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Day: 3 February 2026

AS Monaco match jerseys up for auction to support childhood cancer fight

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

Football fans have until 15th February to bid on match-worn AS Monaco jerseys from Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Rennes, with all proceeds supporting the Fondation Flavien’s fight against childhood cancer.

Fifteen special jerseys worn during the match are being auctioned on the BiddingSport platform. Available shirts include those worn by goalscorers Mamadou Coulibaly and Stanis Idumbo, captain Denis Zakaria, and players Aleksandr Golovin, Thilo Kehrer and Vanderson. Each jersey features the Fondation Flavien logo and has been signed by the player.

The auction runs until Sunday 15th February, with all funds going directly to the Monaco-based organisation that has spent over a decade supporting families affected by childhood cancer, raising awareness and funding research.

Match dedicated ahead of World Cancer Day

AS Monaco dedicated Saturday’s match to the Fondation Flavien just days before World Cancer Day on Thursday 4th February, reinforcing the club’s long-standing commitment to fighting childhood cancer through its ASMonacoeur programme.

Players wore the special jerseys throughout the match at the Stade Louis-II, with messages supporting the foundation displayed on LED boards around the stadium and on giant screens before kick-off and at half-time.

Young supporter experiences dream evening

The club invited nine-year-old Naël, a supporter being helped by the Fondation Flavien in his battle against illness, to experience an unforgettable evening. His night included a behind-the-scenes stadium tour, meeting players including captain Denis Zakaria, watching the warm-up pitchside with defender Christian Mawissa, and enjoying the match with his family from the Honour Lounge.

During the pre-match warm-up, AS Monaco General Director Thiago Scuro symbolically presented a club jersey to Denis Maccario, President of the Fondation Flavien, alongside Naël and volunteers from the organisation who were invited to attend the match.

Foundation’s vital work

The Fondation Flavien was created in August 2014 by Denis Maccario in memory of his son Flavien, who died from a brain tumour. It is the Principality’s first association dedicated to fighting childhood cancer and rare diseases.

The foundation supports research, helps affected families, establishes psychological support frameworks, and implements medical projects in Monaco and worldwide. It holds numerous fundraising and awareness events throughout the year.

To bid on the match jerseys, visit BiddingSport before the 15th February deadline. More information about the Fondation Flavien is available at fondationflavien.com.

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All photos courtesy of AS Monaco

 

Prince Albert joins Olympic leaders in Milan as Winter Games countdown begins

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

Prince Albert II attended the opening of the 145th International Olympic Committee session at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala on Monday, three days before the city launches the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The IOC gathering brought together Olympic leadership ahead of Thursday’s opening ceremony at San Siro stadium. Milano Cortina 2026 represents the first Winter Olympics under IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the Zimbabwean former swimming champion who took office in 2024 and close friend of Princess Charlene and Prince Albert.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Coventry both addressed the session, emphasising sport’s unifying role and Olympic values of peace, respect and excellence as the Winter Games return to Italy for the first time since Turin 2006.

First Games under Olympic Agenda 2020

Milano Cortina 2026 marks a milestone as the first Winter Olympics designed and organised entirely under the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, from bidding through delivery. The reforms emphasise sustainability, legacy planning and maximising use of existing venues.

The Games run from 6th to 22nd February, with more than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries competing for 195 medals across 16 disciplines. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will co-host in a historic first for the Winter Olympics, sharing duties across 15 venues.

Prince Albert’s Olympic legacy

Prince Albert has been an IOC member since 1986, continuing a family tradition begun by his grandfather Pierre de Polignac and father Prince Rainier III. He competed in five Winter Olympics between 1988 and 2002 in bobsleigh, establishing Monaco’s presence in winter sports.

Monaco has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1984, with its best result coming at Beijing 2022 when bobsledders Rudy Rinaldi and Boris Vain finished sixth in the two-man event.

New events debut

The 2026 Games feature 116 medal events including ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut – the first new winter discipline since skeleton in 2002. Women’s participation reaches a Winter Olympics record of 47%, and NHL players return to ice hockey for the first time since 2014.

Competition actually begins on Tuesday with curling’s mixed doubles, two days before Thursday’s opening ceremony. The Games conclude on 22nd February at Verona Arena, with the handover to the French Alps for 2030.

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Photos: Roy Esterhuysen / Quinton Meyer, IOC 

 

Americans and Britons dominate non-EU residence permits as France tightens immigration rules

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

American and British nationals are securing significantly more French residence permits than other non-EU nationalities, according to new Interior Ministry figures that reveal contrasting immigration patterns as France implements stricter entry requirements.

