The SheerLuxe Culture List: April
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The SheerLuxe Culture List: April

With new seasons of much-loved series dropping weekly and a lineup of live events that span everything from theatre to jazz, April is shaping up to be one of the busiest – and best – cultural months of the year. From binge-worthy TV to gallery openings, major musicals and standout festivals across the region, here’s everything to book, watch and experience now.

WHAT TO WATCH

The White Lotus, OSN+ 

Set against the lush, spiritual backdrop of Thailand, the third season of The White Lotus delivers a new cast, a fresh mystery and that signature blend of satire and suspense. Stylish, eerie and addictive, it’s the cultural TV moment of the season. The finale just aired, so you can binge the entire thing – and with the internet flooded with fan theories, frame-by-frame breakdowns and wild speculation, consider this your sign to catch up. 

Visit OSNPLUS.COM 

Paradise, Disney+ 

Set inside a luxury island community for the global elite, this glossy new thriller opens with a murder and quickly spirals into secrets, power struggles and political cover-ups. Created by This Is Us’s Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden, it’s packed with slick dialogue, shadowy motives and high-stakes drama. Think Big Little Lies meets Scandal – all set against a picture-perfect backdrop. 

Visit DISNEYPLUS.COM 

Severance, Apple TV+ 

Season two just dropped – and the finale has left viewers reeling. Set inside a dystopian corporation where employees undergo a surgical procedure to separate their work and personal memories, this stylish thriller is equal parts unnerving and addictive. With eerie world-building, razor-sharp writing and standout performances, especially from Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette, it’s a masterclass in slow-burn tension. If you’re not already watching, start now – it’s the series everyone’s talking about. 

Visit TV.APPLE.COM 

Severance, Apple TV+

The Pitt, OSN+ 

Set inside a high-intensity trauma hospital, The Pitt is a new medical drama that dials up the adrenaline. Led by Noah Wyle (ER ), the series follows a team of doctors and nurses working round-the-clock under impossible pressure – with each episode unfolding in real time. It’s fast-paced, emotionally charged and surprisingly intimate, giving you both the clinical drama and the personal stakes behind the scrubs. One for fans of Grey’s Anatomy with a darker, grittier edge.

Visit OSNPLUS.COM 

The Studio, Apple TV+ 

Seth Rogen leads the charge in this sharp new satire about the chaos of modern-day Hollywood. When a well-meaning exec takes over a struggling film studio, he's forced to navigate egos, outdated systems and the streaming age – all while trying to keep the lights on. Witty, fast-paced and full of inside jokes for anyone who loves a good industry takedown, it's The Office meets Entourage with a distinctly 2025 twist. 

Visit TV.APPLE.COM 

The Studio, Apple TV+

Adolescence, Netflix 

Told in four single-take episodes, this gripping new miniseries follows the fallout of a 13-year-old boy’s arrest for a classmate’s murder. Set over the course of one pivotal day, it unpacks the emotional weight of guilt, family tension and the blurry lines between truth and perception. Stylishly shot and quietly intense, it’s a tightly wound drama that stays with you long after the final frame. 

Visit NETFLIX.COM 

The Residence, Netflix 

A murder, 157 suspects and one high-profile address. From the team behind Scandal comes this slick, character-driven whodunit set inside the White House. When a body is found during a state dinner, detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) is called in to unravel a tangled web of secrets, scandals, and hidden agendas. It’s Clue meets The West Wing – sharp, stylish, and packed with intrigue.

Visit NETFLIX.COM 

Adolescence, Netflix

UPCOMING RELEASES

Black Mirror, Season 7 

Charlie Brooker’s tech-noir anthology returns with six all-new episodes this month, ready to mess with your mind once again. This season brings a return to fan-favourite ‘USS Callister’, alongside stories exploring AI anxiety, virtual realities, and dystopian futures. Sharp, eerie and endlessly thought-provoking, it’s set to be one of the month’s most talked-about releases.

Visit NETFLIX.COM 

The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 6  

After years of resistance, loss and quiet rebellion, June's journey is heading towards its long-awaited conclusion. Expect powerful performances, emotional tension and the kind of gripping, cinematic storytelling that’s made this dystopian drama essential viewing from the very beginning. 

