When temperatures soar, many people find their appetite suddenly plummets. The idea of eating a hot meal becomes the last thing our minds when the heat becomes too much to bear. During a heatwave, cooling you down becomes much more important than digesting and absorbing a big meal. AnikonaAnn/ Shutterstock This doesn’t happen because the body is being fussy. The key reason why the simple act of eating becomes so unappealing to us in the heat largely has to do with the body working to keep running, and avoid overheating. In order for our metabolism and many other physiological functions to perform correctly, the body needs to maintain an average internal body temperature of 37°C. Body temperature is tightly controlled by the brain’s temperature control centre, the hypothalamus. If our internal temperature ever gets too low or too high, the action of enzymes and other biochemical reactions will stall or stop working properly. This is why it’s integral that average internal temperature is closely regulated. Numerous factors can impact core temperature. These can include infections, exercise and exertion, hormones, alcohol and drugs. The ambient temperature of the environment matters, too. So during hot weather, the body deploys several cooling mechanisms to prevent the outside heat from making core temperatures rise. Sweating, for instance, helps us cool down. The body also flattens the hairs on the skin to prevent them from retaining heat. Blood flow is paramount, too. When trying to cool down, warm blood is directed towards the skin so that heat can radiate from it and into the outside surroundings. This also means that blood flow is subsequently directed away from other areas of the body – including the gut. After eating, blood is normally diverted to the gut, where it would be used in digesting, absorbing and transporting nutrients. But in hot conditions, the body is trying to shed warmth – not conserve it. Digestion adds to the workload, as well. The absorption, transportation and storage of nutrients all consume energy and generate heat. Try having small, frequent meals with nutrient-dense components during hot weather. chalermphon_tiam/ Shutterstock As such, the body suppresses gut blood flow and activity to dampen down these processes. This is one reason as to why appetite often plummets in the heat. Heat and the gut Our appetite is a balance between two opposing factors: hunger and satiety (the feeling of being full). Part of this balance is driven by hormones – namely ghrelin (which makes you feel hungry) and leptin, PYY and GLP-1 (which make you feel full). Some studies suggest that heat exposure can reduce ghrelin levels, while boosting satiety hormones – though results are inconsistent. It’s therefore unlikely that hormones are the sole contributors here. There’s also an overlap between hunger and thirst. One can easily be mistaken for the other, as both are driven by the hypothalamus. When it’s hot out and our body temperature rises, we sweat more to cool ourselves off. This means we lose more fluid and the mineral levels in our bloodstream fluctuate. To compensate and avoid dehydration, our brain triggers a feeling of thirst so we take on more fluids. This thirst response also explains why we aren’t necessarily hungry when it’s hot, since we prioritise hydration over food. Although this helps to cool us down, drinking too much in one go we make us feel bloated, which can further discourage appetite. This is why it’s better to prioritise lighter, low-temperature foods which are full of water – such as fruit, salad vegetables and light dairy products, including milk and yoghurt. High protein and carbohydrate-rich foods typically generate more metabolic heat when digested, which is precisely what the body is trying to avoid. Heat stress also tends to cause the stomach to empty more slowly, which means we remain fuller for longer. The gut sends a message back to the brain as well, telling it that we’re full. This is another reason why you might feel bloated or full during the hot weather. The balance between heat and hunger is a dynamic one. In a heatwave, your body shifts its priorities – and cooling you down becomes much more important than digesting and absorbing a big meal. But even when the heat is on, it’s good to remember that fuelling your body is still important. You may just need to shift your approach to top yourself up, and stay cool. Cooling yourself down should help with appetite. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding excess physical activity, wearing loose-fitting clothes and applying cold packs can help you to cool down. When approaching eating, try and have small, frequent meals with nutrient-dense components – particularly those which are rich in water and electrolytes to replenish what may have been lost in sweat. Protein is still important to eat, too. Splitting it into smaller doses to consume throughout the day can help. Foods such as nuts, dairy, vegetables, pulses, avocados, olives and grains are all good energy-dense options – and feature heavily in many Mediterranean diets. They can help provide balanced nutrition, even when appetite is low and the heat is high. Words by Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

