The 22 Coolest Things We’re Looking Forward To In 2022
7 February 2022

From amazing exhibitions to unmissable sporting events, these are the best new things happening anywhere in the world this year. See you there?
1.Winter Olympics, Beijing
The Beijing Games have kicked off, and we have our mittens and beanies on (and the aircon cranked all the way up to ‘ice-cold’, of course). With nearly 50 Australians competing in China, we’ve loved watching Jakara Anthony and Tess Coady bring home the medals, and look forward to watching the likes of Belle Brockhoff and Bree Walker compete. We also loved cheering for curling pair Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt who were the very first Australians to compete for medals in their sport at a Winter Olympics. They did us proud, despite all the drama they experienced! Now until 22 February.
2. The Executive of the Year Awards, Sydney
The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards returns in all its glittering glory for its 10th event and we have our gowns and tuxedos dry cleaned, and our shoes shined, for one of the highlights on the corporate calendar. Created to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by the CEOs, managing directors and senior management who drive Australia’s leading organisations, more than 400 of the country’s top execs will come together to celebrate, congratulate and network. Taking place at the Star Event Centre and hosted by 2GB’s Ben Fordham, there are still some tickets for sale – just be quick! 24 February
3. World Surfing Championships, Australia
Surfing is a great spectator sport, especially when it’s on home turf. It’s why we were very excited when the World Surf League (WSL) announced that professional surfing would return to Australian shores with a huge list of regional and international events kicking off in this month. It will be the biggest consecutive run of WSL events globally in nearly three years, and will have the surfing world’s eyes fixed firmly on Australia’s coasts, across four states over four months. A total of 51 surfers have been confirmed as part of the line-up, but we’re particularly looking forward to watching Australia’s newest surfing star and first-time world tour qualifier, Callum Robson, and teenage rookie, Molly Picklum. Now until May
4. Downton Abbey: A New Era
It’s a new era for the Crawley family as they prepare to embrace the 1930s in the new Downton Abbey movie, due to arrive in cinemas in March. While Downton creator Julian Fellowes is currently keeping plot details firmly under wraps, he’s declared the latest film adaptation of the beloved ITV period drama as “unashamedly feel-good”. And for this reason alone, we can’t wait. 18 March
5. The Phantom of the Opera, Sydney
This production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s megahit The Phantom of the Opera is being staged not in the famed nearby Sydney Opera House but out on the open water of the city’s harbour. Lloyd Webber famously gives the go-ahead to very few brand-new productions of Phantom, and this bespoke reimagining is helmed by two of Australia’s most respected theatremakers, director Simon Phillips and set designer Gabriela Tylesova. It premieres on 25 March and run until 24 April.
6. Bridgerton Season Two
The first season of Bridgerton arrived like a gift from the streaming gods right when we needed it most: the pandemic was in full swing and the Shondaland show’s delightfully opulent mix of romance, socialites and costumes was just what the doctor ordered. So much so that, around the world, 82 million households watched it… in a single month. Needless to say, fans are chomping at the bit for its return, which promises to be just as fabulous. At least according to Lady Whistledown, who wrote about season two: “This author has been reliably informed that Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season. I will have my pen ready to report on any and all of his romantic activities.” How positively thrilling. 25 March
7. Chanel Exhibition, Melbourne
A fan of all things Chanel? This one’s for you. The National Gallery of Victoria is holding an exhibition that’s the first in Australia to focus solely on the life and work of twentieth-century French designer Gabrielle (AKA Coco) Chanel. In collaboration with the Palais Galliera (Paris’s leading fashion museum), Melbourne is the first city outside of France to host the incredible touring show. See more than 100 Chanel garments and explore Coco’s enduring influence on fashion, perfume, jewellery and accessory design – all with a multimedia twist that’s unique to the Aussie museum. Now until 25 April.
