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Day: 11 February 2026

How to spend Saint Valentine’s Day in Monaco

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
11/02/2026

With Valentine’s Day falling on Saturday this year, couples in Monaco have the luxury of a full day to celebrate. Whether it’s a romantic candlelit dinner with Mediterranean views or a simple stroll through the old town, the Principality has much to offer.

Starting with where to eat, Monaco’s restaurants have risen to the occasion with special menus that range from lavish to laid-back.

For those wanting to go all out, the Michelin-stared restaurants are presenting their finest work. Blue Bay Marcel Ravin** has created a menu at €510 per person, which includes half a bottle of Ruinart Millésimé 2016 champagne. L’Abysse Monte-Carlo** at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo offers a special Omakase menu at €420 per person.

Chef Yannick Alléno’s Pavyllon Monte-Carlo* offers a five-course experience for €290, while Le Grill* combines Chef Dominique Lory’s cooking with views of the Mediterranean at €335 per person.

For a more relaxed setting, there are equally appealing options. The Café de Paris Monte-Carlo is hosting a festive evening night in the heart of Place du Casino for €140 per person. The relatively-new brasserie Marlow, tucked into the Mareterra quarter, brings a touch of British elegance for €120.

Meanwhile, couples looking to combine dining with a bit of pampering might consider L’Hirondelle at Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, which has put together a wellness package for €235 per person that includes a 60-minute massage, a Mediterranean lunch, and access to the spa.

Alternatively, the Spa Clarins & myBlend at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort offers a ‘Romance and Well-Being’ experience at €395 for two people, featuring a 60-minute massage of your choice followed by champagne and a pastry at L’Orange Verte restaurant.

Beyond the traditional fine dining restaurants, New Moods is hosting the Tree Gees, a Bee Gees tribute band, on both 13th and 14th February, with prices starting from €65 per person. It’s a chance to combine dinner with live music and a bit of nostalgia.

Then for something equally special but in a different setting, Restaurant 1909 at the Yacht Club de Monaco welcomes couples from 7:30pm for an evening accompanied by a pianist and singer, priced at €150 per person.

Of course, all venues require advance booking, so last minute reservations are unlikely.

Something sweet

As always, chocolates remain a Valentine’s staple, and Monaco has no shortage of exceptional options.

For this year, Anour Chocolat has crafted three limited edition treats for the occasion. The Forêt Noire tablet pairs morello cherry with vanilla, while the Caramel Beurre Salé combines praline and almond, both are €16.

Then, the standout piece is the Ballotin Saint-Valentin, a box of two heart-shaped chocolates. ‘Irrésistible’ features dark chocolate ganache infused with red fruit tea and morello cherry jelly, while ‘Seductive’ brings a kick of fresh ginger. At €8, it’s an affordable gesture that still feels personal.

For those after something different, Cédric Grolet Monte-Carlo has created the Coeur Saint-Honoré, a delicate combination of crispy puff pastry, caramel choux, vanilla pastry cream, and vanilla whipped cream. It’s available via click and collect from 13th to 15th February at €35, with only 100 pieces available, so advance reservation is recommended.

A romantic stroll

Monaco also offers a quieter, more romantic side. A walk along Port Hercule at sunset is sometimes all the romance one needs, with the fading light catching the water, the yachts’ soft glow, and the harbour lights, it’s the kind of scenery that doesn’t require much else.

But for couples after something a bit more playful, the ice rink at Stade Nautique Rainier, right in the Port Hercule’s centre, is open until March 1st. At just €8 per person, it’s an easy way to spend an hour or two together, wobbling around on the ice hand in hand, offering all the romance necessary without the pressure of perfection.

For the active couple

Valentine’s Day, however, doesn’t have to be all about candlelit dinners. The Monaco Run Gramaglia takes place 14th and 15th February, offering a sportier way to celebrate. The City Trail kicks off at 9am on Saturday morning, taking runners on a 12km route through Monaco’s streets, parks, and monuments. While it is an unconventional way to mark the day, for active couples, sharing a sporting challenge can be just as memorable as a meal.

Valentine’s Day in Monaco doesn’t have to be grand or overly orchestrated. A good meal, a thoughtful gift, and a walk through the town can be more than enough. The Principality already offers the setting, the rest is up to the couple to decide.