The United States ranked fifth among all nationalities for first-time residence permits in 2025, with 15,000 issued – a 14.3% increase from the previous year. Americans primarily obtained permits for student purposes (52.5% of all permits) and miscellaneous reasons including visitor status (21%), with economic and family reunification permits accounting for smaller shares.

British nationals, meanwhile, received 7,870 first-time permits in 2025, down 11.6% from 2024. The decline continues a steady decrease since the Brexit-related surge in 2021, when nearly 100,000 Britons already residing in France obtained residence documents following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Distinct motivations between nationalities

The data reveals markedly different reasons why Americans and Britons seek French residency. While Americans predominantly arrive as students or for extended stays, British permit holders show an overwhelming majority in the miscellaneous category – 91.3% of all valid British permits fall into this classification, largely comprising the automatic renewals granted to long-term residents who secured their status during the Brexit transition.

Only 5.2% of British permits are for economic reasons, compared to 16.9% for Americans. Family reunification accounts for just 2.5% of British permits versus 9.5% for Americans.

Growing American presence in Talent visa scheme

Americans also feature prominently in France’s Talent visa programme, designed to attract highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs. US nationals secured a 26% increase in long-stay Talent visas in 2025, making them one of the fastest-growing nationalities in the scheme alongside Canada, which saw a 12% rise with nearly 600 visas issued.

The Talent visa programme overall declined 7.9% in 2025, marking three consecutive years of decreases. However, the strong American performance suggests continued appeal among US professionals and investors despite the broader downturn.

Long-term British settlement stabilises

By the end of 2025, 172,312 British nationals held valid residence permits or provisional documents in France, up just 1.4% from the previous year. This represents a stabilisation following the dramatic post-Brexit adjustment period.

Britain ranks as the fifth most represented nationality in France, behind Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. The Interior Ministry data shows 35.2% of all valid residence permits are held by North African nationals, while Britons account for roughly 3.8% of the foreign presence.

Contrasting with broader immigration trends

The patterns for Americans and Britons diverge sharply from overall immigration trends in France. Total first-time residence permits rose 11.2% in 2025 to 384,000, driven primarily by a 65% surge in humanitarian permits – particularly for Ukrainian and Afghan nationals fleeing conflict.

While France issued 14,400 first-time permits to Ukrainians (up 306%) and 18,000 to Afghans (up 46%), the Anglo-American demographic represents a fundamentally different migration profile: typically educated, economically stable, and arriving through regular channels rather than humanitarian crises.

Tighter regularisation rules taking effect

The data also reflects the impact of France’s January 2025 ministerial circular tightening eligibility for exceptional stays. Regularisations through the exceptional admission to stay (AES) programme dropped 10% in 2025, affecting all categories including economic and family-based applications.

The stricter requirements, part of the government’s “Controlling immigration, improving integration” law, are unlikely to significantly affect American and British applicants, who typically qualify through standard visa categories rather than exceptional admission procedures.

As of 31st December 2025, France’s foreign resident population reached 4.5 million, representing 8.1% of the total population – though this masks significant regional variations, with Paris and its suburbs showing much higher concentrations of foreign residents.

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Photo credit: Antoine Contenseau, Unsplash

 

Monaco marks 150 years of diplomatic relations with Spain through year-long cultural programme

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

Monaco’s diplomatic mission in Spain turns 150 this year, prompting a series of cultural events across both countries to mark one of the Principality’s oldest continuous international relationships.

The diplomatic mission was established on 14th July 1876, during a period when European states were formalising their international relationships through permanent diplomatic posts. Monaco’s decision to establish a mission in Spain reflected the importance of maintaining ties with its larger Iberian neighbour and fellow Mediterranean state.

The Monaco Embassy in Spain is now organising a year-long cultural programme in collaboration with the Principality’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Events will take place in both Spain and Monaco throughout 2026, though specific dates and venues have not yet been announced.

Cultural diplomacy in focus

The anniversary programme aims to highlight the depth of Monaco-Spain relations, which officials acknowledge remains relatively unknown despite the longevity of diplomatic ties. A commemorative logo has been created to brand the various events planned for the year.

The approach reflects Monaco’s broader strategy of using cultural diplomacy to strengthen international relationships. For a small state like Monaco, cultural exchanges and soft power tools often prove as valuable as traditional diplomatic channels in maintaining influence and fostering goodwill.

