The world of arts mourns the loss of Argentine film director Luis Puenzo, Australian novelist David Malouf, and celebrated American conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields.

• Luis Puenzo, Director of Oscar-Winning Argentine Film, Dies at 80 — New York Times Arts -
• David Malouf, Novelist of Australia’s Divided Heritage, Dies at 92 — New York Times Arts -
• Michael Tilson Thomas, Celebrated American Conductor, Dies at 81 — New York Times Music -

Discussions revolve around the future of book reviews amidst AI's rise, with new publications including Jayne Anne Phillips's 'Small Town Girls' and Bob Spitz's biography of 'The Rolling Stones', alongside a roundup of the best books of 2026 so far.

• Where Have All the Book Reviews Gone? — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘Small Town Girls,’ by Jayne Anne Phillips — New York Times Books -
• Book Review: ‘The Rolling Stones,’ by Bob Spitz — New York Times Books -

• The Best Books of 2026 So Far: ‘Kin,’ ‘London Falling’ and More — New York Times Arts -

Venice Opera's controversial decision to cut ties with conductor Beatrice Venezi makes headlines, while pop star Zara Larsson celebrates a significant career comeback, and Barbara Hannigan receives acclaim for her multi-talented performance at the New York Philharmonic.

• Venice Opera Cuts Ties With the Conductor Beatrice Venezi — New York Times Arts -
• Zara Larsson’s Pop Career Had Stalled. But a Big Second Act Awaited. — New York Times Arts -
• Review: Barbara Hannigan Is Conductor, Director and Star — New York Times Arts -

Shikeith's Project Blue Space highlights Pittsburgh's Black history, a review of 'Kenrex' delves into true crime theater, European resistance museums gain new relevance, and Rikers inmates find a virtual escape through video games.

• How Shikeith Brings Pittsburgh’s Black History to the Surface — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Kenrex’ Review: Plunging Into the Violent World of True Crime — New York Times Arts -
• 5 Resistance Museums Recall the Bravery of ‘Ordinary People’ — New York Times Arts -

• A Virtual Escape for Rikers Inmates — New York Times Arts -

An intriguing analysis questions whether movies are getting darker, viewers are provided with a guide to top TV picks including 'Widow's Bay', and 'The Comeback' offers its latest season 3 episode recap.

• Are Movies Really Getting Darker? Let’s Shine Some Light on the Issue. — New York Times Arts -
• ‘Widow’s Bay,’ and 6 More Things to Watch on TV This Week — New York Times Arts -
• ‘The Comeback’ Season 3, Episode 6 Recap: Everything Breaks — New York Times Arts -