If ever there was a tonic for toxic ‘new year, new body’ messaging, it’s Anti Diet Riot Club. This month, the cult body-acceptance movement is throwing its first festival, with an inspiring programme of talks, workshops and activities exploring body, food and sex liberation. Hear from women like body confidence campaigners Stephanie Yeboah and Honey Ross, take part in yoga and try your hand at life drawing. 19 January; £40; Colours Hoxton, 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1

Jayde Adams took the Edinburgh Festival by storm in 2019 with her five-star show The Ballad of Kylie Jenner’s Old Face. Now, the Bristolian stand-up is heading to Soho Theatre with her hilarious takes on what it means to be a “Successful Independent Woman person” in the era of girlboss culture. Expect razor-sharp, poignant stories on everything from Beyoncé’s crotch to the rise of the feminist wardrobe staple, the Serious Black Jumper™. 30 January-8 February; from £11; 21 Dean St, W1D

Always dismissed immersive experiences as a bit OTT? Now’s the time to get over your fears. Secret Theatre Project’s captivating new show The Invitation will transport you to an Eyes Wide Shut-style masquerade party (it sold out during a recent run in Hong Kong). Wearing a mask, you’ll feast and drink before playing your part in a plot of action, murder and intrigue. Deliciously dark. 28-31 January; from £39.99; Town Hall Hotel, 8 Patriot Square, E2

It’s got passion, drama and melodies you’ll almost certainly be able to hum along to. And if you’re looking to expand your cultural horizons, then Carmen – one of the world’s best-loved operas – is the perfect place to start. This year, director Calixto Bieito has given the production a 21st century makeover, time-travelling to the tail-end of Francoist Spain in the 1970s to explore the complex relationships between the sexes. 29 January-27 February; from £20; London Coliseum, St Martin’s Ln, WC2N

There’s something immensely comforting about a cinema date in the diary, and never more so than in January. This month, the London Short Film Festival returns to the capital for its 17th edition, with a programme packed with the finest short cinema from around the world. Kick off with the rich history of the alt-drag revolution, move onto a winter matinee of unconventional love stories, and round off with an innovative animation variety show. 10-19 January; from £7; locations vary