Part of soccer’s beauty lies in its unpredictability. Already in World Cup 2026, we have seen Morocco tie with five-time champion Brazil and Australia overturn the odds by beating Turkey. But few surprises will top a Cabo Verde team ranked 67th at the start of the tournament holding Spain – many pundits’ pick for the title – to a 0-0 draw. Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup group match against Iraq on June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) AP Photo/Martin Meissner But what goes into deciding whether a team wins, draws or loses? Of course, the quality of the players and coaching staff matters. And recent advances in sports analytics, including real-time player geolocation metrics, have led to the adoption of data-driven in-game decisions. Top football teams increasingly rely on big data and predictive algorithms to gain an advantage. But sports psychology plays a big role, too. And that is where I come in. I have a passion for sports in general and soccer in particular – it is the game I grew up playing in Germany. Now, as a sport psychologist and director of the Global Sport Leadership Solutions Lab at Drexel University, I study how players and coaches can manage chaos on the pitch to strategically improve performance and win. Below, I outline several modern psychological principles that are essential to all 48 teams battling it out in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 5 steps for soccer success Disruption – It is true across all sports, and certainly in modern soccer, that the winning team will benefit from disrupting its opponent. Disruptive tactics can include brute-force tactical fouls, high-speed counterattacks that catch the opposition off balance, deceptive set pieces that create organized chaos, high-pressure tactics that force opponents into errors, and getting under the skin of opposition players. Cabo Verde was able to disrupt Spain’s fluid soccer style in its opening game at the World Cup on June 15, 2026. AP Photo/Stew Milne Disrupting the organization and rhythm of the opposing team is both a mindset and a tactic that can lead to goal-scoring opportunities. A team that can disrupt an opponent’s flow can often overturn a skill disadvantage or demoralize weaker teams. Attentional fitness – Scoring goals in international soccer is difficult. A great striker is worth his or her weight in gold. They not only possess exceptional dribbling and spectacular one-on-one skills but also strong “attentional fitness,” which requires cognitive efficiency and a work ethic to get into positions to score. Such players are celebrated for their “coolness” and on-the-ball craft, but it is their psychological intelligence that makes them special. One of the first skills to break under pressure is the ability to focus. The quintessential goal scorer does not freeze. One could call it “nerves of steel,” but that is just a metaphor for managing multiple sources of attention simultaneously and efficiently. Strikers such as England’s Harry Kane, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland maintain attentional control under pressure. They lock into the moment when it matters most and seamlessly shift between tasks. Controlled mind-wandering – Mind-wandering is a spontaneous zoning out of your immediate surroundings. In sports, mind-wandering is often seen as negative because inattention at a crucial moment can lead to disaster. But it is difficult to maintain focus for 90-plus minutes during a soccer game. And new neuroimaging evidence suggests that in moments of mind-wandering, the brain is not at rest at all. Rather, it is just processing information differently. As such, controlled mind-wandering, which involves active mental exploration, can be highly beneficial in performance sports – even if only for a few seconds. The best players seem to know when to focus and when to pull back. They sometimes look away from the ball and absorb a broader perspective of the game. Then, when a crucial game-scoring opportunity arises, they lock in their focus and are 100% present. Argentina captain Lionel Messi celebrates his country’s 3-0 win over Algeria on June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann Referee Wilton Sampaio, of Brazil, shows the red card to South Africa’s Themba Zwane during the match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo When researchers examined where Argentine great Lionel Messi looks, they found that his eyes are often off the ball. Common sense in soccer has been to keep your eyes on the ball, but new research suggests that the winner will also mind-wander and look away from the action. Messi’s brain can seemingly do things many of his opponents’ cannot; he appears to have world-class cognitive skills. Resilience (for referees) - Soccer is one of the most difficult sports to officiate. Not only must referees be in excellent physical condition, they must also be able to manage the game emotionally. This has become increasingly difficult, with professional players routinely simulating injuries and an offside rule that is interpreted to within fractions of an inch. And then there is one of the most difficult and controversial cognitive decisions in all of sports: the penalty