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Day: 5 February 2026

Monaco’s Top Marques to return with its largest edition to date

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/02/2026

Top Marques Monaco will come back to the Grimaldi Forum this spring, with what organisers promise to be the largest edition yet. 

The 21st edition of the luxury automotive show, held under the high patronage of Prince Albert II, will take place from 6th to 10th May, brining around 235 vehicles under one roof, including a series of work premieres and Monaco debuts.

The event offers the opportunity for visitors not only to view but also to purchase some of the world rarest and most expensive vehicles.

A key new feature this year is the introduction of a 1,500 square metre Luxury Tuners Hall, dedicated to automotive craftsmanship, one-off builds and customised models, alongside the show’s classic Supercar Hall.

World premieres and Monaco debuts

Among the headline world premieres is the Giamaro Krafla, an Italian hypercar powered by a quad-turbo V12 producing 2,157 PS. Spanish manufacturer Baltasar will also unveil the Revolt, which it describes as the word’s first fully road legal electric track-focused car to meet FIA competition standards.

Additionally, French brand Hedonic Machines is set to debut two new bespoke creations insisted by automotive icons including the Porsche 911 and Land Rover Defender.

Several Monaco debuts are also planned, including the Bovensiepen Zagato, a limited edition grand tourer combining Italian design with German engineering, and a one-off hand-built automobile from Bulgarian manufacturer TP Atelier.

Renowned manufacturers expected to showcase their latest models include Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren, Pagani, Porsche, as well as Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Audi and Morgan.

In addition to supercars, the event will also feature motorcycles, luxury boats, an aircraft, and a selection of high-end jewellery and watches.

Top Marques begins on 6th May with a VIP preview, followed by two business days aimed at collectors and buyers on 7th and 8th May, before opening to the public over the weekend. General admission tickets start from €40

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Main photo credit: Top Marques Monaco

Yacht Club de Monaco to host elite Superyacht Chef Competition

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/02/2026

Monaco’s Yacht Club de Monaco will host the seventh edition of its Superyacht Chef Competition on 2nd April, uniting some of the world’s finest culinary talents to compete in a unique setting. 

The competition, organised through the club’s training centre La Belle Classe Academy with support from Bluewater, aims to shed light on a demanding yet little-known profession: the superyacht chef.

Heading the judging panel for the competition is Philippe Etchebest, a two Michelin starred chef and holder of France’s prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier title. He will be joined by an international lineup of culinary experts, including Italian chef Carlo Cracco, two-Michelin-starred Marcel Ravin from Monaco’s Blue Bay restaurant, and Venezuelan television host Jenny Maltese.

The panel also features superyacht specialist Duncan Biggs, co-founder of Ocean Waves Monaco, and Benjamin Ferrand, who won last year’s competition. German chef and restaurateur Tim Mälzer is expected to join, pending confirmation.

Real word-pressure

The competition format mirrors the demanding conditions chefs face at sea. Contestants will discover a mystery ingredient just moments before they begin cooking and must use all products provided, with penalties for food waste.

“This event showcases chefs who can excel in a challenging, mobile and international setting,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, the Yacht Club’s managing director.

The jury will assess not only technical skill but also adaptability and understanding of the unique constraints of onboard service, where chefs must work in confined spaces while maintaining high standards.

Educational focus

Students from Monaco Hospitality School will participate in running the event, gaining hands-on experience alongside working professionals.

In the run-up to the main competition, the Yacht Club will host the Battle des Chefs on 12th March, a networking event supporting the charity À Chacun Son Cap. Then, on April 1st, the Dîner des Grands Chefs will bring together jury members ahead of the competition itself

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Main photo credit: mesi_BD, Yacht Club de Monaco

Monaco Run Gramaglia set to smash records with 4,500 runners

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2026

Monaco’s running calendar kicks off next weekend with a record-breaking edition of the Monaco Run Gramaglia, as approximately 4,500 runners descend on the Principality for two days of racing across urban streets and mountain trails on 14th and 15th February.

The unprecedented turnout represents the event’s strongest appeal yet, with the City Trail on Saturday and the 10km race on Sunday already completely sold out weeks before race day. For those still hoping to participate, registration remains open for the challenging 30km Trail du Mont Agel, returning for its second edition on Saturday morning, and the more accessible 5km scheduled for Sunday. The solidarity bib programme continues, accepting late entries until the day before races, while children get their own moment with free 1,000-metre races on Saturday afternoon.

Family firm doubles down on running

The Monaco Athletics Federation has locked in Gramaglia Group as title partner through 2029, extending a collaboration that began with the 2024 edition. The announcement signals confidence in the event’s trajectory from both sides – the 73-year-old Monaco family firm deepening its commitment to one of the Principality’s fastest-growing sporting events.

“Our federation is delighted with the growing success of the Monaco Run Gramaglia, which has now established itself as a major event in the Principality’s sporting calendar,” said FrĂ©dĂ©ric Choquard, General Director of the Monaco Athletics Federation. “The renewal of the partnership with Gramaglia Group reflects a lasting relationship of trust and demonstrates a shared vision around sporting values and local commitment.”

Michel Gramaglia, Director of Gramaglia Group – a major player in insurance brokerage, real estate and property management – emphasised the event’s community impact: “The Monaco Run has become an iconic event in Monaco. We are proud to renew our partnership and support, over the long term, an event that brings people together, unites and showcases the Principality.”

