Students who participated in Outward Bound programs in England and Wales during summer 2024 gathered for the association’s annual awards ceremony on December 2 at the Yacht Club de Monaco. The event brought together participants, their families, and association members to recognise the students’ achievements.
Prince Albert II, patron of Outward Bound Monaco, presented diplomas to the 12 students and acknowledged their resilience in completing the challenging outdoor programs. The Prince was thanked for his continued support of the association.
Program focus and student achievements
Michael Peagram, an ambassador for Outward Bound Monaco, outlined the organisation’s mission during his opening remarks. He explained that Outward Bound aims to help young people recognise capabilities beyond their perceived limits through physical experiences in wilderness settings, taking participants outside their comfort zones.
The participants, ranging from 10 to 17-years-old, spent time away from phones and social media during their summer programs, engaging in activities designed to test personal limits while building new friendships.
2026 program enrollment
Outward Bound Monaco has opened registration for 2026 courses. The association offers an early registration discount for bookings made before January 31, 2026, and provides financial assistance in certain cases. Information is available at www.outwardboundmonaco.info or by contacting Vanessa@outwardboundmonaco.com.
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo announced the appointment of Nathalie Stutzmann as Artistic and Music Director on 10th December, with Princess Caroline of Monaco presiding over the announcement. Stutzmann will begin her four-year term on 1st September 2026, becoming the 19th director in the orchestra’s history and the first woman to hold the position since its founding in 1856.
The appointment represents the culmination of a decade-long relationship between Stutzmann and the OPMC. She first conducted the orchestra in 2014 with Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, returned in 2017 for Wagner’s Tannhäuser, and has led symphonic concerts in recent seasons. The Principality recognised her contributions in 2014 when she was named Officer in the Order of Cultural Merit.
“I am deeply honoured to join the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo as its next Music and Artistic Director,” Stutzmann said at the announcement. “My collaboration with the orchestra started ten years ago, and we have been developing a beautiful complicity and joy to make music together during those years.”
International career and dual appointments
Stutzmann currently serves as Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, where she has held the position since the 2022-2023 season. She became only the second woman to lead a major American orchestra when she took that role, and recently extended her contract through 2029. She previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 2021 to 2024, the first woman to hold that position.
Her 2023 appearance at the Bayreuth Festival marked another significant milestone. She became only the second woman to conduct at the festival in its 150-year history, leading performances of Tannhäuser that earned her the title of Conductor of the Year at the 2024 Oper! Awards.
From singer to conductor
Stutzmann began her musical career as a contralto, building an international reputation before transitioning to conducting in the early 2000s. She studied under Finnish pedagogue Jorma Panula, as well as with Seiji Ozawa and Simon Rattle, and has more than 80 recordings to her credit as a singer.
France has honoured her with Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, the country’s highest cultural distinctions.
Succession and vision
Stutzmann will succeed Kazuki Yamada, whose ten-year tenure as Artistic and Musical Director concludes in August 2026. Yamada moves to the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. Princess Caroline acknowledged his significant contribution to the orchestra during the announcement ceremony.
At the press conference, Stutzmann outlined plans to expand the OPMC’s international presence through recording and touring activities whilst strengthening connections with Monaco audiences. She described the orchestra as her “European family” to complement her work with the Atlanta Symphony.
Addressing the historic nature of her appointment, Stutzmann emphasised that competence should take precedence over gender considerations. “I sincerely hope I was not chosen because I am a woman,” she told journalists. “I believe I was chosen because I have a wonderful relationship with this orchestra and because we can achieve great things together.”
Monaco’s pavilion at the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors over six months, a remarkable 5.25% of the exhibition’s total 28 million attendees, far exceeding what might have been expected from one of the world’s smallest nations.
At a press conference on December 10th, officials reflected on what they described as a successful diplomatic and economic mission for the Principality in Japan.
“The pavilion was a tool, and the first to use it was Pierre-André Chiappori, our Minister of Finance,” said Didier Gamerdinger, Monaco’s Ambassador to Japan. “He invited guests from the media world, tourism, economic operators from the Kansai region, and influencers. There was tremendous activity on social media.”
A haven of peace
The six month exhibition, themed ‘Take Care of Wonder’, showcased Monaco’s commitment to the environment through an immersive garden experience blending Mediterranean and Japanese design elements.
Commissaire Général Mireille Martini told Monaco Life that visitor feedback revealed something unexpected about what drew people in. “The words that came back often were that it was very elegant compared to other constructions,” she said. “They were happy to sit in the garden and be calm. At expos, there’s a lot of noise, a lot of people. With us, they found themselves in a haven of peace.”
“They told us: ‘We didn’t know Monaco had so much to tell’. That’s the best reward,” she added.