Visit TV.APPLE.COM 

The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 6 

The Last of Us, Season 2 

One of the most emotionally charged series in recent memory is back – and the stakes are even higher. Joel and Ellie return on 13th April, navigating a brutal post-apocalyptic world that tests the limits of love, loyalty and survival. 

Visit OSNPLUS.COM 

Andor, Season 2 

Set to be one of the most talked-about releases of the month, Andor returns on 22nd April with even more intrigue, tension and high-stakes rebellion. For fans of the first season's slow-burn intensity, the follow-up continues to offer grounded storytelling, layered characters and a gritty exploration of the Rebel Alliance's origins. A standout in the Star Wars universe for its political edge and cinematic scope.

Visit DISNEYPLUS.COM 

The Residence, Netflix

You, Season 5 

Joe Goldberg is back for his final chapter and this time, he’s returned to where it all began. Season five lands on 24th April, with Joe back in New York and still haunted by his past, trying (and failing) to outrun his darker impulses. Expect drama, deceit and plenty of inner monologue – one last psychological thrill ride before the story comes to a close. 

Visit NETFLIX.COM 

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Art Dubai 

Returning to Madinat Jumeirah from 18th–20th April, Art Dubai is the city’s biggest art fair and a key date in the cultural calendar. With over 120 international galleries, a growing digital section and immersive commissions – including a headline piece by Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem – it’s the place to discover both rising and established talent. Beyond the main fair, don’t miss Not There, Yet Felt by Hazem Harb at Tabari Art Space, where the Gaza-born artist uses peeling paint, textiles and found imagery to explore memory, identity and the fragility of home. Thought-provoking, emotional and beautifully put together. 

Visit ARTDUBAI.AE 

Art Dubai

Art Week Riyadh 

Taking place from 23rd–24th April, Art Week Riyadh is a celebration of the city’s growing creative energy. Expect exhibitions, talks and performances from emerging and established artists across the region, with a strong focus on contemporary Saudi talent. Whether you're an avid collector or simply curious, it’s a great way to tap into the capital’s ever-evolving cultural scene. 

Visit VISUALARTS.MOC.GOV.SA 

Les Misérables: Arena Spectacular  

Theatre fans, take note – a global icon is coming to the capital. From 10th–20th April, Les Misérables: Arena Spectacular lands at Etihad Arena as part of its world tour, marking a major moment for Abu Dhabi’s growing cultural scene. Expect all the emotion, drama and soaring vocals the musical is known for – but on an even grander scale, with a staging that’s been specially designed for arenas. 

Visit ETIHADARENA.AE 

Les Misérables: Arena Spectacular

John Achkar Live 

If you’re in Riyadh this month, don’t miss Lebanese stand-up star John Achkar as he brings his hit show Tryin’ to the Comedy Pod. Known for his dry wit and painfully relatable humour, he takes on life in your thirties with sharp observations and plenty of laughs. After two sold-out nights, a third show has just been added on 13th April.

Visit RIYADH.PLATINUMLIST.NET 

Club Social 

From 18th–20th April, Club Social will be back on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with three nights of music, food and beachside energy. This year’s lineup includes Snow Patrol, The Kooks, Usher, Raye and London Grammar. Add to that great food, drinks and a buzzy festival crowd, and you’ve got the ultimate excuse for a weekend escape. Tickets are already on sale, with day and weekend passes available. 

Visit CLUBSOCIAL.AE 

Club Social

International Jazz Day With Blue Note Records 

On 30th April, Dubai Opera marks International Jazz Day with a one-night-only tribute to 85 years of Blue Note Records. Led by award-winning bandleader Peter Long, the evening will spotlight jazz greats like Coltrane, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock – with timeless tracks including ‘So What’ and ‘Cantaloupe Island’ performed live.

Visit DUBAI.PLATINUMLIST.NET 

Cinema Akil 

This April, Cinema Akil delivers a tightly curated lineup that includes Seven Winters In Tehran, a powerful documentary on justice and resistance, and All We Imagine As Light, a quiet, poetic reflection on urban life. Later in the month, the Franco Film Festival returns for its 15th edition, showcasing a curated selection of French-language films from April 11th to 17th. Whether you're after arthouse drama or thoughtful global cinema, this is the place to be. 

Visit CINEMAAKIL.COM