ArtsA rare interview with the elusive Agatha ChristieHer murder mysteries have captivated audiences for more than a century, but, 50 years after her death, she remains an enigma. A BBC profile from 1955 reveals some of her secrets.Inside Italy's forgotten art townSicily's forgotten town of Gibellina was envisioned as an art utopia. Four decades later, it's painting a new future as Italy's first Capital of Contemporary Art.The 40 most exciting books coming up in 2026From big-name authors Colson Whitehead, George Saunders and Maggie O'Farrell to debuts and non-fiction, these are the titles you'll want to add to your reading pile this year.FeatureSeven of the greatest rivalries in art historyThere is an art to rivalry. Mastering its rules has, since ancient times, shaped cultural history over millennia.See moreArts in MotionIn a pioneering new collaboration, the BBC – in partnership with Rolex – celebrates excellence in arts and culture. See moreAround the worldEight paint colours that can transform your homeAs Pantone announces its colour of 2026, here's more on the reasoning behind the choice – and what other trending shades can help you achieve greater domestic bliss.How Jane Austen's secrets were destroyed foreverAusten is one of the greatest writers in the English language – but relatively little is known about her. And that's in part because of an act that infuriates many to this day.The long, strange success of the Grateful DeadThe band staged their first concert in December 1965. In 1981, leader Jerry Garcia told the BBC about how they became superstars but "never sold out".DocumentariesArt, Passion and Power: The Story of the Royal CollectionMozart In LondonAuctionDecoding TurnerGreat Scots: The Writers Who Shaped a NationKilling Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan DoyleThe Divine MichelangeloAntiques RoadshowArt historyThe ancient monuments saluting the winter solsticeDozens of mysterious structures across the Northern Hemisphere – some nearly 5,000 years old – align precisely to frame the rising and setting Sun on midwinter's shortest day.The 'It Girl' style wars of Renaissance ItalyThe centuries-old origins of the witch's hatHow a Klimt became the most expensive modern artwork What ancient women really thought about sexWatchIs this the real face of the 'Virgin Queen'?Artist Mat Collishaw attempts to unmask this famously image-conscious monarch.See moreClassical musicThe music that keeps animals calmYou can find many different playlists for dogs and cats online. However, not all styles of music are effective.How the Psycho music score changed film foreverAlfred Hitchcock's grisly horror might not have become a classic without composer Bernard Herrmann's disturbing score.Does Notre-Dame still sound the same?Performers and visitors to the famous gothic cathedral in the midst of the River Seine may find some subtle differences to the way sound bounces around its walls.How music saved a cellist's life in AuschwitzAfter being sent to the Nazi death camp in 1943, Anita Lasker survived by playing in its women's orchestra. 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