Building ties beyond the pavilion
Beyond visitor numbers, officials also highlighted the diplomatic groundwork laid during the event. Foreign Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadei used her visit, for example, to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia (also host of the 2030 World Expo) and Japan’s international cooperation agency.
“They addressed the situation in Korea, Japan’s concerns related to its powerful neighbours, Russia and China, then international cooperation relations with Japan,” Gamerdinger explained.
Meanwhile, Mayor Georges Marsan’s meetings with the mayor of Gamagori yielded concrete results. “We have a project for closer ties between the Japanese federation of all port facilities and Monaco,” Gamerdinger said, noting that this led to a tangible invitation: “Mr. Gamagori will come to Monaco to attend the car rally in January.”
The Toyota Motor Corporation’s senior leadership has also been invited to visit Monaco, along with Osaka’s mayor.
Lines of people waiting to enter Monaco’s Pavilion, photo Monaco Life.
Monaco’s National Day celebration
One of the most important moments of Monaco’s Pavilion was its National Day. Each participating country at the Expo was allocated its own national day, and Monaco’s fell on June 28th. On that day, Prince Albert II led a delegation that included Princess Stéphanie, with Japan’s Princess Hisako of Takamado in attendance.
The day featured performances by the Monte-Carlo Ballet and a concert by the Prince’s Carabiniers Orchestra, which drew 1,900 spectators.
“It was very well organised and considered extremely interesting from a tourist perspective by the members of the Council,” Gamerdinger said of the delegation’s feedback.
What’s next
The pavilion’s closure marks the start of preparations for Monaco’s next exhibitions: the specialised expo in Belgrade in May 2027, where Monaco will have a 120 square metre pavilion, and the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh.
Regarding the Osaka pavilion itself, it was dismantled with sustainability in mind: 85% of components recycled, 5% reused, and only 10% sent to landfill. Meanwhile, the emblematic olive tree from the pavilion’s garden, gifted to Osaka by Prince Albert II, was replanted on November 6th at the site of the 1990 International Garden and Greenery Exposition.
Louis Vuitton has entered a multi-year agreement to become title partner of the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco, starting with the 83rd edition scheduled for June 4th to 7th 2026.
The title partnership extends Louis Vuitton’s official Formula 1 relationship, which began in 2025, and strengthens a connection between the maison and Monaco that stretches back several years. Louis Vuitton served as a partner of the Automobile Club de Monaco from 2021 to 2024, presenting its custom trophy trunk on the podium at each race.
Six consecutive years of trophy trunks
Louis Vuitton has marked victories by Max Verstappen in 2021 and 2023, Sergio Pérez in 2022, Charles Leclerc in 2024, and Lando Norris in 2025 with presentations of its signature trophy trunk. The 2026 race will mark the sixth consecutive year the maison provides the custom trunk for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The 2026 trophy trunk, crafted in Louis Vuitton’s historic Asnières workshops, features the house’s Monogram canvas rendered in an exclusive red shade honoring Monaco’s national color. The design incorporates the letter “V” in white and red, representing both Vuitton and Victory, in a pattern inspired by the Monegasque flag. The trunk reflects more than 170 years of Louis Vuitton craftsmanship.
Heritage of automotive and sporting trunks
Louis Vuitton’s connection to motorsport dates to the late 19th century, when Georges Vuitton created the first automobile trunks. The house has since produced trophy trunks for major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, FIFA World Cup, Ballon d’Or, and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Trackside presence and official poster
Louis Vuitton will maintain prominent trackside branding throughout the 2026 race weekend, with custom installations around the circuit combining the house’s visual identity with Formula 1 imagery. The Automobile Club de Monaco released the official poster for the 83rd edition, which features a notable departure from tradition by highlighting the start-finish line with the podium positioned to the side, where the Louis Vuitton trophy trunk will be displayed during the event.
The Monaco Grand Prix has been a fixture of international motorsport since 1929. TAG Heuer, another LVMH-owned brand, served as the race’s first-ever title partner in 2024. Louis Vuitton also holds title partnership of the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix, announced earlier in 2025.
Monaco’s top pâtissiers and chefs are presenting an array of festive takeaway treats this December, allowing residents to bring hotel-quality Christmas desserts and specialities into their homes.
The offerings range from intricately designed yule logs to traditional panettone, with establishments across the Principality competing to create the most sophisticated seasonal collections for takeaway purchase.
Hôtel Métropole’s Guerlain-inspired creation
Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo has created a yule log sculpted to resemble Guerlain’s iconic Bee Bottle, originally designed in 1853 for Napoleon III’s future wife Eugénie. The dessert reproduces the bottle’s design in gold tones, evoking both the Place Vendôme column and the imperial bee symbol.
