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Month: February 2026

Fête 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 Fête 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: Fête 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 Légende de Monte-Cristo, le Musical opened at the Dôme 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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BeastGames seeking worldwide competitors – Monaco among 14 filming destinations

by: Cassandra Tanti
03/02/2026

YouTube megastar MrBeast could be bringing his $5 million reality competition to Monaco, with the Principality named among filming locations for Beast Games Season 3 as the show expands its reach across four continents and opens casting to participants from around the world, not just America.

For Season 3, Beast Games is going truly international, inviting competitors from every country to represent their nations in what promises to be the show’s most ambitious edition yet. The worldwide casting call specifically requires participants to have legal travel access to 14 countries, including Monaco, suggesting the competition could film in the Principality.

MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who built his YouTube empire on increasingly elaborate stunts and record-breaking prize money, is seeking “world-class competitors” from across the globe to participate in challenges spanning the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, South Africa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Fiji, UAE, Japan, Mexico and Canada, alongside Monaco.

National pride at the heart of competition

Unlike previous seasons, Season 3 will focus on national representation, with competitors encouraged to showcase their heritage through traditional clothing, flags or cultural symbols as they vie for the $5 million prize.

Prospective participants must submit a one-minute video at beastgames.com/compete explaining why they deserve to represent their country. Organisers are targeting champions, Olympians, influencers, record holders, viral sensations and individuals with unique talents ranging from chess mastery to athletic achievement.

Strict requirements for global adventure

Competitors must be 18 or older with a valid passport through January 2027, and completely available for up to six consecutive weeks between April and July 2026. The competition demands total freedom from personal, family or work obligations to maintain contest secrecy and integrity.

From American spectacle to global stage

Beast Games Season 1 featured 1,000 contestants competing for $5 million on Amazon Prime Video in late 2024 – the largest single payout in television history. The show attracted massive viewership despite production controversies. Season 2 is currently airing.

Season 3’s four-continent scope represents a dramatic expansion, transforming the competition from a primarily American event into a global spectacle. Monaco’s inclusion among just 14 filming locations suggests the Principality will play a significant role in the competition.

Submissions are now open with no announced deadline. Organisers have warned applicants about scams, noting the legitimate process never requests banking information.

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Image provided by Beast Games

 

Marriage, Swordplay and Monet: Théâtre Princesse Grace’s February programme

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
03/02/2026

The Théâtre Princesse Grace has announced three major productions for February, kicking off with a stage version of Ingmar Bergman’s acclaimed television series about marriage in crisis.

On 6th February, a new theatrical adaptation of Bergman’s 1973 work arrives in Monaco. The original six-episode series was so gripping that entire cities emptied as people stayed glued to their TVs, watching the relationship between Marianne and Johan fall apart.

The production explored how a seemingly perfect middle-class couple confronts the reality of marriage. Bergman’s script became famous for its brutal honesty about intimacy, resentment and the gap between how relationships appear and what they truly are.

Director Christophe Perton stages the adaptation with Romane Bohringer and Stanislas Nordey in the lead roles. The performance runs 2.5 hours without an interval and starts at 8pm.

A week later, on 12th February, Edouard Baer stars in Edmond Rostand’s classic ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’. The production aims to present the famous large nosed poet-swordsman as more than just a tragic romantic, showcasing his wit, loyalty and emotional depth.

Anne Kessler from the Comédie-Française directs a cast of 14 performers. The two-hour production begins at 8pm.

Monet concludes the programme

The season concludes on 27th February with ‘Dans les yeux de Monet’, a play imagining events during Claude Monet’s creation of his Rouen Cathedral paintings in 1892.

Cyril Gely’s script pictures the artist working above a lingerie and fashion shop, struggling with creative block until an unexpected encounter with a young model, who came to try on a corset at the shop, disrupts his isolation. Director Tristan Petitgirard stages the piece with Clovis Cornillac, Maud Baecker and Eric Prat. The 90 minute show starts at 8pm.

