Cultural openings


Brazil One of the most long-awaited museum openings in the region’s memory, Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Image and Sound’s new site finally saw completion in May 2026. Facing Copacabana Beach, the building’s iconic location is matched by its striking angular, glass-fronted design. The museum specialises in audiovisual representations of iconic aspects of Brazilian culture, from samba recordings to iconic telenovela episodes, Indigenous folk costumes, a collection of Carmen Miranda’s headdresses and more. The new beachfront building also includes education spaces, a research centre and a rooftop terrace. fmis.rj.gov.br/v1


Mexico The Museum of Textiles of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples opened in Mexico City in June 2026, bringing together 210 pieces across 16 galleries. Housed in a neoclassical palace opposite the Templo Mayor, the collection explores practices including backstrap and floor- loom weaving, embroidery and natural dyeing. Highlights include a recreation of a traditional featherwork cloak and handwoven garments from across Mexico. A working studio also brings artisans and contemporary designers together to develop new pieces while protecting traditional knowledge. mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx


NEW BOOKS


MEXICO: A HISTORY Paul Gillingham (Penguin) Beginning with the story of Spanish sailors shipwrecked on the shores of the Yucatán Peninsula in 1511, this authoritative and engaging book tells the story of Mexico’s history since the dawn of colonialism.


MRS GARGANTUA: REPORTS FROM CUBA JS Tennant (William Collins) JS Tennant explores Cuba beyond its familiar revolutionary mythology, weaving together encounters with dissidents, artists and ordinary Cubans with the island’s turbulent history and long confrontation with the US.


BUENOS AIRES REVIVES THE CLASSIC ARGENTINE BODEGÓN


In Buenos Aires, 2026 is the year of the ‘neo-bodegón’ — a revival of the classic neighbourhood cantina. Characterised by classic dishes like puchero (meat and vegetable stew) and milanesa Napolitana (breaded steak topped with tomato and cheese), bodegones reflect Buenos Aires’s multicultural heritage and tend to have a lively atmosphere. The new wave of establishments often retain the same spirit while adding modern touches. Del Río Cantina, for instance, serves homemade pasta in a voguish, polished concrete interior, while Ostende features playful decor inspired by 1970s beach resorts.


THE WORLD TODAY SERIES: LATIN AMERICA 2025-2026 William H Beezley (Bloomsbury) For an expert overview of recent developments in the region and their historical context, look no further than this tome by historian William H Beezley. It’s especially useful as a scene-setter, tracing the political, economic and social forces shaping Latin America today.


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – LATIN AMERICA COLLECTION 7


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