AGP Executive Report

Pop Concert in Luxembourg: Katy Perry lit up Luxexpo with a nearly 20-year hit parade, from “California Girls” to “Roar,” nodding to her 2009 return and even staging a playful “JPJT” moment. Rap & Touring: ElGrandeToto announced his “SALGOAT” Euro Tour, with a Luxembourg stop in November as tickets go on sale today. Animation Industry: The CEE Animation Forum picked 33 projects for Pilsen (10–12 Nov 2026), with the region making up about two-thirds of the lineup. Music Release: Empire of the Sun teamed with Danny Ocean for “Llego,” landing on the FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack. Local Arts for Babies: “Sounds of WOODerland” premieres in August in Macao, created with Luxembourg’s Jean Bermes, mixing percussion, improvisation and sound installations. Sports (Luxembourg): Atert Bissen host KI Klaksvik in the Champions League qualifier second leg after a 2-1 first-leg edge. Luxembourg Spotlight: Tommy Schlesser takes over as the new Télévie coordinator, continuing the cancer and leukemia fundraising push. EU Culture/Media: Canal+ renews its Venice Film Festival partnership and becomes an official sponsor, with exclusive festival coverage for subscribers in Luxembourg.

Music & Culture: Clueso wrapped up a sold-out return to Luxembourg at Neumünster Abbey, signing off with “Luxembourg: 11 out of 10” after a set mixing new tracks from Deja Vu with fan favourites. Film: Canal+ is stepping up as an Official Sponsor of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and will keep Luxembourg viewers covered via exclusive festival broadcasting on Canal+ platforms. Local Arts: “Sounds of WOODerland,” a babies’ theatre show, premieres in August at the Macao Cultural Centre (5–10 Aug), built around percussion, improvisation and handcrafted sound installations. Animation Industry: CEE Animation Forum has selected 33 projects for its 2026 pitching event in Pilsen (10–12 Nov), spanning features, series, shorts and student films. Sports (Luxembourg): Luxembourg hockey made history at EuroHockey Qualifiers II in Helsinki: the women won gold and the men took bronze—first time both medals landed for the country. Entertainment & Society: Luxembourg actor Tommy Schlesser has been named the new Télévie coordinator, taking over from Diane Wunsch while continuing his acting career.

Luxembourg Arts & Culture: Luxembourgish and German actress Vicky Krieps is set to be seen again in the streaming spotlight as Phantom Thread (shot in Gloucestershire, including Owlpen Manor) lands on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV—another reminder of how local talent keeps crossing into big-screen period drama. Music in Luxembourg: Differdange’s Blues Express Festival pulled in thousands, with steam locomotives and a mining train ferrying fans to Fond-de-Gras for a packed 22nd edition—plus plans for a DJ festival aimed at younger audiences in May 2027. Film & Awards: Karlovy Vary’s top prize went to Myanmar-set debut Fruit Gathering, while The Guest took the Crystal Globe Special Jury Prize—good news for cinephiles tracking international festival momentum. Local Sports: Luxembourg hockey made history at EuroHockey Qualifiers II in Helsinki: the women won gold and the men took bronze, with both teams reaching the podium for the first time ever. Local Education & Debate: A Bosnian genocide survivor and elementary teacher, Fatima Kurtic, was dismissed in Luxembourg after pro-Palestine Gaza posts; the ministry says the decision followed anti-Semitic concerns, while supporters argue it’s about freedom of expression. EU Tech Rules (relevant locally): Luxembourg-linked EU court coverage continues as Apple’s DMA gatekeeper fight is rejected, forcing more openness in iOS and the App Store.

Luxembourg Sports: The Luxembourg women’s hockey team won historic EuroHockey Qualifiers II gold in Helsinki, then the men added a first-ever bronze—both via shoot-outs, with standout goalkeeping sealing the medals. Film & Awards: Karlovy Vary’s top prize went to Myanmar-set debut “Fruit Gathering,” while Denmark’s “The Guest” took the Crystal Globe Special Jury Prize—good news for fans of international cinema. Local Music: German rapper Clueso returned to Luxembourg for a sold-out Neumünster Abbey courtyard show, delivering a “11 out of 10” love letter to the country. Arts & Culture: A new look at Edward Steichen’s “secret garden” side spotlights the Luxembourg-born photographer’s plant-breeding roots. Music Festival: Differdange’s Blues Express Festival drew thousands, with steam trains and a full lineup keeping the night rolling. EU Tech & Streaming: Luxembourg-linked EU court rulings back stronger consumer rights for streaming sign-ups and keep Apple’s DMA gatekeeper obligations in place. Education & Debate: A Bosnian genocide survivor teacher in Luxembourg was dismissed over pro-Palestine Instagram posts, sparking demonstrations and a fight over what’s considered anti-Semitic.

