World culture: Must-see events in 2020

No one knows the exact date of his birth, but Ludwig van Beethoven was definitely baptized on December 17, 1770. He soon became one of the world's most celebrated composers. His 250th anniversary celebrations especially focus on Bonn and Vienna, his birthplace and home, but extend all the way to Japan where thousands have joined annually since 1983 to sing the choral finale of his 9th Symphony.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is one of the most renowned art museums in the world. The Met plans to mark its 150th anniversary with new works and numerous special exhibitions, including one on German artist Gerhard Richter, and an immersive journey through its history that will reveal the visionary figures and cultural forces that propelled The Met in new directions since 1870.

After a decade on musical hiatus, hard rockers Rammstein returned with a bang with their new single "Deutschland" in March 2019 — complete with a controversial music clip delving into the history of violence and fascism in Germany that has over 90 million YouTube views. The band's sold-out tour began days after the release of the band’s self-titled album in May, and continues again in May 2020.

For 18 years Dieter Kosslick directed the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale. After a heated debate about his successor, the 70th Berlinale now moves forward under a new, eagerly anticipated management duo: Dutch former managing director of German Films, Mariette Rissenbeek, and Italian Carlo Chatrian, the former director of the Locarno Film Festival.

Beethoven was born in 1770. So too were the poet Friedrich Hölderlin and philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. The state of Baden-Wurttemberg is celebrating a triple 250th birthday anniversary with a literary summer, including the reopening of Hölderlin Tower, the early 19th century poet's residence in Tübingen (pictured), as a museum.

Washington, London, Paris or Rome — museums all over the world will be paying tribute to the Italian Renaissance painter Raphael next year during the 500th anniversary of his death. Berlin's Gemäldegalerie already kicked off the anniversary year early with an exhibition of Raphael's Madonnas.

2020 will mark 75 years since the Second World War ended in Europe on May 8, 1945 with Germany's unconditional surrender. Numerous events and exhibitions will focus on the world-changing moment and its consequences for a postwar peace that has held, at least in Europe. On October 3, 2020, Germany also celebrates the 30th anniversary of German reunification.

After "Mastaba" (2018) in London and "Floating Piers" (2016) in Italy, packaging artist Christo has set his sights on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. From September 19 to October 4, 2020, the landmark will be wrapped in 25,000 square meters of fabric. In 1984, the artist wrapped the Pont Neuf bridge in the French capital, and in 1995, he famously wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin.

The Oberammergau Passion Play — performed every 10 years in a small village in Upper Bavaria — is on again from May through October 2020. The event goes back to 1633 when the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform the Passion and death of Christ every 10th year if no one else in their village died of the plague.

For the first time, an Arab country, the United Arab Emirates, will host an Expo world fair in which participating countries present technology, culture and architecture. Dubai, the Emirati "city of superlatives," opens the fair on October 20 under the slogan "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future."