After winning the title of district champions in their first season, Monaco United further asserted their ambitions by claiming the Marenco Cup with an 11-0 victory over Villeneuve-Loubet in the final.
The Marenco Cup, considered one of the benchmark competitions in District 06, was a major objective for Monaco United. Going into the tournament as favorites, they knew it was crucial to prove themselves.
Monaco’s road to the final was controlled, eventually leading them to face a team they had defeated twice in the regular season. However, finals present different circumstances, where all that matters is the performance on that day.
From kickoff, the team played with high intensity and dominated possession. Monaco United’s opening goal applied pressure to their opponents early in the match as they moved into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
As a result, coach Marco Simone had the opportunity to allow each player on the roster to take part in the match and be part of the occasion. The changes proved effective in the second half, as Monaco United continued to control the game. A struggling Villeneuve-Loubet team was unable to match the pace of Monaco United as Monaco added seven more goals in the second half.
The 11-0 final score capped off a dominant team performance by Monaco. This victory is symbolic for a young club continuing to establish itself. Speaking after the match, Marco Simone said he was “Very happy to win a first trophy after only nine months of this journey and to bring it quickly to Monaco… It was a great final, beyond the result itself.”
As Monaco United builds on the momentum of a historic first season, preparations must now begin for the club’s next challenge. The Mediterranean Cup final takes place on 17th May in which Monaco will face off against Olympique de Marseille’s reserve team. As the first District team to ever reach the final of this competition, Monaco must prepare to compete against clubs playing at much higher levels.
The countdown to the most prestigious date on the sporting calendar has officially begun. This year’s edition arrives a week later than its traditional May slot, promising a sun-drenched start to the summer season. The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco 2026 will take place from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th June.
Whether you are a die-hard petrolhead or simply looking to soak up the atmosphere, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming weekend.
A four-day festival of speed
While many Formula 1 weekends truly begin on Friday, Monaco remains unique in its scheduling. The action kicks off on Thursday 4th June with free practice sessions for the support categories, including Formula 2, Formula 3, and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. These sessions offer a first glimpse of the rising stars navigating the world’s most demanding street circuit before the heavyweights arrive.
Formula 1 takes centre stage from Friday onwards. Fans should mark their planners for the two primary free practice sessions on Friday 5th June, scheduled for 1:30pm and 5pm.
On Saturday 6th June, a final practice session at 12:30pm leads into the crucial Qualifying round at 4pm — widely regarded as the most tense and exhilarating hour in motorsport, given that the driver who secures pole position in Monaco so often goes on to win the Grand Prix due to the unforgiving nature of the street circuit.
Everything culminates on Sunday 7th June when the lights go out at 3pm for an intense 78-lap battle through the narrow, iconic streets of Monte-Carlo.
Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
The heart of the action: MGP live fan zone
For those who wish to experience the Grand Prix buzz without a grandstand ticket, the MGP Live Fan Zone at Place d’Armes remains an essential destination. Located in the heart of the Condamine district, just a stone’s throw from the track, the Fan Zone serves as the public pulse of the event from Thursday through Sunday.
The area offers a wealth of free activities designed to bring fans closer to the sport. Visitors can enjoy live driver interviews, test their own driving prowess on state-of-the-art F1 simulators, and browse a wide array of official merchandise. With live music and giant screens broadcasting every second of the track action, it provides a festive, communal atmosphere that is accessible to everyone in the Principality.
Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
The 2026 grid: New teams and young stars
The 2026 season has already delivered plenty of drama. Mercedes currently leads the pack, with young sensation Kimi Antonelli leading the championship after three consecutive wins, followed closely by teammate George Russell.
However, all eyes will be on local hero Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver will be desperate to repeat his historic 2024 victory on home soil. He faces stiff competition from 2025 winner Lando Norris, a struggling but dangerous Max Verstappen, and the highly anticipated debut of new teams Audi and Cadillac on the streets of the Principality.
Charles Leclerc on the podium at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
Last-minute tickets: How to join
For those who haven’t yet secured their place, there is still a fleeting window of opportunity to witness the “New Era” of Formula 1 in person. A limited number of tickets remain available through official channels. Thursday offers a fantastic entry-level option at just €30, with children under 16 entering for free when accompanied by an adult. For those looking to see the F1 cars in action on Friday, remaining seats are priced at €175, with a 50% discount available for younger fans.
To secure your spot and avoid disappointment, bookings can be made through the official website at monaco-grandprix.com or in person at the Official Ticket Office located at 44 Rue Grimaldi.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monaco Asset Management have announced ECOncrete as the third investment in their ReOcean Fund, backing a technology that transforms conventional marine infrastructure into living ecosystems capable of supporting biodiversity rather than destroying it.