Live Music: German star Clueso lit up the sold-out courtyard of Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg, delivering hits from Deja Vu and signing off with “Luxembourg: 11 out of 10.” Local Festivals: Thousands packed Differdange’s Blues Express Festival, with steam locomotives shuttling more than 2,000 visitors and 41 bands playing across 12 stages. Film & Streaming: Period-drama fans in Luxembourg can now rent Phantom Thread, starring Vicky Krieps alongside Daniel Day-Lewis, with key scenes shot at Gloucestershire’s Owlpen Manor. Cinema Awards: Myanmar-set drama Fruit Gathering won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary, with the jury praising its shift from friendship to “harrowing” obsession and queer desire. Luxembourg Education: A Bosnian genocide survivor and teacher, Fatima Kurtic, was dismissed over pro-Palestine Instagram posts, with supporters calling for reinstatement. Tech & Consumer Rights: EU courts strengthened streaming cancellation rights, giving subscribers a 14-day cooling-off period even when platforms personalize recommendations. Sports & Culture: Pride in Luxembourg City is set to return with a bigger visibility push, while debate continues over the €250,000 parade budget.

Music Spotlight: Tun Tonnar, the Luxembourgish producer and rapper, talks inspiration and collaboration after earning a gold record for work with the Glueboys. Festival Buzz: Thousands packed Differdange for the Blues Express Festival, with steam locomotives and 41 bands across 12 stages—and a new DJ festival planned for May 2027. Film & Streaming: Period-drama fans can stream Phantom Thread (with Luxembourgish-German actress Vicky Krieps) after its Gloucestershire shoot at Owlpen Manor. Local Arts & Culture: A Luxembourgish teacher, Bosnian genocide survivor Fatima Kurtic, was fired over pro-Palestine Instagram posts; supporters are calling for her reinstatement. International Film Awards: Aung Phyoe’s Myanmar-set Fruit Gathering won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary, praised for its shift from work-and-friendship to a harrowing story of obsession and queer desire. Tech & Rights: EU courts back a 14-day cancellation right for personalized streaming subscriptions, and Apple’s DMA gatekeeper fight continues after a Luxembourg court ruling. Live Music in Luxembourg: Ice Nine Kills and Dead by Daylight released the second part of “Play Dead,” with a Luxembourg Rockhal date on March 23, 2027.

Luxembourg Pride: The street festival returns to Luxembourg City today and tomorrow, with festivities now set to alternate each year between the capital and Esch-sur-Alzette, after years of planning in the south. Local Education & Rights: A Bosnian genocide survivor and elementary school teacher, Fatima Kurtic, has been dismissed over Instagram posts about Gaza; the ministry says the posts were anti-Semitic, while she insists they targeted Israeli policy, not Jewish people, and supporters are calling for reinstatement. Film & Streaming: “Phantom Thread,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, is now available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, with filming tied to Gloucestershire’s Owlpen Manor. Cinema Awards: Karlovy Vary wrapped with Myanmar-set drama “Fruit Gathering” winning the Crystal Globe, praised for shifting from friendship to obsession and queer desire. Music in Luxembourg: Ice Nine Kills and Dead by Daylight released the second “Play Dead” video, with a Luxembourg Rockhal date set for March 23, 2027. Tech & Law: The EU court ruled streaming personalization can’t be used to strip the 14-day cancellation right, affecting platforms across Europe.

Karlovy Vary Film Festival: Myanmar-set drama Fruit Gathering (Aung Phyoe) won the Crystal Globe, with the jury praising its shift from “work and friendship” to “harrowing drama of obsession and queer desire.” Luxembourg Arts & Culture: Local violin spotlight—12-year-old Eloisa Aubert impressed with passion and perseverance as she prepares for the International School Gaston Thorn. Free Speech in Schools: Luxembourg teacher Fatima Kurtic was fired over Instagram posts on Palestine; students and parents protested, arguing the action targets her expression. Music/Pop Culture: Ice Nine Kills and Dead by Daylight dropped the second part of “Play Dead,” with a Luxembourg stop on the 2027 tour. Sports & Local Interest: Robbie Williams brought his rarely seen daughter Teddy (13) onstage in Luxembourg during his Britpop tour. Tech & Media Rights: EU court rulings strengthen a 14-day cancellation right for personalized streaming sign-ups, limiting waiver clauses. What’s On: Locarno unveiled an “adventurous” lineup for Aug 5–15, including Ann Oren’s Objet A and Isabelle Huppert among headline names.

