Monaco prepares for spectacular 47th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival

14/11/2024

The upcoming 47th edition of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, a legendary event that began under the patronage of Prince Rainier III over half a century ago, promises to be nothing short of spectacular, with circus acts from around the world set to perform at the iconic showcase in January.

A hallmark of Monaco’s cultural calendar, the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival will return to the Chapiteau de Fontvieille between 17th and 26th January 2025 with an exceptional line-up of acts that will push the limits of traditional circus artistry.

Of note for the upcoming edition, a large-scale animal presentation is in the works. Featuring around 40 animals performing in harmony, this part of the show aims to set a new standard—and a new record—in the circus world.

Other highlights include a troupe of Chinese acrobats performing an incredibly technically challenging bicycle act rarely seen in circus performances.

One of Chile’s most celebrated clowns will make an appearance too, delivering comedic acts designed to create memorable moments for audiences of all ages. The Akhal-Teké horses, originally from Turkmenistan and known for their elegance and agility, will also perform to delight audiences.

One of the festival’s most daring acts will come from Mexican trapeze artists, who are expected to attempt the complex quadruple jump, a feat seldom performed under the big top.

Alongside these headliners, 20 additional acts will round out the diverse and varied programme, featuring both seasoned performers and young talent from the festival’s New Generation competition.

Tickets are already on sale for the much-anticipated 2025 event, which is set to once again celebrate the rich legacy of the circus arts while also spotlighting the skills of emerging artists in a beloved local venue.

The ticket office is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm. For more information and to reserve, click here.

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Photo source: Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival

Monaco companies out in force at China International Import Expo

by: Stephanie Horsman

14/11/2024

Monaco’s Embassy in China, with support from the Monaco Economic Board and the Principality’s Singapore-based promotional office, has hosted a delegation of 17 Monegasque companies at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, one of the world’s largest trade fairs for import-export.

The event, which took place between 5th and 10th November in Shanghai, was inaugurated by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and attracted over 400,000 professionals from across the country, providing Monegasque companies with the opportunity to make new connections and cement existing relationships with a huge number of Chinese businesses.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is the world’s first import-themed national-level expo. According to its organisers, the event was created to “firmly support trade liberalisation and economic globalisation and actively open the Chinese market to the world”.

In partnership with the Monaco Economic Board and Monaco’s promotional office in Singapore, Ambassador Marie-Pascale Boisson provided 17 Monegasque companies with a well-positioned national pavilion. The pavilion showcased a broad range of Monaco’s goods and services industries, including renewable energy, jewellery, sports, real estate, agri-food and tourism, among others, offering the selected companies an opportunity to expand or strengthen their presence in the Chinese market.

Among the highlights were two well-known Monaco brands, ASM FC and its sponsor, jeweller APM Monaco, both of which garnered significant attention due to their established profiles in China.

The pavilion hosted a variety of events designed to foster connections and promote sustainable luxury, including a conference led by Estelle Dinh from the International University of Monaco and a networking reception by La Distillerie de Monaco. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation also participated as a beacon of the Principality’s enduring commitments to ocean protection.

In addition to meeting prospective buyers and partners, the Monegasque delegation was visited by Monaco’s Consul in Shanghai, Feng Hsu, who offered valuable insights on navigating China’s vast consumer landscape. As Monaco deepens its international trade efforts, this delegation marked a key step in strengthening ties and exploring new opportunities within the Chinese market.

Read related:

Monaco’s GDP doubles in a decade: which industries are fuelling the Principality’s growth?

Photo source: Embassy of Monaco in China

Monaco Grand Prix guaranteed to stay on F1 calendar until 2031

by: Elsa Carpenter

14/11/2024

After years of rumours that the most emblematic circuit on the Formula 1 racing calendar could be shelved, the Automobile Club of Monaco has reached a new deal to host the iconic race until 2031 inclusive.

The news will come as a huge relief to not only fans of the Monaco Grand Prix, a mainstay on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar since the 1950s, but also to the Principality as a whole.