The investment addresses a largely invisible environmental problem. Nearly 70% of coastal and offshore structures — ports, seawalls, breakwaters and offshore energy foundations — are built using conventional concrete, which creates hostile surfaces for marine life, accelerating biodiversity loss, encouraging invasive species and degrading water quality. ECOncrete’s response is to redesign the concrete itself: by optimising both material composition and surface texture, the company enables marine structures to actively support ecosystem regeneration without any compromise to their structural integrity.
The technology is not untested in Monaco. ECOncrete modules were first installed in the Port of Fontvieille in 2019 as part of the government’s marine biodiversity protection strategy, and more recently in the Larvotto Beach district. Over the past 18 months, the company has delivered its bio-enhancing technology across more than 20 marine infrastructure projects globally, providing over 90,000 m² of habitat.
“ECOncrete technology offers a robust and credible solution to the challenges of protecting marine biodiversity and has been positively experienced in Monaco since 2019,” said Romain Ciarlet, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
ECOncrete modules support ecosystem regeneration along coastlines and are used in two locations in Monaco.
The ReOcean Fund
The investment forms part of ECOncrete’s latest fundraising round, launched to expand its global operations. The ReOcean Fund — which targets €100 million in investments in next-generation ocean innovation — focuses on Series B companies aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. ECOncrete joins NatureMetrics and Bound4blue in the portfolio.
“Marine infrastructure is one of the most capital-intensive and least ecologically optimised sectors on the planet,” said Anthony Torriani, Founder and CEO of Monaco Asset Management. “ECOncrete has positioned itself at that intersection, turning an ecological liability into a performance standard.”
The second edition of the window display competition titled Monaco en Fleurs took the public through 19 participating boutiques across Monaco last week, each dressing its shopfront for the occasion, with every display telling a different story. Monaco Life followed the La Route des Fleurs as it unfolded across the Principality.
La Route des Fleurs stretched from east to west across the Principality, beginning at Monaco Élégance, 9 Rue Comte Félix Gastaldi, and ending at La Carte Hallmark, 39 Avenue Princess Grace. The winning floral compositions were showcased at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 9th and 10th May.
As striking as it is to see these shop windows bloom in their own individual ways, Monaco Life set out to explore the stories behind this exclusive Garden Club International event. It is a unique opportunity for participants to express their creativity and take part in one of the most exclusive competitions organised in the Principality.
Under the theme ‘Celeste’, shop owners across Monaco embraced the occasion with imagination and flair, transforming their facades into eye-catching displays that bring added visibility and renewed charm to their businesses.
Eleven Monte-Carlo’s flower display was a hit with the public. Photo by Virginia D’Umas, Monaco Life
Monaco in bloom: Fashion, flowers, and storytelling
Winner of last year’s competition, Eleven Monte-Carlo — a fashion and lifestyle boutique on the lively Boulevard des Moulins — decided to once again put its creativity to the test this year. For its window display, the boutique unveiled a mannequin dressed head-to-toe in blue and white flowers.
Created by the store owner together with her mother, the installation was meticulously crafted: each flower was attached by hand using pins, layered over a crinoline structure to form a couture-style silhouette.
Just a few doors away, Pain de Sucre transformed its entrance with cascading white floral arrangements and a striking orchid centrepiece. When asked by Monaco Life what inspired their participation, the store manager explained: “It was about taking part in the life of the Principality of Monaco and supporting the community of shopkeepers on Boulevard des Moulins. We wanted to contribute to local commercial life, connect with people in Monaco, and also highlight Pain de Sucre — a French brand with a 40-year history that has been present in Monaco for 14 years. We are proud to showcase a brand that speaks to all women, all body types, and all walks of life.”
Maison Leslie. Photo by Virginia D’Umas, Monaco Life
Adding a more poetic dimension, Maison Leslie — founded 35 years ago by the current owner’s mother and today offering both its own collection and curated brands — presented a deeply personal window display.
The concept, imagined by the owner’s sister, an artist, draws inspiration from American poet Emily Dickinson. Known for her reclusive life and her preference for white clothing, Dickinson becomes the muse for a minimalist, dreamlike installation featuring a white dress surrounded by white floral elements, paying tribute to her quiet, introspective world.
Czarina. Photo by Virginia D’Umas, Monaco Life
Czarina, a highly curated treasure trove of eclectic delights located at the iconic One Monte-Carlo, opted for total white. “Being in Monaco for almost 35 years, our windows have always evolved with the seasons, each time reimagined through floral and natural elements. This year, we chose white for its sense of purity. Flowers are at the heart of what we do, as is being part of Monaco’s daily life. We see people stopping every day to take photos in front of our storefront — it has become a real meeting point in the city. Participating in this festival felt like a natural extension of what we already do throughout the year, always working with seasonal inspirations, from blossoms to foliage, adapting with each moment of the seasons,” said a shop assistant at Czarina.
Joe Aoun. Photo by Virginia D’Umas, Monaco Life
Blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living: Architect Joe Aoun’s vision for Monaco
“Today in Monaco, the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living are increasingly disappearing,” architect Joe Aoun told Monaco Life. “Terraces and exterior spaces have become true extensions of the home, designed and experienced with the same attention as interiors. In a place like Monaco, where outdoor living is part of daily life for much of the year, creating continuity between architecture, interior design, and nature has become essential.”
