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Day: 15 January 2026

Nice Airport hits record 15.2 million passengers while slashing carbon emissions by 90%

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport ended 2025 with record passenger numbers whilst completing a major terminal extension and achieving the highest environmental certification available to airports worldwide.

According to figures released this week, the airport handled 15.23 million commercial passengers in 2025, an increase of 3.2% compared to 2024, whilst simultaneously completing the largest phase of its Terminal 2 expansion and becoming the first French airport in its category to obtain Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation.

The passenger growth resulted in a smaller 1.9% increase in commercial aircraft movements, which totalled 163,052, confirming the impact of filling higher-capacity aircraft with more passengers — a key environmental efficiency measure.

International growth drives performance

The performance reflects the attractiveness of a region whose economic and international reputation continues to drive airport traffic despite being geographically isolated from the rest of France.

International traffic increased by 4.7% year-on-year, whilst domestic traffic declined slightly by 0.3%. Regular long-haul passenger traffic grew by 5.8% in 2025, thanks particularly to the opening of a new route to Washington in summer and another to Dakar in winter 2024/2025.

Business aviation across Nice Côte d’Azur, Cannes Mandelieu and Golfe de Saint-Tropez airports saw a 4% increase in aircraft movements, reflecting the region’s continued appeal to private jet travellers.

Terminal extension nears completion

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport managed to handle record passenger traffic whilst completing a major project—the extension of Terminal 2. In spring 2025, the first phase was delivered, featuring a new enlarged passport control area for departures, an enlarged and refurbished non-Schengen departure lounge, a new shop, two new restaurants and a renovated VIP lounge.

By the 2026 peak season, the pier and its six new departure and arrival lounges will be operational, along with the new check-in hall and its baggage handling system for both arrivals and departures.

To give passengers a new perspective on the airport, a monumental work by Nice artist César Malfi has been created on a hangar adjacent to the extension. Depicting Psyche flying away in the arms of Love, it welcomes travellers and invites them to enjoy a moment of peace and serenity.

Environmental leadership

As part of its environmental policy, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur has continued its decarbonisation efforts in line with commitments made in 2020. Nice Airport has become the first French airport in its category to obtain Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation—the highest and most demanding level.

Five years ahead of its commitment to achieve net zero emissions, the airport has joined the exclusive club of just 4% of airports worldwide committed to this programme that have achieved its highest level of requirements.

The accreditation confirms the airport has not only reduced emissions under its control by at least 90% but has also drawn up and implemented a roadmap for decarbonising its entire value chain, including emissions from aircraft in half-cruise.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

 

Women’s heart health in the spotlight this January

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/01/2026

Monaco’s leading heart specialists are highlighting a critical healthcare inequality that continues to cost women’s lives: the gender gap in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment.

The Monaco Women Network has organised a panel discussion on January 22nd bringing together four doctors from the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco to talk about an unfortunate reality – heart disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide, yet female patients are routinely misdiagnosed or receive inadequate care.

The problem derives from decades of medical research focused primarily on men. As a result, doctors have been trained to recognise male symptoms and treatment protocols are designed around male physiology. For women, this can prove fatal.

The panel will explore why female heart attack symptoms often differ from those seen in men, making them harder to spot. Experts will also discuss how hormonal changes throughout women’s lives affect cardiovascular risk.

Conditions that often affect women, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly known as “broken heart syndrome”, will also be examined.

The discussion will be led by Dr Catherine Binet, anaesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, cardiologists Dr Hélène Ceruti and Dr Ariane Truffier and interventional cardiologist Dr Camille Wehrlin.

The event will take place on Thursday January 22nd at 6pm on the 10th floor of the Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco, 11 bis Avenue d’Ostende. The discussion will be conducted in French with live English subtitles, followed by a networking cocktail reception

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Main photo credit: Monaco Women Forum

Traffic disruptions in place for Sainte Dévote celebrations on 26th January

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Monaco will implement significant traffic disruptions and pedestrian management measures on Monday 26th January for the annual Sainte Dévote celebrations, with authorities establishing two secured zones and specific routing requirements.

Various circulation restrictions have been put in place to manage crowd flow and ensure public safety during the evening’s festivities.