EU Court Ruling: The EU’s top court says personalized streaming subscriptions must respect a 14-day cancellation right, making waiver clauses unlawful across the bloc—so Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video and others can’t dodge cooling-off periods. Luxembourg Pride: Pride returns to Luxembourg City for two days at Place Guillaume II, with the festival alternating between the capital and Esch-sur-Alzette going forward; organisers face criticism over a €250,000 city deal. Music in Luxembourg: Robbie Williams brings his daughter Teddy (13) on stage in Luxembourg during his Britpop tour, after praising her “wonderful voice.” Space & Industry: Ireland’s ÉireComposites manufactures carbon-fibre stray light baffles for ESA’s ALTIUS ozone mission, highlighting European aerospace supply chains that include Luxembourg-linked work. Film Festival Buzz: Locarno unveils an “adventurous” lineup for its 79th edition, with Ann Oren’s “Objet A” among the International Competition titles. Local Defence Materials: Uplift360 wins a multi-year Luxembourg Directorate of Defence framework to scale advanced, Europe-sourced materials for defence and aerospace.

Luxembourg Pride: The LGBTIQ+ street festival returns to Luxembourg City today and tomorrow, with festivities now set to alternate yearly between the capital and Esch-sur-Alzette; organisers say visibility is the goal, while local political criticism has flared over the €250,000 parade budget. Local Arts & Culture: Locarno Festival has unveiled its “adventurous” 79th lineup for 5–15 August, with 103 world premieres and big names including Isabelle Huppert, Monica Bellucci and Hong Sang-soo. Music: Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth goes acoustic with “Upphaf,” releasing a moody new single ahead of a European tour. Tech & Law (Luxembourg link): Luxembourg-based RTL’s Sky Austria streaming case lands at the EU top court, which backs a 14-day cancellation right for subscribers. Sports & Business (Luxembourg tie): Norway striker Erling Haaland’s Luxembourg-based investment company Pillage backs chess events via Norway Chess and a new Total Chess World Championship. Defence Finance (Luxembourg link): Türkiye opts out of a NATO-linked defence bank initiative that still includes Luxembourg among the founding countries.

Luxembourg Pride: The capital welcomes Pride back for the first time since 2010, with a street festival kicking off today at Place Guillaume II and an Equality March tomorrow. Locarno Festival: The 79th Locarno Film Festival unveils an “adventurous” competition lineup with 103 world premieres, including Isabelle Huppert, Monica Bellucci and Hong Sang-soo, plus Ann Oren’s International Competition title “Objet A.” On-Chain Audits: Tokeny and KPMG Luxembourg team up to let auditors verify tokenized fund ownership and transactions directly on-chain, aiming to streamline compliance as tokenized assets surge. EU Tech Rules: Luxembourg’s General Court rejects Apple’s DMA challenge, keeping iOS and App Store gatekeeper obligations in force. Music: Amon Amarth goes acoustic with “Upphaf,” while Harlott announce “Exsequiis” for September 11. What’s On: This weekend’s picks include Nuit des Merveilles (Bettembourg) and a Pride street-fest in Luxembourg City.

Locarno Festival Buzz: The 79th Locarno Film Festival (5–15 August) has unveiled an “adventurous” competition line-up of 233 films, including 103 world premieres, with titles like Basil da Cunha’s O Jacaré and Ann Oren’s Objet A (now picked up for international sales by Bendita Film Sales). EU Tech & Regulation: Luxembourg-based EU courts dealt Apple another blow, dismissing its Digital Markets Act challenges over App Store and iOS gatekeeper rules, pushing interoperability and alternative app-store access forward. Music Spotlight: Amon Amarth stripped back its Viking death metal for the acoustic single Upphaf, ahead of a European tour. Local Weekend Picks: Luxembourg’s cultural calendar is packed with Nuit des Merveilles (10–11 July) and Luxembourg Pride (10 July), plus a family day at the Gonderange soapbox race (11 July). Digital Safety at NATO: NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara also sparked a focus on protecting children online, with calls for tech firms to put child safety first and open up algorithm transparency.