For Aoun, architecture is a composition of life in which nature, air, and space unfold together. But how does he translate this philosophy into concrete design choices?
“For me, there are no boundaries or limits between architecture, interior architecture, and landscaping. Everything has to be conceived simultaneously in order to create a final result that feels harmonious across all spaces. That’s why we place great importance on surrounding ourselves with talented landscape designers who share the same philosophy as we do, as is the case with this exhibition,” said the architect.
For the windows of his showroom, which opened last month, Joe Aoun Design collaborated with the landscape studio D’Aìcì e D’Ailà. Through their expertise, the landscape designers selected the plants and flowers best suited for the exterior part of the installation.
“We collaborated around the overall idea of continuity between indoors and outdoors, while they brought their own knowledge, ideas, and expertise within their field. It became a true collaboration serving the same objective,” said Aoun.
Joe Aoun Design. Photo by Virginia D’Umas, Monaco Life
As green spaces continue to develop in urban environments, they bring shade, allow cities to breathe again, and soften rigid architectural boundaries. They also make outdoor spaces feel warmer and less mineral. According to Joe Aoun, vegetation plays a decorative, emotional, and essential role in contemporary architecture.
“Today, whether it’s a terrace or an interior space, something feels missing without plants, trees, or vegetation of some kind. Even in kitchens now, people add herbs or greenery into the home. Vegetation has become an essential element that must be considered from the very beginning of the design process, for both interior and exterior spaces in architecture,” he said.
The architect also believes that Monaco’s outdoor spaces deserve greater attention as the Principality continues to evolve.
“Architecture in Monaco has evolved greatly, but I believe more emphasis should now be placed on greenery and vegetated terraces throughout the Principality,” he concluded.
In the end, the Special Jury Prize was awarded to Joe Aoun Design – represented by Joseph Haoun – for their unique contribution to the competition.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene attended the gala evening of the 81st General Assembly of the International Military Sports Council on Thursday 7th May at the Grand Salon of the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, where both received distinguished honours from the organisation.
CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim presented Princess Charlene with elevation to the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the CISM, in recognition of her longstanding commitment to sport. Prince Albert II received the title of Honorary Member of the CISM — becoming the first head of state in the organisation’s history to receive the distinction.
The Princely Couple were accompanied at the evening by Louis and Marie Ducruet and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy.
Founded in 1948, the CISM is the world’s leading military sports organisation, uniting 142 member nations — including Monaco since 2010 — in the promotion of dialogue, peace and cooperation through sport. The 81st General Assembly, held in Monaco from 3rd to 9th May, marked the first time the organisation has convened in the Principality, with high-ranking military delegations from 79 nations attending throughout the week.
Photo credit: Michaël Ales, Prince’s Palace
Monaco’s Force Publique played a central role in the success of the event, managing organisation, security and protocol across the full six days — a demonstration of the corps’ capacity to support major international gatherings at the highest level.
The Yacht Club de Monaco was transformed into a garden of celestial beauty this past weekend as the 57th International Bouquet Competition — organised by the Garden Club de Monaco under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II and the presidency of the Princess of Hanover — drew floral artists from across Europe to compete under the theme ‘Céleste’.
Prince Albert II and the Princess of Hanover toured the stands alongside Marco Casiraghi, Cécilia Casiraghi, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Minister of State Christophe Mirmand and Christiane da Luz, pausing to engage with participants whose compositions interpreted the poetry of the sky, light and celestial beauty across seven categories — from ‘L’Orage’ (The Storm) to ‘Les Aurores Boréales’ (The Northern Lights).
The prize-giving
The Princess of Hanover took to the stage to present the awards. The Grand Prix Général and Prix Princesse Grace de Monaco were among the evening’s most coveted distinctions, with Gold Insignia awarded across all seven categories. Standout winners included Frédérique de Chambure and Maryse Gras in the storm-themed opening category, Fabienne Obry of Bordeaux for her lunar pedestal composition, and Francesca Barinci of Livorno for her eclipse-inspired creation.
In the table decoration category — Dîner sous les Étoiles — Federico Silvestri of Alassio took gold, while Geneviève Antona of the Garden Club de Monaco claimed the top prize for the evocative Lune Rousse sur la Mer category. Giuseppina Granero of Italy won gold in the Northern Lights category.
Young talent takes the stage
The competition’s youth categories drew entries from Monaco’s next generation of floral artists, with children aged six to 14 competing in their own divisions under the theme Le Soleil. In the six-to-nine age group, Sacha Blasco took gold ahead of Carla Tavernier and Alice Pliner. Among the 10-to-14-year-olds, Charlène Barois claimed the top prize, with Sky Janssens in silver and Rose Deluga in bronze.
The exhibition remained open to the public until 18:30 on Sunday at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