8. Viola Davis’ memoir Finding Me
Oscar winner Viola Davis has put pen to paper/fingertips to keyboard and opened up about her life in her new memoir Finding Me, out late April. “I believe that our stories, and the courage to share them, is the most powerful empathetic tool we have,” Davis said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “This is my story … straight no chaser.” 26 April
9. Nightclub opening, Iceland
Local club not quite cutting it? How about a ‘party at the edge of the world’ instead? Let us introduce you to Detour Discotheque: a pop-up club night based on the discos of 1970s New York, but located in the fishing village of Þingeyri, in the Westfjords of Iceland. Running for just two nights, and limited to only 160 people, it doesn’t get more exclusive. It’s the first in a series of parties in remote locations around the world, and it’s sure to be a night out like no other. 29 – 30 April
10. Yves Saint Laurent aux Musées, Paris
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the maison of Yves Saint Laurent, six major Parisian museums will pay tribute to the late courtier by staging a simultaneous exhibition to honour the iconic fashion designer. Each institution will display YSL creations alongside artwork from their collections, highlighting how the designer was influenced by artists like Matisse and Picasso, and looking at wider links between fashion and art. Give yourself a few days, at least, if you want to attempt all six venues. Now until 15 May
11. Legally Blonde 3
It’s been 19 (yes, 19!) years since the release of the original film about Elle Woods, and we’re mentally bending-and-snapping with excitement that Legally Blonde 3 will be in cinemas late May. With Mindy Kaling co-writing the script and cast members like Jennifer Coolidge returning, Reese Witherspoon has promised that the movie will be, “So much fun. So full of fashion. So full of awesome feminist ideas. It will be global.” 20 May
12. Voyage with ABBA virtual concerts
It seems you can dance, you can jive, you can have the time of your life, as ABBA kicks off a concert that’s been 40 years in the making. The show, called Voyage, is all in virtual form, of course, with a custom-built arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. It will host the four band members’ avatars – abbatars, if you will – alongside a live 10-piece band. There are rumours the show may even head Down Under, 44 years after the Swedish legends of 1970s pop toured here. Dancing queens, you have been warned. 27 May
13. Glastonbury, UK
Glastonbury is the largest green space, open-air festival in the world, and attracts more than 150,000 festival goers over four days each year. The 2020 festival – due to be the 50th anniversary event – was cancelled due to coronavirus but this year looks set to make up for lost time, with the likes of Billie Eilish, Crowded House and Diana Ross all performing. 22 – 26 June
14. Elvis
We love everything Baz Luhrmann touches, with The Great Gatsby one of our all-time favourite movies of his, but we’re going to out on a limb and say that his new musical, simply titled Elvis, might be even better than that. As one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, it stars Tom Hanks as Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker, up-and-coming actor Austin Butler as Elvis, and Aussie actress Olivia DeJonge playing his wife, Priscilla Presley. 23 June
15. Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne’s film festival was launched in 1952, making it one of the world’s oldest and a big date on the city calendar. The event presents innovative films plucked from around the globe and one of the world’s largest Australian film showcases. Broaden your horizons even further with masterclasses on acting and directing techniques. 4–21 August
16. FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is one of the most prestigious competitions in international basketball, featuring the world’s best players from 12 of basketball’s powerhouse nations across Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania and Europe. And this September the event returns to Australia where 38 games will be played across 10 days. “FIBA is really looking forward to the world-class city of Sydney again hosting the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, 27 years after it was first held in the country when so many legendary players took part,” the FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. 22 September – 1 October
17. House of the Dragon: Game of Thrones Prequel
It’s been two years since the Games of Thrones finale went up on flames, but the world of Westeros is coming back. House of the Dragon, a 10-episode series based on George R. R. Martin’s 2018 novel, Fire and Blood, will tell the backstory of the Targaryen dynasty, taking place 200 years prior to the events of the original show. Starring Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Sonoya Mizuno and Steve Toussaint, the highly anticipated series doesn’t have an exact date yet, but looks set to be released sometime in the second half of the year. Late 2022
18. Opening of W Hotel Sydney
Set to be the largest W hotel to open globally, the W Sydney marks a flagship opening for the luxury brand. Offering 593 stylish guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments, it will also feature the brand’s iconic infinity pool called The Wet Deck, which will boast views of neighbouring Darling Harbour. It will also house a restaurant, two bars, a day spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and 925 square metres of event space, including an uber-luxe grand ballroom. It has #staycation written all over it. 22 November
19. Grand Egypt Museum
When it finally opens in November 2022, the Grand Egypt Museum, located in Giza, will be the biggest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation. The build actually started back in 2002, but work was put on hold until recently, and now an army of workers are back on-site to ensure it opens on time. Costing US$1 billion, this megastructure will be similar in size to the Louvre in Paris and will house 50,000 artefacts. Most importantly, this will be the first time that all 5,000 pieces of King Tutankhamun’s funerary treasure will be displayed in the same place. November
20. Queenstown Marathon
If running a marathon is one of your 2022 resolutions, you should make it a special one this year and sign up to New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Queenstown Marathon, one of the world’s most scenic races. Set between the backdrop of the world-renowned Crown and aptly-named Remarkable mountain ranges, and taking in the best highlights of the Queenstown Lakes region including Millbrook resort, Arrowtown and Lake Wakatipu, you can choose to run the a 42.2km marathon, the 21.1km half-marathon or the 10k fun run. We know what we’d opt for… 19 November
21. The World Cup
The year ends with its most controversial tournament. Qatar will host the World Cup, the biggest soccer event on the planet. Throughout the 10 years of preparations, the country has been troubled by controversy, including allegations of corruption and bribery to secure the bid to host the match. It has also been accused of failing to protect its workforce of two million, as it built seven stadiums; a new subway system; an airport; roads; and an entirely new city, Lusail, to host the final game. Never in history has the World Cup been staged in an Arab country, a Muslim country, in winter, or in a country as small as Qatar. 21st November
22. The End of Covid.
Or at the very least learning to live with it. Here’s hoping this is the year.