Weekend of racing across terrain

Saturday’s action starts early with the Trail du Mont Agel launching at 8:30am, sending runners into Monaco’s mountainous hinterland before podium presentations at noon. The technical City Trail follows at 9am through Monaco’s streets and staircases, wrapping up by 10:30am. Young runners take centre stage in the afternoon with free 1,000-metre races between 2pm and 3:30pm.

Sunday shifts focus to road racing with the competitive 10km starting at 9:15am and finishing by 10am, followed by the 5km at 10:50am. The Pink Ribbon Walk at 10:15am offers a non-competitive option supporting breast cancer awareness.

Throughout the weekend, a Running Expo at Quai Albert 1er provides a hub for participants and spectators, opening Friday from noon to 6pm, Saturday from 7am to 5:30pm, and Sunday from 7:30am to noon. The expo allows runners to collect race bibs, browse sponsor stands and soak up pre-race atmosphere.

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Photo credit: Sona Maleterova

Prince Albert II and Princess Anne share Olympic bond at IOC session

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/02/2026

Prince Albert II and Princess Anne met during an International Olympic Committee gathering this week, sharing common ground as both IOC members and former Olympic competitors. 

Both competed at the Games before taking up positions within the IOC. Prince Albert II represented Monaco in bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Games between 1988 and 2002.

Meanwhile, Princess Anne competed for Great Britain in equestrian at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The pair have served as IOC members for nearly four decades, with Prince Albert II joining in 1985 and Princess Anne following three years later in 1988.

That first-hand experience of Olympic competition – the training, the pressure, the values instilled through sport – guides their approach to committee work.

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Main photo credit: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

Prince Albert II presents Olympic Climate Awards in Milan

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
05/02/2026

Prince Albert II presented the 2025 Climate Action Awards during the 145th International Olympic Committee Session in Milan this week, honouring athletes and sporting organisations leading the fight against climate change.

The ceremony, held ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, saw the Prince congratulate the winner’s commitment and highlight the sport’s vital role in driving sustainable development.

New Zealand hockey player Hugo Inglis and Kenyan rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa claimed the athlete honours. Inglis co-founded High Impact Athletes, a global movement uniting more than 240 athletes from 50 disciplines across 35 countries that has transferred over $2 million towards evidence-based climate solutions tackling aviation, energy and infrastructure emissions.

Meanwhile, Wekesa’s Play Green initiative has eliminated nearly 1,000 plastic bottles weekly from Kenya’s national rugby teams, planted 2,300 trees through partnerships with 40 schools, and introduced match-day recycling programmes.

The Netherland’s National Olympic Committee won recognition for a comprehensive mobility strategy that has slashed emissions by 40 per cent and electrified 65 per cent of Team NL’s vehicle fleet, with full electrification planned for 2027. The Dutch NOC also cut clothing related emissions by more than 70 per cent between the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

The International Biathlon Union secured the federation category award after achieving a six per cent emissions reduction and becoming the first winter federation to formally measure and reduce emissions from its major competitions, including World Cups and Championships. The IBU’s Biathlon Climate Change Challenge has also mobilised 12,000 fans to plant 150,000 trees in Sub-Saharan Africa, while its 26 athlete ambassadors from 17 countries champion climate action at events and conferences.

Prince Albert II presenting the ‘Highly Recommended’ Award to World Sailing. Photo credit: IOC

Lastly, Spain’s Olympic Committee and World Sailing received ‘Highly Commended’ recognition. The Spanish NOC has reduced emissions by nearly 28 per cent since 2018 and created the Sustainable Sports Seal certification system, while World Sailing’s data driven approach has identified ways to cut support vessel emissions by more than 20 per cent.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the winners demonstrated that “protecting our planet and pursuing excellence can go hand in hand.”

Now in their third edition since launching in November 2022, the awards provide tailored support including innovation labs for organisations and six-month sustainability mentoring programmes for athletes.

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Main photo credit: IOC

Cecilia Bartoli and Plácido Domingo reunite for intimate Valentine’s recital at Monte-Carlo Opera

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2026

Two of opera’s most celebrated voices will share the Salle Garnier stage on 14th February in an intimate recital bringing together mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and baritone Plácido Domingo.

The Valentine’s evening marks the latest chapter in a musical partnership spanning over three decades. From their first meeting in New York to recording Idomeneo together in 1994, the two artists have crossed paths on the world’s greatest stages throughout their careers.

Monte-Carlo audiences last experienced them together in 2023 during a memorable lyric concert that received enthusiastic acclaim. The 14th February recital offers another opportunity to witness the chemistry between these two exceptional performers in the intimate setting of the Salle Garnier.

Mediterranean sensibility with elegant programme

The evening’s programme has been designed to reflect both artists’ shared sensibilities – elegant, generous and deeply rooted in their Mediterranean heritage. Bartoli and Domingo will be accompanied on piano by David Fray, creating an artistic encounter built on sharing and emotion.

The recital format allows for a more personal connection between performers and audience than traditional opera productions, showcasing the artists’ vocal artistry in a stripped-back setting that emphasises musical interpretation and dramatic expression.

Valentine’s performance details

The recital takes place on Saturday 14th February at 8pm at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

Tickets are available through the Monte-Carlo Opera box office for what promises to be one of the season’s most sought-after performances.

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