kick, awarded for committing a foul in one’s own penalty box. With the stakes so high and everyone watching, the modern World Cup referee must have exceptional multitasking, communications and management skills. Referees are part of the fabric of the match whether they want to be or not. Everybody is judging them – even more so in 2026, since referees are wearing cameras on their temples, so the viewing public can see the game from their point of view. The psychological toolbox of the 2026 World Cup referee is complex, but it has to start with a good dose of psychological resiliency. Tactical creativity - Tactical creativity in soccer is related to finding solutions on the pitch to complex individual or team situations. It almost always relies on divergent thinking and is often surprising and original. Research has shown that creativity is within everyone’s reach, including soccer players, especially if tactical creativity has been part of the training plan. As a result, the evolution of playing styles in elite soccer over the past few decades has shifted away from a structured, defense-heavy, possession-based system toward a modern, data-driven way to play based on pressing the opposing team high up the pitch. This requires players to take on multiple roles on the pitch. It requires a balance of both inspiration – or open-mindedness – and perspiration, or discipline. Of course, to be creative one has to have the freedom to experiment; “play like children,” U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino suggested. Tactical creativity is a key driver of the cognitive skill set that allows players such as Croatia’s Luka Modrić and Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne to see several moves ahead. These modern soccer stars not only play soccer on a different level, but they also think soccer on a different level. With the World Cup now underway, sports psychologists like myself – along with fans the globe over – can observe how athletes put some of these principles to work. And with any luck, the tournament will have “wow” moments of creativity that will be remembered for a lifetime. Words by Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

For a country already facing serious humanitarian needs, the two powerful earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24, 2026, have made life even harder. Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher in Caracas following an earthquake in Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images Millions of Venezuelans were already struggling to get enough food, medicine, fuel and basic services to survive before this disaster. Now, even more people there urgently need shelter, medical care, clean water, food and support. I, a scholar of humanitarian assistance with more than 10 years of experience managing humanitarian aid in Latin America, am teaching a course on disaster field operations. The graduate students taking this class were already learning how recovery from earthquakes and other disasters in Latin America depends on having strong local partners, reliable supplies and support that reaches the people most affected. Now, with these earthquakes, they will get to see how this kind of tragedy unfolds in real time. Can Venezuelans living abroad reach loved ones? With more than 50,000 people unaccounted for, the number of causalities may soar from initial reports of hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. And the number of people who have become displaced following the destruction of their homes is likely to remain unknown for weeks. For the estimated 8 million Venezuelans living outside their native country, including the 1.2 million Venezuelans and people of Venezuelan descent who reside in the U.S., this is their worst nightmare. Many are unable to reach their loved ones, and every hour without contact brings more fear, confusion and pain. For Venezuelans abroad, grief is turning into action. Community groups, nonprofit organizations and Venezuelan-owned businesses are collecting donations and raising funds to support disaster recovery. Their efforts show the deep connection Venezuelans still have with their homeland. Evacuated Venezuelans speak by phone after two earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, in Caracas, causing many buildings to collapse. Jesus Vargas/Getty Images Have other countries begun to help? The international community has risen to the occasion, showing support by sending equipment, such as helicopters, planes and logistical machinery, that rescue teams can use to rescue trapped people and conduct other disaster response operations. The list of countries pledging to send humanitarian aid includes the United States, Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, Spain, Germany, France and many others. But because of the serious damage to airports, hospitals and other essential infrastructure, getting that aid delivered quickly could prove difficult. Videos made by people on the scene and news reports show that Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s busiest, is in trouble, with ceiling panels falling, debris scattered throughout the terminal and power outages – leaving it unable to operate. If the airport stays