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Day: 8 October 2025

Government confirms travel rules for Monaco residents ahead of new EES Schengen border system

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/10/2025
skydrop nice

The Monegasque government has clarified how the European Union’s forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) will impact residents and nationals of the Principality, ahead of its phased implementation beginning 12th October 2025.

The Entry/Exit System is a new EU initiative designed to strengthen border security and streamline the management of travel across the external borders of the Schengen Area. The system will replace traditional passport stamping with a fully digital process that records travellers’ personal details, entry and exit dates, and biometric data including fingerprints and a facial image.

The EES will initially be introduced at selected external border crossing points and is expected to be fully operational across all Schengen border posts by 10th April 2026.

Monaco residents exempt from EES registration

In its statement, the Monegasque government confirmed that the new digital system will not apply to Monegasque nationals or residents holding valid residence permits. This exemption is in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code and the EU regulation that governs the EES.

As a result, Monaco residents will not be required to undergo biometric registration when entering or exiting the Schengen Area, and their travel procedures will remain unchanged.

No changes to travel processes for most Monegasques

The government reiterated that, from a practical standpoint, the introduction of the EES will have no effect on Monaco nationals or residents with a valid titre de séjour. Their ability to cross external Schengen borders will remain as it is today, without additional checks or data collection.

Member States of the Schengen Area have been informed of this provision to ensure it is respected during implementation.

Longer waiting times possible at borders

While the system is designed to simplify travel in the long term, the government has warned that longer waiting times may occur during the early phases of implementation, particularly for third-country nationals who are required to complete the digital registration process.

The EES is part of broader efforts to modernise and secure travel into the Schengen Area, especially for short stays of less than 90 days.

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Photo by Monaco Life

What’s on in Monaco this October

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/10/2025

Although summer has drawn to a close in Monaco, the pace of events across the Principality shows no sign of easing. From high-level yacht racing to masterful displays of chocolate craftsmanship, October promises a vibrant and varied cultural agenda.

The month sets sail with the Smeralda 888 International Championship, which concludes its Mediterranean circuit in Monaco from October 10th to 12th. These elegant 8.88 metre boats, designed by German Frers, bring together international crews for one of the most prestigious one-design regattas in the region.

Later this month, the Grimaldi Trophy returns from October 24th to 26th, a collaboration between the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Sanremo. Competitors are set to race along the coastal waters linking the two clubs.

Meanwhile, mid-October shifts from wind power to electric power. The Riviera Electric Challenge runs from October 8th to 10th, beginning with technical checks at Cagnes-sur-Mer’s port before participants depart the next day. The event culminates in a prize ceremony at Place du Palais on the 10th from 4pm.

A few days later, the E-Rallye Monte-Carlo, running from October 15th to 18th, will mark 30 years of zero-emission racing. Covering over 230 kilometres across 14 stages through France and Italy, the route passes through the Mercantour National Park before returning to the Principality. The traditional start from Casino Square launches what organisers promise will be one of the toughest editions yet.

On the sustainability side of events, Ever Monaco is celebrating its 20th anniversary from October 15th to 16th at One Monte-Carlo. This year’s edition pivots from showcasing electric vehicles to spotlighting future focused ideas. Fifteen start-ups will compete for €20,000 in prize money, presenting innovating that range from carbon-recycling systems to foiling electric boats.

Sweet charity and fairground magic

Chocolate lovers can indulge at the Chokolashow Village from October 13th to 14th at the Méridien Beach Plaza. Tastings, workshops and an intriguing ‘Choco Therapy’ session with artist Monica Di Rocco will be taking place there during the event.

However, the highlight will come in the evening of the 14th with a charity auction of eight bespoke chocolate sculptures, each benefiting a different charity chosen by lottery. Guests who stay for the post-auction dinner will enjoy creations by executive chef Laurent Collin.

Shortly after, from October 17th to November 19th Monaco’s most traditional autumn celebration, the Foire Attractions, will return to Port Hercule. Around 80 vendors bring classic fairground fun including bumper cars, slides, and games of skill alongside delicious seasonal treats like toffee apples and Hungarian brioches.

See also: Autumn fair set to return to Monaco’s Port Hercule

New attractions Party the Best and Gyroscope join the lineup this year, promising thrills for adrenaline seekers. The fair will be open daily from 11pm, extending to midnight on weekends and until 1am on November 18th, the eve of National Day.

