Summer 2026
Festival of Britain
When we asked for your memories of the seminal celebration of post-war creativity that was the 1951 Festival of Britain, we were inundated with recollections of everything from the sci-fi-style Skylon to the thrill of eating tri-coloured ice cream. To mark the festival’s 75th anniversary, we’re exploring the work of the many Jewish émigré artists, designers and scientists who contributed to its cutting edge content. Hear from Naomi Games, the daughter of Abram Games, who created the event’s enduring ‘Britannia’ symbol; refugees participating in arts programmes at St John’s Waterloo, the “official church” of the 1951 festival; and, of course, our readers (including Michael Rosen). Elsewhere, Natalie Livingstone spotlights the unsung women involved in the Nuremberg Trials; novelist Sam Sussman uncovers the truth about his parents – spoiler alert – his dad is probably Bob Dylan; Samantha Ellis speaks to the tech pioneer using AI to unlock the mysteries of the Jewish Iraqi Archive; and much more.
DOWNLOAD A TASTE OF JR: Spring 2026
Daniel & Rachel Libeskind © Bridget Casey
“It was a building born out of turmoil”
As the Jewish Museum Berlin celebrates its 25th anniversary, Rebecca Taylor speaks to its architect Daniel Libeskind and his artist daughter Rachel about their memories of watching the building go up, and telling stories of identity, faith and history through their work © Bridget Casey
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YOUR SAY… Venezuelans share their stories after the recent earthquakes.
WHAT'S NEW We speak to BeluSimion Fainaru, Israel's artist at the Venice Biennale, and to Anish Kapoor about his mind-bending creations in London.
FEATURE The return of the Jewish Museum London speaks volumes about Jewish life in the UK right now.
FEATURE Anthea Gerrie makes a journey Stateside to trace her immigrant grandparents in New York.
FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN Interned as 'enemy aliens' during the war, Jewish refugees helped create the Festival of Britain only a few years later. We spotlight the émigré designers who brought a modernist style to the UK and visit St John's Waterloo to hear from people who have recently made the UK their home.
ART JR sent two artists to Venice to create work exploring the Jewish connection to the city. What did they find?
MUSIC Berlin-based Mary Ocher tells Danielle Goldstein why we need to heed warnings from recent history.
FILM Yael Melamede turns the camera on her mother, Ada, the matriarch of modern Israeli architecture.
THEATRE Actor and comedian Abigail Weinstock tells Eddi Fiegel about turning her late autism diagnosis into art; plus our round-up of the Edinburgh Fringe.
BOOKS Sam Sussman on grief, the lost art of creativity and Bob Dylan; Peter Watts goes on an egg hunt; Natasha Lehrer on Deborah Levy; the tragic fate of the 'Renoir girls'; the women of Nuremberg; and why Lena Dunham is 'famesick'.
THE YIDDISHISTS Rachel Lichtenstein explores a new show of 1970s photos from London's East End.
SEPHARDI RENAISSANCE Samantha Ellis meets the man using Al to illuminate Iraqi history; Daniel Amir on the juggling act of Iran's Jews.
WHAT'S HAPPENING Our three-month guide to art, books, film, music, theatre and other cultural events in the UK, Europe and Israel.
FAMILY Carol Isaacs's new graphic novel brings Jewish Iraq vividly to life.