closed for a long period of time, it will interfere with deliveries of aid from foreign governments and international organizations, such as the International Red Cross and U.N. World Food Program. What’s the best way to help Venezuela now? As images of the destruction spread on social media and the news, many people are asking how they can help. My answer is simple: Donate money to trusted organizations that were already working in Venezuela before the earthquakes. Giving cash to those nonprofits will make it possible for local groups and global organizations operating in Venezuela to respond quickly and effectively. They can purchase food, water, medicine, hygiene supplies and other essential items near the affected communities, saving valuable time and avoiding many of the delays that come with shipping supplies from another country. Providing cash also helps strengthen the local economy when goods are purchased from nearby businesses, while sending blankets, food and other goods doesn’t do that and create hassles for aid workers. This keeps money in affected communities, helps local vendors stay open, protects jobs and supports recovery while families receive help faster. The Associated Press is maintaining a list of vetted organizations responding to the crisis in Venezuela. Due to the widespread destruction from the earthquakes, it will take a long time for Venezuela to recover. Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images Are there precedents for what’s happening in Venezuela? The aftermath of Venezuela’s earthquakes reminds me of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. Both were complex disasters made worse by already fragile infrastructure. In Haiti, I saw many nonprofits and international agencies arrive; some of their staff who were dispatched to help had little or no experience in the country. This personnel problem contributed to a long recovery time. My hope for Venezuela is that the coming flood of aid supports its recovery from its prior problems rather than complicates that process in a nation that continues to face one tragedy after another. Words by Dulce Suarez, Assistant Director of the Academy for International Disaster Preparedness, Florida International University. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

Twenty years ago, 16-year-old Taylor Swift released her debut single, Tim McGraw. To understand everything that has come since – the confessional genius, the brand strategy, the carefully constructed persona – this three-minute-and-fifty-two-second country ballad is a good place to start. Jordan Strauss/AP As we argue in our edited collection Taylor Swift: Culture, Capital & Critique, Swift is a cultural phenomenon worthy of critical attention – a lens through which we can examine culture and power in contemporary life. The making of a country superstar In 2004, 14-year-old Swift and her family relocated from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, so she could pursue her dream of country stardom. During her recent induction as the youngest woman into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Swift said: it couldn’t have been easy to just pick up and move our entire family … But after it became obvious that this was not even remotely a temporary phase their tween daughter was going through, they uprooted their entire lives to move me to music city. Swift became the first artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent label founded by Scott Borchetta, who signed Swift after seeing her perform at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Shortly after, her stockbroker father invested about US$500,000 into the label in 2006, becoming a shareholder. Swift went to work on her first album, Taylor Swift (2006), with Tim McGraw as the lead single. Confessional songwriting Swift has said that when she wrote Tim McGraw, she was dating a boy who was leaving for college. So instead of a breakup song, she wrote a pre-breakup song about her desire to be remembered by her future ex-lover. The song’s emotional logic is anticipatory grief. This is remarkably mature lyrical instinct; she was already aware of the long shadow cast by first love. She was also taking control of the narrative of her own life through lyrics. What makes the song even more significant is the form. Swift writes from a confessional “I” that collapses the line between songwriter and subject. As one of our book chapters (by Faichney) explains, confessional songwriting conveys raw emotion and authenticity through its association with the autobiographical. This has become emblematic of Swift’s oeuvre; the most intimate parts of her life have been immortalised in song. Tim McGraw exemplifies much of Swift’s early work: songs that nostalgically capture the experience of being young and in love. It was no accident that this connection felt so immediate and personal. Swift was cultivating it directly through MySpace blogs and personal fan responses. This laid the groundwork for what became one of the most sophisticated parasocial relationships in pop music history. Borrowed capital: the original brand strategy It may seem an audacious move for an unknown teenager to borrow the name of country’s number one star, Tim McGraw, as her song title. It was also a clever strategy. Using the name of an artist with crossover mainstream success on a debut release immediately communicated country music legibility. This gambit of adopted cultural credibility worked. Swift went on to open for McGraw and Faith Hill on tour. Her single peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and reached number 40 on the Hot 100 – foreshadowing her future success. This was the first iteration of a repeated pattern in Swift’s career, in which she leverages association as a form of cultural and ideological capital. Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill pose for a photo in 2010. AP/Matt Sayles As one of us (Whatman) argues in our collection, this approach is also visible in Swift’s relationship with feminism and whiteness. Her celebrity “girl squad” of the 1989 era – including publicly “feminist” figures such as Mariska Hargitay and Lena Dunham – was borrowed capital of a different kind: a strategically timed visual embodiment of Swift’s public declaration of feminism. In the Bad Blood music video and on tour, female solidarity is performed as a spectacle. The girl gang didn’t simply express “feminist” politics; it constructed them, producing a palatable, marketable, and overwhelmingly white feminism. The limits of this strategy became visible in 2023, when Swift collaborated with rapper Ice Spice – the first Black woman to feature on one of her tracks – after she was publicly criticised for her silence on then-boyfriend Matty Healy’s racist comments about the rapper. The template of the ‘all-American girl’ Tim McGraw also introduced the persona Swift would maintain: that of the relatable “all-American girl”, with her boots, guitar, and wholesome girl-next-door energy. Her beauty and talent might be intimidating, were it not for her approachable awkwardness and down-to-earth sincerity. Swift had only been in Nashville for two years, yet recorded a song soaked in the iconography of a rural American girlhood she was still, in real terms, auditioning for. The song conjures the image of a country sweetheart, referencing Chevy trucks, sun-soaked fields and eyes like the “Georgia stars”. While she has long since shed the Southern twang and cowboy boots, this persona has proven durable. It has been updated to something more urban and self-aware: the billionaire auteur who is somehow still the girl next door. Importantly, this persona has never been neutral; it encodes whiteness and class privilege as an unmarked default. It is a form of girlhood capacious enough to be country or pop, apolitical or activist, and bestie or billionaire, precisely because whiteness and class privilege operate as its invisible foundation. Swift’s extraordinary success speaks not only to her talent and work ethic, but to the structural conditions that determine whose version of American femininity gets to count. Twenty years on Tim McGraw hit the airwaves like a comet. It launched a pop ingenue who would become the most “relatable billionaire in the world” – a blueprint that every debut pop artist has since tried to follow. Although she once borrowed his name and cultural capital, these days when people think of Tim McGraw, they almost certainly think of Taylor Swift. Words by Emma Whatman, Senior Tutor in Media and Communications, The University of Melbourne and Eloise Faichney, Lecturer in Media and Communications, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

Have you ever wondered why savoury foods like chips, nachos and salted nuts go so well with a beer or glass of wine? And why sometimes you feel an insatiable appetite for junk food while drinking? Taha Samet Arslan/Pexels Our new study examined the diets and alcohol intake of Australians to find out why. Alcohol is packed with energy, but also stimulates appetite. We found alcohol may lead you to eat more unhealthy foods by amplifying a biological drive for protein. Protein craving Our previous work showed that humans and other animals have a dedicated appetite for protein. We specifically crave savoury, protein-rich foods and avoid sweet foods when our body needs protein. Protein craving and sweet avoidance is signalled to the brain by a hormone called FGF21. The liver releases this when the body detects a shortage of protein. Drinking alcohol causes the release of FGF21, stimulating a hunger for protein. This explains why alcohol is paired with food across many cultures: a glass of bubbly before dinner, wine with the meal. Alcoholic drinks stimulate the protein appetite and, in this way, enhance the pleasure of eating. Scientists call this the “aperitif effect”, and have shown it’s directed towards savoury foods. ‘Protein decoys’ don’t satisfy our hunger But not all savoury foods are alike. The main sources of savoury flavour used to be protein-rich foods like meat, seafood, poultry and pulses. However, ultra-processed foods don’t fit into this category. Today, industrial food systems produce many foods with added savoury flavouring that are low in protein and high in fat and carbohydrates, such as chips, savoury crackers, pizzas and hot dogs. We have called such foods “protein decoys”: they deliver the sensory cues typically associated with protein-rich