In recent years, persistent rumours have suggested that the legendary street circuit could be knocked off the list in favour of newer – and potentially bigger-grossing – locations. On top of these reports, the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM) has been forced to bat away constant questions about how the track could be adapted or extended to enhance competitiveness and provide drivers with more opportunities to overtake.

Yet despite the criticism that the circuit and the ACM have endured, the appeal of the Monaco Grand Prix has never been stronger.

According to Formula1.com, “The 2024 weekend was watched by a cumulative audience of over 70 million fans and was the most-watched edition of the race in US history, and the third most-viewed F1 race of all time in the US.”

And what a race it was. For the first time in history, a homegrown driver in the form of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won the Monaco Grand Prix. The shared joy and elation at the win were clear to see on the faces of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Leclerc as they embraced on the stage after the Monegasque anthem had rung out.

See more: F1: Charles Leclerc brings home the win at the Monaco Grand Prix

Now, the legend will live on for at least a further six years after Formula 1 and the Automobile Club of Monaco reached a new agreement to extend the Principality’s contract until 2031 inclusive.

A new era

“I’m delighted that Formula 1 will continue to race in Monaco until 2031,” said Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula 1, after the news broke on 14th November. “The streets of Monte Carlo are unique and a famous part of Formula 1, and the Monaco Grand Prix remains a race that all drivers dream of winning.”

He added, “I would like to extend a special thanks to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, and everyone involved in the extension of this important partnership. This agreement signals a new era of partnership and innovation between Formula 1 and Monaco. It is the future-focused leadership of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco which will allow us to create an optimised calendar, reduce pressure on logistics, and decrease the environmental impact of our global championship as we continue the path towards our Net Zero goal by 2030.”

Meanwhile, ACM President Boeri shared, “I would particularly like to thank H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Stefano Domenicali, and everyone involved in the extension of this contract. The signing of this new agreement with the Formula 1 Group until 2031 not only confirms the strength of our relationship but reaffirms our commitment to offering all visitors an unrivalled, first-class experience at race weekends.”

He concluded, “The Monaco Grand Prix is the most important sporting event here and continues to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Principality and millions of global television viewers worldwide.”

*Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula 1, with Michel Boeri, the president of the Automobile Club of Monaco. Photo credit: Automobile Club de Monaco*

Key dates for the future

The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix will be held between 23rd and 25th May. The event will mark the 75th anniversary of the Principality’s circuit official debut in Formula 1 racing.

From 2026 onwards, the Monaco Grand Prix will be held during the first full weekend in June.

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The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix in pictures

Main photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

France: Mass strikes to disrupt travel in the coming weeks

by: Stephanie Horsman

14/11/2024

Compared to previous years, the number of regional and national-level strikes in France has been relatively low this year, but that quiet is expected to end as winter approaches. Widespread industrial action is being planned by unions representing transport sector workers over the coming weeks, with additional strikes by agricultural workers compounding fears of mass walkouts during the festive period.

France has a long history of strikes and protests embedded in its culture, a tradition that goes all the way back to the dawn of the French Revolution in 1789, when civil unrest fuelled by economic hardship led to an upheaval that changed the nation.

Striking was formally legalised in 1864 and has since evolved into a key way for workers to advocate for their rights. Today, French unions are known for their ability to quickly mobilise large-scale actions with specific objectives, a practice viewed as a form of social empowerment and resistance against government policies.

Successive transport sector strikes

2024 has been a relatively calm year for strike action, but that is set to change during the second half of November and the month of December.

Following the pilots’ walkout on Thursday 14th November, a protest against the government’s new air transport tax hike, further demonstrations by the transport sector are likely to impact travellers going into the festive period.

The first comes on Thursday 21st November, when all four of France’s major rail unions will stage a one-day strike that is expected to cause substantial disruptions to train services across the country, including high-speed TGV lines, regional TER trains, commuter lines and Intercité routes.

The primary issue driving these strikes is the ongoing privatisation of France’s state-owned rail network, SNCF, and other regional services, specifically the dismantling of Fret SNCF, the nation’s leading freight line, which will lead to 500 job losses in January as the company is split in two.