Lastly, from October 19th to 21st, the Sportel Awards will return under the honorary presidency of Prince Albert II. Celebrating the best sports footage of the past year, the event welcomes the public with free conferences, athlete meet-and-greets, and autograph sessions.

Cultural offerings

Photography is also set to take the spotlight as Isabelle Lindbergh presents her exhibition at Espace 22 from October 27th to November 9th. Using a 16-metre silver veil to visualise wind patterns Lindbergh captures dramatic scenes from Iceland to the Caribbean. Her unique perspective as both pilot and photographer lends a poetic touch to her images. The opening reception takes place on 27 October at 5pm.

For something quieter, the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies hosts Architecture in Philately: A Miniature History from October 4th to 31st December. The exhibition features 120 stamps charting Monaco’s architectural evolution.

See also: 

Isabelle Lindbergh brings windswept images to Monaco

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Main photo by Matheus Bertelli, Pexels. 

MyCrown Collection supports Prince Albert II Foundation with limited edition plate series

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/10/2025

A collaboration between Monaco’s MyCrown Collection and artist Jane Gemayel has resulted in a limited edition series of hand-painted ceramic plates, with part of the proceeds donated to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

The project brought together MyCrown Collection founder Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis and Monaco-based artist Jane Gemayel to produce 50 individually numbered plates titled Follow Your Heart in Monaco. Each plate was hand-painted by Bader Tabet, adding a distinctive artistic signature to every piece.

The collaboration reflects the Collection’s ongoing focus on craftsmanship and cultural storytelling, while also contributing to causes that align with Monaco’s values.

Contribution to the Prince Albert II Foundation

Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of this series, totalling €10,000, has been donated to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The funds will support the Foundation’s global environmental work, including the protection of marine ecosystems, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable resource management.

A collectible with purpose

The Follow Your Heart in Monaco plates serve as more than decorative art objects. Each piece symbolises a fusion of local creativity and environmental awareness, with the donation contributing directly to the Principality’s most prominent philanthropic institution dedicated to the planet’s future.

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Photo: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation CEO Olivier Wenden, My Crown Collection Founder Sophia Vaharis-Tsouvelekakis, and Artist Jane Gemayel. 

Monaco Inspire returns for second year

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/10/2025

Monaco Inspire, organised by the Jeune Chambre Économique (JCI) Monaco, is set to return this autumn, on November 29th, at the Méridien Beach Plaza.

Following a successful debut in 2024 that attracted over 100 attendees, the event is once again bringing business leaders, investors and ambitious start-ups together under one roof.

The day-long programme is focused on project leaders, start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors who are looking to turn their ideas into action.

For this second edition, Hanna Derrien, President of JCI Monaco, and her team have assembled an impressive roster of speakers.

Three inspirational voices

Leading the speaker lineup is Kelly Masson, founder and CEO of Les Secrets de Loly, who built her natural haircare brand from her Parisian kitchen with just €1,500. The company specialises in natural haircare for textured hair and has been recognised as France’s ‘Most Beautiful SME’ by Challenges magazine, with distribution now extending internationally.

Masson also serves as a judge on M6’s ‘Qui veut être mon associé?’ and has written ‘La puissance de crore en soi’ (The power of self-belief). With over 170,000 followers, she will share growth strategies and practical entrepreneurial advice.

Pierre Frolla brings a unique perspective as both a four-time world record holder in freediving and founder of the Académie de la Mer. His session will explore how to manage pressure, build cohesive teams around strong values, and innovate while staying true to one’s mission.

Rounding out the trio is Damien Calamuso, representing the Monaco-based swimwear brand Banana Moon. Founded in 1984, the company has grown into an international reference present in over 50 counties. Calamuso will share on building a strong brand identity, constant innovation, and strategies for taking a local brand to the global stage.

Attendees can look forward to inspiring talks, meetings with mentors and investors, and valuable networking opportunities. A highlight will be the pitch competition, where entrepreneurs can present their projects to a panel of experts. Registration for the contest closes on October 15th.

The event runs from 8:30am to 6pm.

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Main photo provided by JCI Monaco

Which table would you choose? Rice launches new L’Atelier du Quai des Artistes series

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/10/2025

A new exhibition opened at Monaco’s Quai des Artistes on October 7th inviting viewers to contemplate an uncomfortable dinner party scenario, and in doing so, revealing much about power, morality and the darker corners of history. 