foods but instead provide energy-rich fats and carbs. This means you may overeat In our new study, we found alcohol consumption was linked to a greater intake of savoury foods. But the effects on total energy intake varied depending on foods eaten. When savoury whole foods such as lean meat, poultry, or pulses were chosen, protein intakes were high, but calorie intakes weren’t elevated, despite the high energy content of alcohol. But when diets were rich in protein decoys – including savoury ultra-processed foods and fatty meats – energy intakes were higher than normal, risking weight gain. Even without alcohol, diets high in ultra-processed foods are associated with excess energy intake and weight gain. Many factors contribute to this, including the low protein content of ultra-processed foods. More needs to be eaten to satisfy the body’s protein target, a mechanism called “protein leverage”. Still feel like pizza at the end of a big night? Mike Jones/Pexels That’s why, after a night of salty snacks, you might still have room for a pizza or kebab, or wake up craving a fry up. Our new study shows that combining alcohol with ultra-processed foods can increase energy intake, both directly through the energy alcohol contributes and through the increased appetite for protein. How we studied this We modelled how FGF21, alcohol and protein appetite interact with diets rich in either processed or unprocessed foods. We tested our model using detailed daily dietary records of 9,337 adults from the Australian Adult Health Survey, one-third of whom reported drinking alcohol on the day of the survey. This approach, called mechanistic ecological modelling, allows us to examine how physiological mechanisms discovered in experimental research influences behaviour and potentially health outside of the experimental lab, in the real world. How can you avoid the alcohol-junk food trap? Australia has among the highest intakes of alcoholic drinks and ultra-processed foods – and obesity. If you drink alcohol regularly, recognise the accompanying savoury craving for what it is: your body seeking protein. Answer this by eating savoury protein-rich whole foods such as lean cold meats, roasted chickpeas, eggs or seafood. Don’t be deceived by fat- and carb-rich protein decoys that trick your brain into thinking it’s eating protein. This will just leave your powerful protein appetite unsatisfied. Words by David Raubenheimer, Leonard P. Ullman Chair in Nutritional Ecology, Nutrition Theme Leader Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Amanda Grech, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Dietetics, Public Health and Nutritional Epidemiology, University of Sydney and Stephen J Simpson, NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor of Biology, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

Burberry is spotlighting its classic cashmere Check scarf as a key cold-weather accessory, presenting the style as a long-term wardrobe piece that complements changeable British conditions. Crafted in Scotland from cashmere, the Burberry Check scarf is offered in both timeless designs and seasonal colourways, and is currently featured in a campaign with Academy Award-winning actor Olivia Colman. The brand is expanding its focus on customisation through a complimentary personalisation service for the scarf. Customers can add cross-stitch monogramming and leather labels embossed with up to five letters or numbers, as well as new playful symbols, to create a distinctive piece. Burberry is also promoting an in-store Scarf Bar experience, where visitors can explore the full scarf collection, receive styling advice from store experts, and access the available customisation options. Customers can visit Burberry online to browse the latest Check scarves and learn more about personalisation services. By ML. Photo(s)/Burberry

The South Florida Cultural Consortium has opened applications for its Visual and Media Artists Grant for fiscal year 2025–2026, with a submission deadline of Monday, October 6, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eligible visual and media artists living and working in the region can submit proposals for competitive funding through the Consortium’s grant program. Applications must be completed online via the portal by the published deadline. The South Florida Cultural Consortium is a regional initiative governed by an Interlocal Agreement among Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. Its Visual and Media Artists Program is one of several efforts designed to foster cooperation among local arts agencies and to support cultural organizations, artists and audiences across the five-county area. Each year, more than 300 artists from the region apply for the Visual and Media Artists Grant. Regional and national panels made up of experts in visual art, film and media from academic and major visual arts institutions review submissions and recommend the final grant recipients. By ML. Photo(s)/South Florida Cultural Consortium