Two secured pedestrian zones

From 5:30pm, two secured zones will be established with controlled access:

The first zone encompasses the Parvis of Sainte-Dévote Church, while the second covers Quai Albert Ier at the level of the swimming pool. Both areas will restrict general traffic and pedestrian movement outside designated entry points.

Critical routing requirement

The most important traffic measure concerns movement between the two zones. Members of the public attending ceremonies at Sainte-Dévote Church who wish to move to Quai Albert Ier for later events must use only the underground corridor located at the bottom of Rue Grimaldi, to the left of the church.

For security reasons, this corridor will be reserved primarily for those who attended the ceremony at the church parvis. This means surface-level pedestrian routes between the two zones will be restricted or closed entirely.

Attempting to navigate between zones via alternative surface routes may result in denied access or significant delays.

Accessibility accommodations

Two designated zones for persons with reduced mobility will be established on the church parvis and on Quai Albert Ier. These areas may have separate access arrangements from general pedestrian zones.

Timeline of restrictions

Disruptions will begin from 5:30pm when secured zones open, with the evening’s programme running from 6:30pm through approximately 8:30pm when the final drone show concludes.

Residents and visitors planning to travel through the affected areas should expect significant pedestrian congestion and road closures during these hours. Alternative routes should be considered for those not attending the celebrations.

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Photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Monaco Communications Department

AS Monaco Rugby achieve four-win streak with youth teams following suit

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/01/2026

AS Monaco Rugby have managed a strong return from the winter break, with both their senior and youth teams maintaining an impressive winning streak. 

The club’s first team extended their unbeaten record with a commanding 33-7 victory over UMS Rugby Montélimar at home, while the Espoirs (reserves) added to the weekend’s success with a 48-29 win.

Youth team show promise

The youth setup has been equally impressive, with both the U16 and U19 sides securing victories against RC Le Beausset. Particularly important was the U19’s win as it keeps them top of their championship table, rewarding their collective work.

The club’s École de Rugby (youth academy) has also resumed activities, with youngsters returning to training filled with enthusiasm. The sessions focused on preparing for upcoming weekend fixtures while reinforcing rugby’s core values amongst the youngest players.

The youth academy, photo credit: AS Monaco Rugby

In an attempt to grow participation AS Monaco Rugby has also launched ‘En 2026, j’essaie le rugby – In 2026, I’m trying rugby’, offering free trial sessions throughout January for children born between 2012 and 2022. Special surprises are planned for those born in 2015.

What’s next

The senior team now faces its next challenge away at Saint-Marcellin on January 18th as it looks to extend its winning run to five matches.

The club will also host a partners’ evening on February 12th in collaboration with Les Carabiniers du Prince, featuring rugby legends including Jean-Pierre Rives, Philippe Spanghero, Raphaël Poulain and Rodrigo Capo Ortega

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Main photo credit: AS Monaco Rugby 

Monaco art prize winner’s monumental sculptures head to Mexico City

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Three monumental bronze sculptures by Franco-Lebanese artist Simone Fattal will be displayed in Mexico City next month, following her win of Monaco’s prestigious International Contemporary Art Prize.

The Prince Pierre Foundation, in collaboration with Museo Jumex, will present Fattal’s works ‘Adam and Eve’ (2021) and ‘Door’ (2024) on the museum’s esplanade from 3rd February to 1st March, offering contemporary reflection on memory, the body and myth.

Fattal received the 49th International Contemporary Art Prize on 14th October 2025 during a ceremony at the Opéra Garnier in Monte-Carlo for her work ‘Sempre il mare, uomo libero, amerai!’ (2023).

Prestigious three-year prize

The International Contemporary Art Prize has been awarded by the Prince Pierre Foundation since 1983, with the first edition dating back to 1965. The prize carries a €75,000 award and has been granted every three years since 2010.

The prize is decided by an Artistic Council chaired by Princess Caroline of Hanover. Each council member selects three international art world experts who present a work created in the past two years and considered the most accomplished and representative of an artist’s work.

Cristiano Raimondi serves as artistic director for this edition.

