The 20 biggest culture moments of 2023

What a year. The last 12 months have been packed with the full gamut of the human experience – tragedy, comedy, horror – and that’s just within the world of culture.

With the Covid pandemic no longer dominating headlines, and the political sphere engulfed in perpetual turmoil, people have been turning to the world of the arts for an escape.

Whether it’s bizarre movie sensations at the box office or TV shows that gripped the nation, 2023 has had its fair share of drama.

While some of the year’s biggest talking points have been welcome distractions – the rise of the unprecedented “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, for instance – 2023 has also seen several heartbreaking deaths, including Sinead O’Connor and Friends star Matthew Perry.

The year also had its share of scandals, with several high-profile celebrities coming under fire for a variety of personal transgressions.

Here’s a rundown of the 20 biggest cultural moments of 2023, from the monumental to the frankly bizarre…

1 January