French artist Rice presents ‘Tous Ego’ throughout October, featuring works that are “colourful and playful” yet “offbeat and cynical”. At the heart of the exhibition are two striking dining table scenes that pose a simple but unsettling question: which table would you sit at?

Two tables, one choice

The first table presents the favourite meals of Napoleon, Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Mao, Saddam Hussein, Stalin and Kim Il-sung. Each dish and drink has been meticulously researched. These are their actual preferences, historically accurate down to the smallest detail. “This kind of artwork is done to remind us that something that could look very sympathetic, isn’t always,” Rice observes.

The alternative? A picnic with Princess Diana, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Ernest Hemingway, JFK and Marilyn Monroe, each with their final meal. Again, every plate is faithful to historical record, but this is a gathering at life’s end rather than the height of power.

The juxtaposition is deliberate and disquieting. Would you dine with dictators in their prime, or join beloved icons knowing it’s your last? It’s the sort of question that lingers, revealing much about the viewer as the viewed.

Elsewhere in the exhibition, Mickey Mouse appears caught in a trap but instead of cheese as bait, there’s a bitcoin. The image captures something essential about contemporary culture; even childhood innocence isn’t immune to our obsession with wealth and digital fortune.

The dining tables, photo by Monaco Life.

A travelled perspective

These works spring from a worldview shaped by displacement. Born in the Paris suburbs, Rice moved to the south of France where he realised “the sun makes everything beautiful and sometimes hides another reality. That of a consumerism which exalts…but doesn’t necessarily make you happy.”

This awakening led to nearly seven years travelling through Asia, particularly in India, and South America. “Being elsewhere offered me another perspective on things as well as other elements of language to tell our daily story,” he explains.

Returning to France, an artistic encounter in Saint-Paul-de-Vence proved radical. Working alongside an established artist, Rice gradually moved “from the opening act to the main show,” launching himself as a visual artist determined to transform objects into political statements.

His subjects are drawn from travel and daily life, presented as childlike stories that actually reveal much about “the adult work, which isn’t always glorious”. Gun barrels get parodied, medicine reimagined, artworks subverted.

The exhibition launches L’Atelier du Quai des Artistes, a new monthly programme at the restaurant featuring painters, sculptors and photographers. Under Monaco-based artist Anthony Alberti – better known as Mr One Teas – direction, each exhibition runs for one month at Quai des Artistes, 4 quai Antoine 1er.

See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s news reel below…

More photos of the exhibition can be found in the gallery below. Credit: @laroseetlecorbeau.

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Main photo credit @laroseetlecorbeau.

Isabelle Lindbergh brings windswept images to Monaco

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/10/2025

A French photographer and pilot who uses a 16-metre silver veil to capture the movement of wind is bringing her work to Monaco later this month. 

Isabelle Lindbergh, granddaughter of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, will display two series of photographs at Espace 22 gallery from October 27th to November 9th.

The exhibition, titled ‘Between Realms & The Spirit of the Wind’, features images taken in locations including Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean, Iceland and Peru. In each photograph, the long silver veil billows and moves with the wind, creating striking visual effects against natural landscapes.

Lindbergh’s approach stems from her desire to make the invisible visible. Trained at prestigious Paris art schools including Gobelins and ESAG Penninghen, she combined technical precision with a poetic sensibility shaped by her aviation heritage. Her grandfather’s transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis directly inspired the title of her first series.

‘The Spirit of the Wind’ was shot primarily in Saint Barthélemy and explores themes of freedom, femininity and nature’s raw power. The newer work, ‘Between Realms’, takes the concept to more dramatic settings including volcanic terrain and high-altitude locations across Iceland, Peru and the Caribbean.

Photo from the collection ‘Spirit of the Wind’, credit: Isabelle Lindbergh

Lindbergh describes the veil as a way to make invisible air currents visible, and uses it as a symbolic bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. Her background as a pilot informs her approach to capturing these fleeting moments in remote locations. Her images are printed using piezography, a monochrome technique that adds particular depth to the work.

The gallery, located in the heart of Monaco, will host an opening reception on October 27th starting at 5pm. The exhibition will then be open daily from 11am to 7pm until November 9th.

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Main photo credit: Isabelle Lindbergh