From war to artistic voice

Born in Damascus, Syria in 1942, Simone Fattal has become one of the major voices in contemporary international art. Her artistic practice encompasses painting, sculpture, collage, writing and publishing, influenced equally by history and the contemporary world as by classical sculpture, mythology and ancient forms.

Fleeing the Lebanese civil war, Fattal settled in California in the 1980s, where she founded the independent publishing house Post-Apollo Press to support poetry and independent literature, notably the works of Etel Adnan.

It was only after enrolling at the Art Institute of San Francisco that Fattal began working with ceramics, a medium that has accompanied her artistic practice ever since.

Fattal’s nomination for the prize came from Christine Tohme, Lebanese curator and director of Ashkal Alwan, who emphasized the relevance of her work for understanding the social, political and ecological realities of our time.

International showcase

Since 2013, the prize winner has been presented outside the Principality at an international event. For the 2025 edition, the Prince Pierre Foundation chose to exhibit at Museo Jumex in Mexico City during the city’s art week.

The display continues the foundation’s tradition of giving international visibility to prize winners while promoting contemporary artistic creation—a mission that has guided the organization since its founding.

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Photo credit: Barbara Economon

Monaco’s diplomatic footprint expands as principality prepares for historic Council of Europe presidency

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/01/2026

Monaco’s diplomatic presence has expanded significantly, with the principality now maintaining relations with 165 countries as it prepares for a landmark year including its first presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

Foreign Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï presented the diplomatic achievements and ambitious agenda during her New Year address to Monaco’s diplomatic and consular corps on 13th January at Hôtel Hermitage, describing 2026 as a “dense and strategic” year ahead.

Growing global presence

Monaco strengthened its international footprint in 2025 by establishing diplomatic relations with three new countries—Micronesia, Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago—through the signing of joint communiqués.

Nearly 30 ambassadors were accredited by Prince Albert II during the year, while Monegasque diplomacy reached a new milestone with the appointment of its first ambassador to the Gulf region, stationed in the United Arab Emirates.

The principality also made its mark at the Osaka World Expo, where its ‘Take Care of Wonder’ pavilion welcomed nearly 1.5 million visitors. Closer to home, the Blue Economy and Finance Forum organised in Monaco mobilised 1,800 participants and secured financial commitments totaling €8.7 billion to support the blue economy.

Historic Council of Europe presidency

Looking ahead to 2026, Berro-Amadeï announced Monaco will assume the presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers from May to November—the first time since joining the organisation in 2004.

“This historic presidency will offer significant international visibility to the principality,” she stated, emphasising the government’s full mobilisation to ensure its success.

The six-month presidency will focus on priority themes including child rights protection, combating violence against women, and fighting organised crime. The role places Monaco at the helm of Europe’s leading human rights organisation, which comprises 46 member states.

Humanitarian principles and development aid

Addressing global crises, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Monaco “remains firmly committed to defending the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter” and pursues a cooperation policy that is “depoliticised and rooted in humanitarian principles.”

Official development assistance reached €74 million over the 2022-2024 period and will be reinforced for 2025-2027 to continue improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations worldwide.

The principality’s approach emphasises practical humanitarian action over political positioning, allowing Monaco to maintain cooperative relationships across diverse geopolitical contexts.

Diplomacy through dialogue

Saluting the engagement of foreign representatives and reaffirming the importance of dialogue and cooperation, Berro-Amadeï expressed her hope that “the opening year will be rich in projects, exchanges and fruitful collaborations.”

She concluded by expressing her wish that 2026 be placed “under the sign of trust, dialogue and solidarity”—principles that have guided Monaco’s expanding diplomatic engagement.

The expansion of Monaco’s diplomatic network and its upcoming Council of Europe presidency reflect the principality’s ambition to play an outsised role on the international stage relative to its small size. With just over 39,000 residents, Monaco has cultivated a diplomatic presence that rivals much larger nations, leveraging its unique position, financial resources and commitment to multilateral cooperation.

The May-November Council of Europe presidency will test Monaco’s capacity to lead complex multinational discussions on sensitive topics including human rights, rule of law and democratic standards—positioning the principality at the center of European political discourse during a critical period.

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Photo credit: Stéphane Dana, Government Communications Department