The creation features candied citrus, honey-tonka crémeux and vanilla mousse. The collaboration between pastry artistry and the recently inaugurated Spa Guerlain at the property creates a distinctive seasonal offering that can be ordered for home celebrations.
The unique Buche Guerlain at the Hôtel Metropole
Cédric Grolet’s Christmas collection
At the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo courtyard, celebrated pastry chef Cédric Grolet presents his Christmas yule logs available until 31st December. The Père Noël features vanilla mousse, vanilla crémeux, vanilla milk jam, soft vanilla biscuit and salted caramel praline crisp, designed as a whimsical Santa Claus figure.
The Pain d’Épices combines gingerbread mousse, gingerbread caramel vanilla crémeux, soft gingerbread biscuit and gingerbread praline crisp. Both creations demonstrate Grolet’s signature approach of elevating traditional flavours through refined technique.
Grolet’s Christmas Tea Time runs from 17th December to 4th January in the Hôtel de Paris patio, featuring pastries, cakes, scones, candied orange peels and savoury treats alongside festive drinks including Chaï latte, mulled wine and hot chocolate at €120 per person.
Luxury Christmas treats from Cédric Grollet at the Hôtel de Paris
Traditional Italian panettone at Cova
Cova pâtisserie offers traditional homemade panettone, the classic Italian Christmas bread requiring days of preparation and careful fermentation. The slow-fermented dough, studded with candied fruits and raisins, represents one of pâtisserie’s most technically demanding specialities.
Every panettone tells a story of traditional methods maintained to meet Monaco’s exacting culinary standards.
SBM’s signature yule log
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s pastry team has created a signature yule log inspired by Christmas melodies, available in restaurants and for takeaway at Mada One throughout the festive season. The design reflects SBM’s theme for 2025, ‘The Magic of Christmas in Monte-Carlo’.
Christmas tree croissants at Robuchon Monaco
Robuchon Monaco’s gourmet hampers
Robuchon Monaco offers Christmas hampers featuring foie gras, champagne, chocolate truffles, panettone and other delicacies for gifting or personal use. The establishment also provides an exclusive take-away collection of complete Christmas meals, designed to deliver restaurant-quality dining at home.
Three yule log options are available from Le Petit Café Robuchon and Le Deli Robuchon Monaco. The Vanilla Caramel & Pecan Log costs €48 for four people or €75 for six, combining pecan crisp, biscuit, soft fleur de sel caramel, praline and Madagascar vanilla mousse.
The Hazelnut Chocolate Log at the same price points features hazelnut crisp and biscuit, hazelnut cream, éclair with fondant hazelnut praline and Peruvian 63 per cent chocolate mousse. The signature log at €89 for six people presents French toast-style biscuit with vanilla crisp, red fruit gel and chocolate mendiant confection.
From hotel pâtisseries to established confectionery houses, these offerings allow residents and visitors to enjoy restaurant-quality creations in their own homes, ensuring Monaco’s reputation for gastronomic excellence extends beyond dining room service.
Prince Albert II has sent a message of condolence to King Mohammed VI of Morocco following the collapse of two residential buildings in Fez that killed at least 22 people and injured a further 16.
The two four-storey buildings in the Al Massira suburb of the city collapsed early on Wednesday morning, with one building hosting a celebration for the birth of a child when the tragedy occurred. Eight families lived in the structures, which Moroccan news outlets report had shown signs of deterioration for several years.
“Profound emotion” at loss of life
In an official dispatch, Prince Albert expressed his reaction to the disaster. “It is with profound emotion that I learned of the tragic collapse of two buildings in Fez, which has cost the lives of numerous people and caused several injuries,” the Prince wrote.
“My Family and the Monegasque population join me in expressing to the Moroccan people our solidarity and compassion in these painful hours,” he stated. “Our thoughts go to the bereaved families, as well as to the injured towards whom we send wishes for swift recovery.”
The Prince also acknowledged the emergency response. “We also salute the remarkable commitment of rescue teams mobilised from the first hours,” he wrote, as search and rescue operations continued to find anyone still trapped under the rubble.
“Unwavering support in moments of great trial”
Concluding his message to King Mohammed VI, Prince Albert wrote: “Be assured, Your Majesty, of our unwavering support in these moments of great trial.”
The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about building safety in Morocco. The country’s housing minister stated in January that around 13,700 buildings nationwide were under imminent risk of collapse. Fez has experienced multiple building collapses in recent years, with nine people killed when a condemned building fell in a different neighbourhood in May, and five deaths when a house in the old city crumbled in February 2024 following heavy rain and strong winds.
Residents of nearby buildings have been evacuated as a preventative measure whilst the public prosecutor’s office in Fez investigates the cause and circumstances of the collapse. Residents blamed haphazard construction, with one telling local media that one building had fallen onto the other in an incident that occurred in less than two minutes.
