On December 4, the UNESCO Committee supported Ukraine's initiative, adding 19 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites to the International List under enhanced protection. The total number of Ukrainian sites on this list has increased to 46.
Versace Creative Director Dario Vitale is resigning eight months after his appointment. This comes two days after the Prada Group completed its acquisition of Versace for 1.375 billion euros in cash.
The Netherlands, Spain and Ireland will boycott Eurovision 2026 due to Israel's permission to participate. This decision was made after members of the European Broadcasting Union voted for new rules protecting the integrity of the competition.
As of November 25, 1,630 cultural heritage sites and 2,437 cultural infrastructure objects have been destroyed and damaged in Ukraine. This happened as a result of Russian aggression, with the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Odesa regions being the most affected.
The Pantone Color Institute has chosen PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as the color of 2026, calling it a "billowing white, filled with serenity. " This is the first time a shade of white has been chosen in the 26-year history of Pantone's Color of the Year program.
Actress Ashley Park announced the completion of filming for season 5 of the series "Emily in Paris" by posting a photo on Instagram. The premiere of the new season is scheduled for December 18.
Ukrposhta presented the stamp "Strength in Fire", created by Mykhailo Diachenko, a serviceman of the 406th separate artillery brigade. A circulation of 400,000 copies is already available for purchase in branches and online.
In New Zealand, a man swallowed a Fabergé pendant worth 33,000 New Zealand dollars in a store. Police are waiting for the jewelry to pass naturally, and the suspect will appear in court on December 8.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft law of the Ministry of Culture, which for the first time defines patronage activities, patrons, and recipients of assistance. The document also covers forms of support for culture, including the renewal of the material and technical base and the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
Hermès heir Nicolas Puech has sued LVMH and Bernard Arnault. He is demanding the return of 14 billion euros worth of Hermès shares, which were sold without his knowledge.
Nine finalists of the National Selection for Eurovision 2026 have been announced. The tenth participant of the final will be chosen by online voting in the Diia application among the longlist participants.
At Christie's auction in London, Faberge's "Winter Egg" was sold for 22. 9 million pounds sterling (approximately 30.2 million dollars), setting a new world record for Faberge items. This imperial egg, commissioned by Nicholas II in 1913, became the most expensive Faberge work sold at auction.
On December 1, a bust of Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa was unveiled in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the UINP and the National Reserve.
The prosecutor's office has handed over to the state the largest collection of archaeological valuables in the history of independent Ukraine — over 7,000 artifacts seized as part of an investigation into the illegal storage of cultural heritage. Unique valuables, including ancient coins, ancient Greek ceramics, and weapons, have been transferred to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Singer Alyosha and the leader of the band "Antytila" Taras Topolia announced their divorce after 12 years of marriage, as Alyosha wrote on Instagram on December 1. The couple has agreed on the upbringing of their three children and financial matters, and will not provide further comments.
Sotheby's auction house in the UK sold the "Jack" hare-shaped jewelry piece for £82,550. The 18-carat gold piece with a ruby eye, created by Kit Williams, was previously the object of a worldwide treasure hunt.
Winter 2025-2026 will bring five anticipated movie premieres, including sequels to "Five Nights at Freddy's" and "Avatar," as well as new thrillers "The Handmaid," "Object X," and "Scream 7. " These films promise exciting plots and the return of beloved characters.
Halyna Hryhorenko has been dismissed from the post of First Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine at her own request. She thanked the team and partners for a year of work, promising to release details later.
English football club "Brentford" organized a Ukrainian cuisine day at its base, where player Yehor Yarmolyuk presented dishes and interesting facts about Ukraine. The head coach and teammates tasted Ukrainian dishes, and the club shared information about the geographical center of Europe, traditions, and the symbolism of the flag.
Psychologists conducted an experiment by placing a person in a Batman costume in a subway car. This led to a significant increase in prosocial behavior among passengers.
A rare crystal and diamond Fabergé egg, created for the Russian imperial family, has been put up for sale with an estimated value of over $26 million. This "Winter Egg" is one of seven luxurious ovals remaining in private hands.
The American magazine Time included five Ukrainian photographs in its annual list of the 100 most significant shots of 2025. They reflect the consequences of the war and the daily lives of Ukrainians.
Mykhailo Poplavskyi shared memories of the 30th anniversary of his PR project "Singing Rector" and spoke about future plans, including transferring university management. He also revealed the secrets of his youth and success, emphasizing the importance of Ukrainian song and investments in national projects.
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed cultural observer Bohdana Laiuk as Deputy Minister of Culture. She will be responsible for book publishing, reading, the visibility of Ukrainian literature abroad, and language policy.
A petition has been registered in Kyiv to rename the Akademmistechko metro station to Vasyl Stus. The author of the initiative, Serhiy Shevchenko, justifies this with historical, symbolic, and practical reasons, including the fact that the poet lived and worked in this area.
Yorgos Lanthimos' black comedy "Bugonia," Olivier Laxe's post-apocalyptic road movie "Sirens," and Masha Schilinski's German drama "The Sound of Falling" topped the list with five nominations each for the 2026 European Film Awards. The awards ceremony will take place on January 17 in Berlin.
The concert of Soviet and Austrian pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, who visited Russia and performed with pro-Putin musicians, has been canceled in the Netherlands. This is the result of joint efforts by the Embassy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute, the community, and the honorary consul.
Sir Elton John has revealed that he has been battling a severe eye infection for the past 15 months, which has led to complete blindness in his right eye and significant deterioration of vision in his left. The musician is undergoing treatment, which has brought some improvement to the condition of his left eye.
On November 26, the world celebrates World Olive Tree Day, International Shoemaker Day, and World Sustainable Transport Day. Orthodox believers honor the memory of Saints Alipius the Stylite and James of Syria.
As a result of a Russian strike on Kyiv on November 25, 65-year-old Ukrainian actor and set designer Vadym Tupchii, known for creating prosthetic noses for the "Long-Nosed Show," died. He lived alone in a high-rise building that was hit by a Russian drone.