EU Tech Ruling: Luxembourg-based EU General Court has dismissed Apple’s bid to narrow Digital Markets Act gatekeeper duties for the App Store and iOS, clearing the way for faster DMA enforcement. Crypto & Sports: Ripple has landed a five-year University of Kansas deal, putting the XRP logo on Jayhawks uniforms and adding blockchain education tie-ins. Luxembourg Business Watch: Criteo—recently relocating its commercial base to Luxembourg—faces a takeover approach from Vista Equity and Quinti Capital, valuing it at over $50 a share, with the board yet to respond. Fitness IPO Buzz: Cult.fit has filed IPO draft papers with India’s SEBI, targeting up to ₹950 crore fresh capital (and up to ₹4,000 crore total), with Hrithik Roshan among sellers. Music: Amon Amarth released “Upphaf,” an acoustic single ahead of a European tour. Local Culture: Luxembourg’s influencers tried to set the biggest “six-seven” gathering on Place Guillaume II, turning a meme into a real-life meetup. Film & Streaming: A24’s “Backrooms” keeps climbing, crossing $350m globally, with Belgium & Luxembourg passing €1m. Art in Focus: Georgian artist IA Tiginashvili brings “IA-13” to Paris’s Galerie du Luxembourg.

NATO & Defence Tech: At the Ankara summit, NATO pushed major hardware plans, including a new multi-country satellite “mega-constellation” for faster comms and missile tracking, plus moves toward a multinational A400M airlift fleet and Saab’s GlobalEye as next-gen AWACS. EU Digital Rules: Apple has lost another EU court fight over Digital Markets Act gatekeeper rules for the App Store and iOS, keeping the pressure on for more open competition. Luxembourg Arts & Culture: ADIFF kicks off its Virtual Film Series “Family Films” (July 10–19), while local audiences can catch “Urban Kaleidoscope,” a summer group exhibition exploring how cities shape art. Music: Australian metal band Harlott announced “Exsequiis” (Sept 11) and shared “Trial by Liar.” Local Pop Culture: Luxembourg influencers tried to set a world record for the “six-seven” trend on Place Guillaume II. Film Buzz: A24’s “Backrooms” keeps climbing, crossing $350m globally, with strong Benelux results. Sports Spotlight: Wimbledon’s Arthur Fery story stays in the spotlight, with fresh details on his tennis background and family.

Film & TV Buzz: A24’s hit “Backrooms” keeps rolling, crossing $350M globally and topping the indie studio’s charts in multiple countries, with Belgium & Luxembourg now past €1M. Local Arts & Culture: Luxembourg’s Kinnekswiss is set to host three days of free open-air music, from DJs to orchestras, as the city gears up for summer. Sports/Entertainment: FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 dressage selection updates are coming in as nations confirm nominated entries and move toward final teams. Business Meets Wellness: India’s fitness giant Cult.fit filed DRHP with SEBI for an IPO that could raise ₹950 crore (plus an offer-for-sale), with investors including Temasek and Fitness First Luxembourg among sellers. Tech & Media: GoCharting (built between Luxembourg and Chicago) lands growth funding and new leadership as it expands its browser-based trading analytics. Global Spotlight: At NATO, allies back new GlobalEye AWACS procurement and a Canada-led defence bank—big headlines, big money, and plenty of Luxembourg names in the mix.

Film & TV Buzz: A24’s hit “Backrooms” keeps racking up global box-office milestones, passing €1m in Belgium & Luxembourg as it nears $350m worldwide. Local Production: Shooting is set to begin Wednesday 8 July on Victor Ruprich-Robert’s feature “Please”, reuniting actors Maxi Delmelle and Maria Cavalier Bazan after their René Film Awards wins. Music & Culture: Robbie Williams popped up for an impromptu street performance of “Angels” in Seville, and he’s set to play in Luxembourg tonight. Luxembourg Tech for Creators: GoCharting (built remotely between Luxembourg and Chicago) lands growth investment and new leadership to expand its browser-based trading analytics. Industry & Talent: The Galway Film Fair returns with master classes, VR experiences, and industry talks running alongside the Galway Film Fleadh (9–12 July). Sports Media: Women’s sport channel W-Sport launches on Amazon Prime Video in France and the Netherlands. Business Watch: Fitness giant Cult.fit files IPO draft papers in India, aiming to raise up to ₹950 crore.