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Photo by Monaco Life

WAIB Summit Monaco set to return in June

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
11/02/2026

The WAIB Summit Monaco, a major conference focused on Web3 technology and artificial intelligent, is scheduled to return from 9th to 10th June at One Monte Carlo.

Following a successful inaugural event last year, this year’s summit is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees, including technology company founders, investors and policymakers.

It is scheduled to take place shortly after the Monaco Grand Prix and is designed to act as a meeting point for the cryptocurrency, blockchain, and artificial intelligence industry, combining technical discussion with business networking.

Last year’s edition featured 150 speakers from companies including Microsoft, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Galaxy Digital, and AS Monaco.

What’s planned for 2026

The two-day summit will focus on Web3, artificial intelligence, and digital assets. Alongside the main conference, organisers have also planned several additional events.

A private meeting for family offices and institutional investors is expected to draw representatives from major financial institutions including Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, and Galaxy Digital. Organisers have also scheduled startup pitching sessions, where selected Web3 and AI companies will present to investors.

Other activities include a hackathon for developers, an AI film festival examining the technology’s role in filmmaking, and various networking events. The AI Film Festival will feature a jury including Anthony Bourached, an associate professor of machine learning at UCL, and Vincent Lowy, former head of ENS Louis-Lumière.

A gala for prominent figures in Web3 and AI will also take place, featuring workshops and discussions on technology and influence, while the WAIB Summit Monte Carlo Awards will recognise innovation across both sectors.

Early-bird tickets are already available through the summit’s website at waibsummit.com.

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Photo provided by WAIB Summit Monaco

 

Belle Époque palace Como Le Beauvallon returns with Yannick Alléno at the helm

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/02/2026

When Como Le Beauvallon opens its doors on 24th April, it will mark the latest chapter in a story that began in 1914. The Belle Époque palace, which once welcomed Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn to its terraces, will reopen under Como Hotels and Resorts with Yannick Alléno directing its culinary programme.

Yannick  Alléno, who holds 17 Michelin stars and runs two restaurants in Monaco—Pavyllon Monte-Carlo* and L’Abysse**—will oversee Beauvallon sur Mer by Yannick Alléno. The signature restaurant, designed by French interior designer Dorothée Delaye, sits at the water’s edge with uninterrupted views across the bay to Saint-Tropez.

From hillside to shoreline

The ten-acre estate cascades down a hillside of palms, pines and lawns to a bayside pool tiled in silvery blue and green. Below, the beach club and private jetty welcome yacht tenders that moor directly in front of the property, promising constant demand for tables at Beauvallon sur Mer.

The restaurant blends Asian culinary traditions with Provençal ingredients and Mediterranean coastal spirit. Additional dining unfolds in the main building higher up the gardens, where the Winter Garden and terrace offer all-day service, and a lobby lounge features a striking installation by Chinese artist Zheng Lu.

Eight minutes to Saint-Tropez

A complimentary speedboat service runs from the hotel’s private jetty to Saint-Tropez port in eight minutes. A second boat takes guests to the famous beaches of Ramatuelle and Pampelonne, though the hotel’s own pool may prove hard to leave.

The estate also houses an unexpected arrival from London: the 2002 Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito, relocated piece by piece to its new home in the South of France. The installation appears suspended between sky, water and light, serving as a backdrop for private events including weddings.

Art and history

Built in 1914, the property closed in 2008 for restoration and briefly operated as a private estate before Como took over. The 42 individually designed rooms and suites feature highlights from a collection of more than 300 contemporary art pieces accumulated over decades.

All suites, including the Como Suite, offer sweeping bay views, while hillview rooms face the Provençal countryside. Guests have access to corridor pantries stocked with snacks and drinks available around the clock.

Como Shambhala treatment rooms in the main building draw on the wellness tradition established at the award-winning Como Shambhala Estate in Bali, offering massages, facials and daily yoga. Healthy dining options from Como Shambhala Kitchen menus are available in-room and at the Winter Garden.