The unions involved – Sud Rail Federation, CGT-Cheminots, Unsa-Ferroviaire and CFDT-Cheminots – are notably asking for a delay in the dismantling of Fret SNCF to allow time for negotiations or alternative solutions to be found.

Union leaders have made it clear that if the French government fails to respond to their demands, they are prepared to launch an even larger strike on Wednesday 11th December and potentially extend the strike action deeper into the busy holiday travel season.

Sud Rail Federation, one of the four unions involved, published a statement on X that reads, “The ball is now in the government’s and Groupe SNCF’s court.”

More strikes to come

Farmers are also joining the action, with demonstrations targeting trucks transporting agricultural goods from Spain and other EU countries in the works. These protests could lead to road blockages and cause delays for passengers travelling through affected parts of the country.

Additionally, two unions representing civil servants are planning three days of action in early December, though exact dates have not yet been announced.

Read related:

French pilots to strike on Thursday over planned airline tax hike

Photo by Monaco Life

Monaco Grand Prix shifts to June from 2026 following new F1 contract

by: Cassandra Tanti

14/11/2024

The Monaco Grand Prix will be pushed to the month of June from 2026, as announced alongside the confirmation of a new agreement between Formula 1 and the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM).

Historically, the Monaco Grand Prix has traditionally been held in May, although its dates have occasionally varied. This upcoming change marks the first significant shift in its timing in decades, with the event now set to occur annually on the first full weekend in June, it was revealed by Formula 1 on Thursday.

The adjustment will have substantial implications for the industries that rely on the Grand Prix, especially those in the hospitality and provisioning sectors. Hotels, restaurants, event planners, and other service providers that work with the influx of visitors and heightened demands during race weekend are expected to adjust to the new schedule to maintain their operational peak.

The ACM’s new agreement with Formula 1 to continue hosting the Monaco Grand Prix until 2031 inclusive provides stability and continuity for the race, which has had an esteemed presence on the F1 calendar since the early years of the championship.

While the move to June aims to enhance the Grand Prix’s visibility and accessibility for a wider audience, it also presents new opportunities for Monaco’s tourism and hospitality industries, aligning with the start of the high season and a time of warmer weather, which could encourage longer stays.

The Monaco Grand Prix 75th-anniversary celebrations next year will pay homage to Monaco’s rich motorsport heritage, featuring tributes to some of the most unforgettable moments and figures in F1 history. This milestone year, coupled with the anticipated date change and another potential win by Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, will make for a very exciting Monaco Grand Prix 2025.

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Monaco Grand Prix guaranteed to stay on F1 calendar until 2031

Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Marché de la Condamine to host National Day celebrations

by: Niki Borisova

14/11/2024

In honour of Monaco’s National Day next week, the Place du Marché in the Condamine neighbourhood will welcome the public for a full day of celebrations and festivities. Expect live music, cultural exhibits and plenty of traditional Monegasque gastronomy.

As the Fête Nationale de Monaco approaches, venues across the Principality are planning a host of special events to celebrate and commemorate the traditions and heritage of the micronation, with the Marché de la Condamine among them.

See more: Monaco expands National Day decorations to new streets and landmarks

On Tuesday 19th November between 9am and 2pm, visitors to the central marketplace will be invited to sample a variety of local culinary specialities, such as hearty bowls of stockfish à la monégasque. The classic dish will be prepared in a giant cauldron in public view, adding to the traditional ambience of the celebrations. It will be served from 12pm.

Later in the day, a series of live music acts will perform in the square from 7.30pm. The show will culminate with a concert by Liane Foly, a French singer renowned for her jazz-pop style.

Along with the music, visitors will also get the chance to explore an exhibition put together by the Unité des Seniors.

To reserve a seat in the marketplace, speak to a local vendor. For more information about the event, click here.

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Monaco to celebrate National Day with colossal drone show and concert events

Photo by Monaco Life

Day: 14 November 2024

Monaco prepares for spectacular 47th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival

Monaco companies out in force at China International Import Expo