Bookings can be made at Monte Carlo’s ticket website or by calling the theatre on +377 93 25 32 27, Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm

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Main photo credit: Théâtre Princesse Grace Monaco

Outward Bound Monaco launches summer adventure programmes with early booking discount

by: Cassandra Tanti
02/02/2026

Monaco-based families have a limited time to secure an early bird discount on summer adventure programmes offering young people outdoor challenges in some of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes.

Outward Bound Monaco is now taking bookings for subsidised one, two and three-week escorted programmes to Outward Bound UK centres in the Lake District, West Wales and Scotland. The programmes, designed for children aged 10 to 17, aim to provide personal development experiences through outdoor adventure activities.

Families booking before 9th February will receive a €150 early bird discount on the summer programmes.

Building resilience through adventure

The Outward Bound educational approach, which originated in the UK during the Second World War, focuses on building resilience, self-confidence and teamwork through challenging outdoor activities. Programmes typically include activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, hiking and navigation exercises in wilderness settings.

The organisation was founded in 1941 by German educator Kurt Hahn, who believed that exposing young people to physical and mental challenges in natural environments could develop character and leadership skills. The model has since expanded globally, with centres operating in more than 30 countries.

Monaco connection to outdoor education

Outward Bound Monaco serves as a local branch connecting Principality families to the UK-based programmes. The organisation offers subsidised places, making the experiences more accessible to Monaco residents who might otherwise face the full cost of international outdoor education programmes.

The three UK locations each offer distinct environments and challenges. The Lake District centre in Cumbria provides mountain terrain and lake-based activities, the West Wales centre offers coastal adventures and sea kayaking, while the Scottish Highlands location presents more remote wilderness experiences.

Structured personal development

The programmes are structured around progressive challenge, with activities scaled to participants’ ages and abilities. Younger children in the 10-12 age range typically engage in foundational outdoor skills and team-building exercises, while older teenagers face more demanding expeditions and leadership responsibilities.

All programmes are escorted, with participants travelling as a group from Monaco to the UK centres. The structured supervision aims to provide parents with confidence while giving young people the independence to tackle new challenges.

Families interested in the summer programmes can find more information at www.outwardboundmonaco.info or contact vanessa@outwardboundmonaco.com. With the early bird deadline approaching, parents considering the option for their children have limited time to secure the discounted rate.

The programmes represent an alternative to traditional summer camps, emphasising skill development and personal growth through outdoor challenges rather than recreational activities.

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Photo source: Outward Bound Monaco

 

Prince Albert II visits northern Italy to strengthen historical ties

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
02/02/2026

Prince Albert II has completed a two-day visit to northern Italy, formally recognising two historic towns’ connections to the Grimaldi Heritage. 

The Prince began his trip on Friday 30th January in Ceva, a commune in Piedmont region, where he was warmly welcomed by local authorities and residents.

At the Teatro Marenco, he delivered a speech before unveiling a commemorative plaque, officially including Ceva in the Grimaldi Historical Sites network of Monaco.

Prince Albert II at the Teatro Marenco, photo credit: Sarah Steck / Frédéric Nebinger – Prince’s Palace

The following day, the Prince continued to Millesimo in Liguria, where once more the local population gathered to receive him.

The visit included a symbolic crossing of the Ponte della Gaietta bridge and a tour of the Napoleonic Museum, before attending an official ceremony in the town hall square.

Prince Albert during the symbolic crossing of the Ponte della Gaietta bridge, photo credit: Sarah Steck / Frédéric Nebinger – Prince’s Palace

At Millesimo’s town hall, Prince Albert signed the guest book in the very room where General Bonaparte received flags captured from Piedmontese troops following French victories at Montenotte and Millesimo in April 1796, during the early stages of the Italian campaign.

Large crowds gathered to welcome the Prince, photo credit: Sarah Steck / Frédéric Nebinger – Prince’s Palace

Both visits highlighted the close between Monaco and those Italian communities, with locals turning out in large numbers to receive the Prince, a testament to their enduring friendship.

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Main photo credit: Sarah Steck / Frédéric Nebinger – Prince’s Palace