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami is highlighting Independence Day and 250 years of American innovation with a summer slate of exhibits and programs that explore science through art, athletics and hands-on activities. Visitors can explore the America250 poster exhibit and an interactive passport experience alongside live science shows and hands-on activities. The museum is also featuring Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits, where guests examine the physics, biology and psychology behind elite athletic performance, with local support from iFLY Miami. As part of the America250 celebration, Frost Science is participating in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission through September 7 to active-duty U.S. military personnel and up to five family members with a valid military ID. Summer programming at the museum includes weekly summer camps in Miami and South Dade for children ages 5 to 15, laser evenings in July and August at the Frost Planetarium, coastal habitat volunteer days, sensory-friendly programs and a NEST sea turtle conservation experience on Virginia Key Beach that allows participants to observe real nest excavations when conditions permit. The museum will remain open throughout the Independence Day weekend until 6:00 p.m. and encourages guests to check the daily schedule and plan a visit for live shows and special programs. By ML. Photo(s)/Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Miami New Drama will dedicate its July 1 performance of the play "Todo Lo Que No Dije" to people affected by the recent earthquake in Venezuela. All proceeds from the performance will be directed to on-the-ground relief efforts in Venezuela, supporting trusted local partners working in affected communities. Additional contributions are being collected through the Emergency Relief for Venezuela Earthquake Victims GoFundMe campaign, with all funds going to We Love Foundation Inc. and used exclusively for earthquake relief in Venezuela. Supporters can donate here to assist the ongoing response. The initiative underscores the company’s use of theater as a tool for community solidarity and support in times of crisis. By ML. Photo(s)/Miami New Drama

Florida Grand Opera will celebrate its 85th anniversary with a 2026–2027 season featuring four productions, including classics by Gaetano Donizetti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Giuseppe Verdi. The milestone season continues the company's tradition of presenting world-class opera performances across South Florida. Lucia di Lammermoor on November 14–17, 2026. Florida Grand Opera 2026 Season Lucia di Lammermoor (November 14–17, 2026) — Gaetano Donizetti's beloved bel canto masterpiece follows Lucia, a young woman driven to tragedy by family duty and forbidden love, culminating in one of opera's most celebrated "mad scenes." Don Giovanni (January 30–February 20, 2027) — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's timeless drama tells the story of the notorious seducer Don Giovanni, whose reckless pursuit of pleasure ultimately leads to a chilling supernatural reckoning. Nabucco (April 17–20, 2027) — Giuseppe Verdi's powerful biblical epic explores themes of power, exile, faith, and redemption during the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, and features the iconic "Va, pensiero" chorus. Viva Verdi! The Best of Verdi (May 1, 2027) — A one-night concert celebrating the music of Giuseppe Verdi, featuring Florida Grand Opera's full chorus, orchestra, and international soloists performing highlights from beloved operas including La traviata, Aida, Rigoletto, Nabucco, Il trovatore, and more. For more information, visit Florida Grand Opera. By ML. Photo(s)/Florida Grand Opera

The Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach has released a summer lineup that combines live soccer screenings, family programs, youth art camps, and new exhibitions that connect contemporary art with sport, education, and community engagement. On June 26 and July 10, the museum will host Midday Matches at the Museum, a late afternoon program where visitors can watch livestream soccer matches between 3 and 5 p.m. Guests who wear a soccer jersey receive free admission to view the exhibition "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait," which remains on view through July 19, 2026. The museum notes that visitors can avoid larger crowds by combining the screenings with a late lunch at The Cafe and nearby parking is available at the Collins Park municipal garage. Family Day: Fold & Flow takes place on Sunday, June 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Bass Creativity Center, where families will create paper-based works inspired by Sarah Morris’s "Calypte Anna (Origami)." Participants will experiment with folds, lines, and bright colors to build kaleidoscopic patterns that emphasize movement and geometry, and advance registration is available through an online RSVP platform. From June 8 through August 7, The Bass will run Summer Art Camps for children ages 4 to 12 with daily sessions from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and optional aftercare until 5:45 p.m. The camps focus on hands-on projects in sculpture, painting, design, and other media, and families can register for individual weeks or the full season via the museum’s website. A Teen Studio Summer Art Intensive for ages 13 to 18 will run July 27 to 31, also