi-disciplinary arts and crafts gathering for local folk and global guests alike by the inimitable Mr Donald Judd himself, the 35th Chinati Weekend remains faithful to his vision.

Indeed, the Weekend generously supplies a rare shot at contemplating Judd’s 15 untitled works in concrete and 100 untitled works in mill aluminium during sunrise, and roaming the Chinati Foundation collections at leisure as the Ranch gates are thrown open. In this vein, the Foundation’s current resident artist, Mr Jesus Benavente, will be welcoming attendees into his studio, as a major commission by Ms Sarah Crowner is unveiled. Once aesthetically sated, get stuck into serious ranch fare at Saturday night’s Mariachi-soundtracked communal supper.

1 October – 15 January 2023

With an onslaught of outrage-making news landing 24/7, and the US midterm elections mere weeks away, it’s canny to hang with a collective adept at channelling sociopolitical discontent into affecting critique. You never know, a maverick campaigning idea might strike – and if not, at least DTLA’s review of avant-garde Cali performance artists, My Barbarian, will be a breather from all that scrolling and yelling. Capped by an extensive three-channel video installation, featuring prime cuts from the queer, camp and kitsch-inspired trio’s 20-year career, 2D works and artefacts in the form of paintings, masks, textiles, costumes and puppets will be displayed, too.