Enduring relationship through changing times

The 150-year relationship has weathered significant historical shifts, including two world wars, Spain’s transition from monarchy to republic and back to constitutional monarchy, and Monaco’s own evolution from absolute to constitutional rule. Throughout these changes, the diplomatic mission has remained operational.

Modern ties between Monaco and Spain extend beyond formal diplomacy to encompass economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and shared Mediterranean interests. Both participate in various international organisations, providing multiple platforms for bilateral engagement.

The commemorative programme details are available on the Monaco Embassy website at ambassade-en-espagne.gouv.mc, where updates on specific events will presumably be posted as the year progresses.

While Monaco maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries worldwide, the Spanish mission represents one of its oldest continuous presences abroad, predating many of the Principality’s other international relationships by decades.

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Photo credit: Tânia Mousinho, Unsplash

FĂŞte du Citron 2026: when to go and how to do it for free

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
03/02/2026

Menton’s popular lemon festival attracts 250,000 visitors each year, but one does not necessarily need a ticket to experience the magic. 

For 92 years, the French Riviera town of Menton has been building enormous sculptures out of lemons and oranges. The FĂŞte du Citron uses over 140 tonnes of citrus to create everything from giant pandas to mythical creatures, each fruit placed individually by hand.

This year’s theme, ‘Merveilles du Vivant – Wonders of the Living World’, runs from 14th February to 1st of March. And while the parades demand a ticket to attend, some of the festival’s most unique elements are completely free.

The free experience: Jardins Biovès

The Jardins Biovès host spectacular citrus sculptures throughout the 16-day event, with free access for all visitors. Some displays require up to 15 tonnes of fruit and take thousands of hours to construct.

The official inauguration takes place at 11am on Saturday 14th February. However, for perfect photos without the weekend masses, it’s best to attend during weekday mornings.

Best dates to attend

For the full experience, Thursday 26th February offers the best value. It marks the second night-time parade where illuminated floats glow in the dark, followed by fireworks over Menton Bay at 10:30pm. To make the best out of it, arrival is advised before 6pm in order to explore the free citrus gardens and artisan markets as well.

For families on a budget, Tuesday to Thursday (excluding parade days), provide access to the gardens, free artisan market at Palais de l’Europe, and Menton’s old town charm with significantly fewer visitors.

Workshops range from making citrus-scented candles to cooking ravioli with Menton’s prized IGP lemons – the ones too valuable to use on the festival floats.

Then, for parade enthusiasts Sunday 22nd February offers the middle ground. It’s the second of three Sunday Corsos, when performers have found their rhythm before final-weekend crowds peak. However, it’s advised to book in advance as seated tickets are already nearly sold out.

Programme and tickets

The Corsos des Fruits d’Or, a 90-minute parade of citrus-covered floats accompanied by musical groups, takes place on three Sundays: 15th, 22nd February and 1st March at 2:30pm. Then, night-time parades run on Thursday’s: 19th and 26th February at 9pm.

Standing tickets cost €16, with €8 for children aged 6-12 and free for under 6 year olds. Seated tribune tickets are €30, though availability is limited. Disability cardholders enter for free in standing areas.

After night parades, special SNCF trains run until 11:40pm.

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Main photo credit: FĂŞte du Citron

Monte-Cristo musical heading to Monaco after Paris premiere

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

A new musical adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s classic novel The Count of Monte-Cristo will play three shows at the Grimaldi Forum in May, following its premiere in Paris last week.

La LĂ©gende de Monte-Cristo, le Musical opened at the DĂ´me de Paris on 28th January and is currently playing there until 5th February. The production will then tour France, Switzerland and Belgium, with Monaco among the scheduled stops.

The show dramatises the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who is falsely imprisoned and later reinvents himself as the wealthy and enigmatic Count of Monte-Cristo to seek revenge on those who betrayed him.

Three Grimaldi Forum performances

The musical will be staged at the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle des Princes across one weekend in May. Performances are scheduled for Saturday 9th May at 8:30pm and Sunday 10th May at 3pm and 8:30pm.

The two-hour production, performed in French with a 20-minute interval, combines theatrical drama with musical numbers and choreography to tell Dumas’s tale of betrayal, imprisonment and vengeance.

Literary classic gets musical treatment

Dumas published The Count of Monte-Cristo in 1844, and it has since become one of the most frequently adapted works of French literature. The novel’s themes of injustice, transformation and revenge have inspired numerous film, television and stage productions over the past 180 years.

This latest adaptation is produced by LCDMC in partnership with Narya and Nakache Entertainment. Tickets are available through the Grimaldi Forum box office or online.

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