A new chapter for the Riviera

Como Le Beauvallon marks Como Hotels and Resorts’ first property on the French Riviera, bringing the group’s wellness-focused hospitality to one of the Mediterranean’s most storied addresses. With Alléno’s culinary expertise anchoring the dining experience and the estate’s blend of historic architecture and contemporary design, the hotel positions itself as both a destination in its own right and a gateway to the wider Saint-Tropez peninsula. Reservations open ahead of the April launch.

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Photos source: Como Le Beauvallon

 

Civil War drama The Gray House launches on Prime Video following Monaco premiere

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/02/2026

The Gray House, a historical American limited series about women operating an espionage network during the Civil War, will be released on Prime Video in the United States on 26th February. The series made its world premiere as the opening programme at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in 2024.

The Republic Pictures production brings together a cast led by Mary-Louise Parker, alongside Daisy Head, Amethyst Davis, Ben Vereen, Paul Anderson, Ian Duff, Hannah James, Robert Knepper, Christopher McDonald, Colin Morgan, Rob Morrow, Colin O’Donoghue, and Sam Trammell.

The story behind the series

The eight-episode series follows the true story of four women who operated at the heart of Confederate power during the American Civil War. The group, consisting of a Virginia socialite, her mother, a formerly enslaved ally, and a Richmond courtesan, transformed their Underground Railroad operation into an espionage network supporting the Union cause.

The series is executive produced by Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Lori McCreary, Rod Lake, Howard Kaplan and Leslie Greif. It is produced by Territory Pictures, Revelations Entertainment and Big Dreams Entertainment, with distribution by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Monte-Carlo world premiere

The world premiere screening took place at the Grimaldi Forum during the Festival’s Opening Ceremony in June 2024, following the traditional Blue Carpet procession. The event was held in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco and attended by international industry figures.

Executive producers McCreary, Greif and Freeman attended the Monaco premiere. Freeman received the Crystal Nymph at the 63rd Festival edition, one of the Festival’s most recognised honours for contributions to the audiovisual industry.

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Photo source: Monte-Carlo Television Festival

 

France launches largest military exercise since the Cold War

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/02/2026

France launched its largest military exercise since the Cold War on Sunday, with Orion 26 bringing together 12,000 troops across a three-month operation designed to prepare forces for high-intensity conflict in Europe.

The French Air and Space Force began the dynamic phase of the exercise on 10th February, conducting air operations from seven air bases including Mont-de-Marsan, Cazaux, Orléans, Cognac, Avord, Istres and Tours. The manoeuvres will run until 1st March along France’s Atlantic coast.

High-intensity conflict preparation

The Ministry of Armed Forces describes Orion 26 as preparing forces “for the most complex situations in hybrid and contested environments”, stating the exercise holds particular importance “in a context where engagement in a high-intensity conflict could become a reality”.

The drill involves 1,800 tactical vehicles, 30 helicopters and approximately 800 drones, reflecting the significant role unmanned systems play in modern warfare. Air manoeuvres will test the military’s ability to achieve air superiority and protect French territory from external threats.

Launch of the major Orion military exercise. Photo source: French Defence Department

Three-phase operation

The exercise will progress through distinct phases. Following the initial air operations, the French Navy will conduct amphibious operations around Saint-Nazaire and Brittany on 20th and 21st February, deploying approximately 700 troops and 100 vehicles near Quiberon in Morbihan.

In April, the operation will transition to NATO command to test European forces’ ability to work together. The Army will then conduct large-scale airborne operations and deep deployment into contested zones.

Fictional scenario mirrors European tensions

Orion 26 uses a scenario involving two fictional countries, Mercure and Arnland, which mirrors current tensions in Europe. The exercise simulates France leading a coalition to defend Arnland against an expansionist Mercure that has conducted hybrid operations to prevent its neighbour joining the European Union.

The drill takes place as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its fourth year and hybrid warfare operations increase across Europe. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently warned that Russia could target the alliance within five years.

Allied participation

Twenty-four allied nations will participate in Orion 26, including the United States, Japan, Switzerland and Morocco. The exercise will also train French reservists from all military branches and test cybersecurity capabilities through virtual network and space-based exercises.

The Ministry of Armed Forces stated the operation “responds to the necessity to intensify and harden the level of preparation of French armed forces” and tests “modern know-how and tactical and technological innovation against the realities of high-intensity combat”.

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Photo source: French Defence Department