1-9 Brussels Anima

Belgium’s Anima film festival is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in animation. There’s scores of stuff on this year’s programme, including some 200 short films, 13 features, plus retrospectives and workshops at the Flagey Centre. If you can’t make it to the Brussels show, you can catch it in Liege, Ghent, Charleroi or Mons.

www.folioscope.awn.com

3 Florence Florentine Carnival

February is carnival season as people take to the streets for one final, raucous fling before Lent. Florence’s parade – from Piazza Ognissanti to Piazza della Signoria – is among the most festive you’ll see, with extravagant costumes, water fights and jousting contests.

www.invernoafirenze.it

10 Oslo Sami Day

This February the Norsk Folkemuseum will bolster its exhibition on Sami life with a one-day celebration of their culture. With storytelling and guided tours, it’s perfect for kids and provides a fascinating insight into one of Europe’s largest indigenous groups. norskfolke.

www.museum.no

10, 12, 26 (until 20 June) Prague Swan Lake

Renowned as the most beautiful of all Prague’s opera houses, this spring the soaring Prague State Opera will be staging Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece Swan Lake, with conductor František Drs at the helm and directed by Pavol Dumbala.

www.czechopera.cz

13-18 Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair

Exhibiting work from 257 galleries in 34 countries, the 27th International Contemporary Art Fair is one of the most important events on the art world’s calendar. Work on show ranges from the contemporary to the historical and comes in everything from stone to celluloid.

www.ifema.es

14 Vienna Johann Strauss Ball

Held on St Valentine’s Day, this must be the most romantic date of the Viennese ball season. Staged in the grand setting of the Kursalon in Vienna’s Stadtpark, the ball features music by the eponymous composer as well as more modern stuff. Don’t miss the midnight quadrille.

www.kursalonwien.at

14 (until 18 May) Brussels Treasures Old and New from Wallonia

From the 12th to the 16th century, the region of Wallonia was exerting a powerful cultural influence over the rest of Europe. Featuring the work of artists like Joachim Patenier, Henri Blès and Jacques Du Broeucq, this exhibition captures a unique period in the province’s history.

www.bozar.be

20 (until 29 June) Copenhagen Cézanne & Giacometti

Juxtaposing about 40 works by Cezanne and 80 by Giacometti for the first time, this exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art shows how Giacometti was heavily influenced by Cezanne as well as the remarkable similarities in both men’s artistic growth.

www.louisiana.dk

28 (until 10 March) Athens Athens Carnival

February’s a buoyant month for most Athenians and carnival celebrations stretch right into March. As you’d expect, there’s music, dance, street theatre and, of course, plenty of fancy dress. The best parades and events are usually held in the Plaka district.

www.athenstourism.gr

29 London Alicia Keys

Fresh from releasing her third album As I Am, the nu-soul chanteuse will be rounding off her UK tour at the O2 Arena in London. Expect the emphasis to be on the music rather than on-stage pyrotechnics and frenetic booty shaking and you won’t be disappointed.

www.theo2.co.uk