from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with aftercare available. The program is designed to help high school and prospective college students develop portfolio-ready work through drawing, painting, printing, and sculpture, culminating in a refined sketchbook, and registration is offered online. The Bass has also announced scholarships for its summer art camps to support families experiencing economic hardship and those with students with disabilities. Awards cover camp tuition and aftercare fees for a five-week period, and eligible families can apply through the museum’s scholarship portal. The exhibition "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait," timed to the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and Fan Festival events in Miami, is now on view through July 19, 2026. Conceived by artists Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, the two-channel film installation focuses on French soccer player Zinédine Zidane and explores portraiture through the lens of contemporary spectacle, pairing a cinematic edit that incorporates live television footage with unembellished close-up footage from a dedicated camera. The museum is also presenting "Circular Practice" at a Walgreens storefront in collaboration with The Bass Creativity Center, on view through October 2026. The project treats pedagogy as a central site of artistic research, highlighting how teaching artists exchange ideas with students and communities and then return to their studios with new approaches. The exhibition features work by Jorge Rafael Calderon, Alejandra Cuadra, Eva Llarena, Patricia Monclus, Patrick Oleson, Jessica Perez, Pangea Kali Virga, AJ Robles, and Sockz Studio, and is curated by Juana Meneses and Keela Porter-Brown. By ML. Photo(s)/The Bass Museum of Art

The 31 International Ballet Festival of Miami (IBFM), under the artistic direction of Eriberto Jiménez, returns from July 25 to August 16, 2026, continuing a proud tradition of excellence. Recognized as one of the most important ballet festivals in the United States, the IBFM welcomes over 100 artists each year from internationally renowned ballet and contemporary dance companies across Europe, South America, Asia, and North America, many making their U.S. debut. This highly anticipated summer event features ten performances across Miami Beach, South Miami, Broward, and Miami, and a range of vibrant cultural activities including art exhibitions, book presentations, film screenings, master classes, workshops, and more. The festival has received critical acclaim both nationally and internationally, establishing Miami as a global hub for dance and culture. The Opening Night Celebration takes place on Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m., featuring a VIP reception and the unveiling of the official IBFM poster, designed by Camilo Rubio and illustrated by this year’s featured Cuban artist, Carlos Guzman. The evening will also include an exhibit of the artist’s works “The Magic of Dance”. In addition, the unveiling of the Festival’s “A Life for Dance” Lifetime Achievement Award statuette, created by Mexican sculptor David Carmorlinga, will take place at the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center. From July 20 to August 7, the festival hosts its International Ballet Summer Intensive, welcoming students from several countries. From July 31 – Aug. 2, the IBFM presents its Young Medalists Performances, highlighting the rising stars of dance youth medalists from prestigious international competitions: July 31 at 8:00 p.m.: Free outdoor performance at Lincoln Road August 1 at 8:00 p.m.: Performance at Manuel Artime Theater August 2 at 1:00 p.m.: Dance Marathon, a free showcase of local talent at the Bayfront Park, Tina Hills Pavillion From August 6–9, the festival spotlights Contemporary Dance Performances featuring innovative companies from Italy, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the USA offering a bold blend of music and movement: August 6 at 6:00 p.m.: Free outdoor show at Lincoln Rd August 7 at 7:30 p.m.: Manuel Artime Theater August 8 at 8:00 p.m.: Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center August 9 at 5:00 p.m.: Amaturo Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts The festival culminates with two Grand Classical Galas at the Fillmore Miami Beach featuring principal dancers from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay and the U.S August 15 at 8:00 p.m.: “Grand Classical Gala”, with the presentation of the IBFM Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to outstanding worldwide renowned ballet dancers, choreographers, and directors for their exceptional contributions to the world of dance. August 16 at 5:00 p.m.: “Closing Gala”, presenting a new program by all guest artists and awarding the “Criticism and Culture of Dance” Award honoring the most important national and international dance critics. Art is a labor of love it takes more than passion to bring it to life. Join us in celebrating this unique cultural event that honors the beauty, power, and artistry of dance. For tickets and more information, please visit www.internationalballetfestival.org By ML staff. Images courtesy of International Ballet Festival of Miami