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Month: May 2026

Ferrari unveils radically different first electric car ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/05/2026

Ferrari unveiled the Luce in Rome on 25th May, marking the Italian marque’s first fully electric production car — and easily the boldest design departure in its history.

Unlike anything Ferrari has produced before, the Luce barely resembles a traditional supercar. Gone are the aggressive lines and muscular proportions typically associated with Maranello. In their place is a smooth, futuristic shape dominated by a vast glass canopy, floating aerodynamic wings and minimalist surfaces inspired more by contemporary architecture than motorsport.

The four-door, five-seat model was developed alongside former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive and his creative collective LoveFrom, working with Ferrari design director Flavio Manzoni.

Underneath, four electric motors deliver 1,050 cv, a claimed 0–100 km/h time of 2.5 seconds and more than 530 kilometres of range from a 122 kWh battery.

Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Ferrari says the Luce has been designed as a high-performance luxury grand tourer for families, complete with a 600-litre boot and a cabin combining digital displays, physical controls and sustainable materials.

Priced from €550,000, deliveries are expected to begin in late 2026.

Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

The launch comes just ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, where hometown driver Charles Leclerc will race for Scuderia Ferrari on the streets of the Principality.

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

 

 

Historic heat dome brings record May temperatures to Western Europe

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/05/2026

A powerful heat dome driven by hot air pushing northward from Africa has delivered the most extreme late-May temperatures recorded across Western Europe in living memory, with records tumbling from London to the French Riviera as the final week of May begins.

Forecasters at Severe Weather Europe describe this as the strongest heat dome so far in 2026, with temperatures running 12 to 16 degrees Celsius above long-term seasonal averages. For Monaco and the surrounding region, that means midsummer conditions arriving more than three weeks ahead of schedule.

What is driving the heat

The phenomenon is driven by a subtropical ridge of high pressure building northward from North Africa, trapping a descending air mass beneath it. With vertical mixing suppressed and cloud cover largely absent, intense solar radiation combines with compression to force temperatures upward at the surface — a classic heat dome pattern, but on a scale rarely seen this early in the season.

France’s national weather agency Météo France attributed the event to hot air from Morocco locked under an area of high pressure, warning that Europe can expect such episodes “more and more often, more and more intense, and earlier and earlier.”

Records across the continent

Across southern and southwestern parts of Portugal, Spain, and France, daytime highs climbed between 35°C and 38°C over the weekend. Italy recorded 31–34°C on Sunday, with 30–33°C across Germany, the Alps, and parts of the Balkans.

The UK broke its all-time May temperature record, with 33.5°C recorded at Heathrow near London, and highs of up to 35°C were forecast for Tuesday. More than 20 towns in France also recorded their highest-ever May temperatures.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency AEMET warned that temperatures described as “extraordinarily high for this time of year” will continue throughout the week, with peaks of 36–38°C forecast for the Guadiana and Guadalquivir regions from Wednesday to Friday.

More records expected this week

Forecasters warn the air mass will intensify further in the coming days. Because the blocking pattern restricts cloud cover and vertical mixing, both daytime highs and overnight lows are expected to challenge historical May records across hundreds of stations throughout Western Europe.

Climate researcher Robert Vautard told Agence France-Presse: “This extension of the heatwave season is entirely characteristic of the effects of climate change. Eventually, we will be seeing similar heat events in April and October.”

For those on the French Riviera this week, the advice is to seek shade during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, and expect the kind of heat that normally only arrives in July.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

Princess Charlene to make her Spanish debut on landmark trip to Madrid

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/05/2026

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will travel to Madrid on 1st and 2nd June for a two-day programme marking 150 years of Monaco’s diplomatic presence in Spain, with the visit also coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

The trip will be Princess Charlene’s first official visit to Spain since her marriage to Prince Albert in 2011, and comes as the two countries mark a century and a half of formalised diplomatic ties.

Talks with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Sánchez

On the afternoon of Monday 1st June, Prince Albert II will travel to the Zarzuela Palace for a working meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, followed by a private lunch. The two heads of state are expected to discuss matters of mutual interest across a range of bilateral issues.

Later in the day, the Prince will hold an official audience with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace.

Royal Botanical Garden and cultural exhibitions

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will then join Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia for a visit to the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid. Founded in the 18th century during the reign of King Charles III, the garden houses significant plant collections and has a long-established role in biodiversity conservation and scientific research.

The two couples will also visit a pair of exhibitions at the Villanueva Pavilion, organised by the Embassy of Monaco in Spain and on display from 28th May to 13th June. The first, Monaco and Spain: Five Centuries of Shared History, draws on the Archives of the Prince’s Palace to trace the historical, cultural, and diplomatic links between the two countries.

The second exhibition marks the 8th edition of the Monaco Artists Forum, a showcase of Monegasque artistic creation launched by the Princely Government and organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The forum brings together professional and amateur Monegasque and resident artists, offering Madrileños a window onto the Principality’s creative scene.

Foundation anniversary and IE University address

Tuesday 2nd June will focus on the 10th anniversary of the Foundation’s Spanish branch, which opened in Madrid in 2016. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation was established by Prince Albert II in 2006, making this also its 20th year of operation.

The Foundation’s work in Spain has developed in close partnership with IE University, and Prince Albert II will visit the institution’s campus, where he will deliver an address at a conference entitled ‘Leading the Future Through Collaboration: Talent, Innovation and Opportunity’. The day will focus on collaboration, innovation, and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.

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Image: AI generated by Monaco Life

 

The rooftop spot above Monaco where the view is the same but the bill is not

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/05/2026

Just across the border in Beausoleil, at 16 Avenue d’Alsace, Basta Pinsa has built its reputation on a simple proposition: the same panoramic view of Monaco and the Hercule port as you would get on the Monegasque side of the frontier, at French prices.

The rooftop terrace has become a natural gathering point for those who work in Monaco, those visiting it and those finishing a late shift — no dress code, no guest list, just pinsa and a view.

The pinsa

In the kitchen, Italian chef Pino has been there from the start. His focus is pinsa romana — a long-fermented Roman dough that is lighter than traditional pizza, topped with seasonal produce. The Italian influence extends beyond the plate to the general philosophy of the place: eat well, drink well, take your time.

2026 updates

For the new season, the terrace has been refreshed with a house-coloured scooter, a photo corner and a cornhole set. Cocktail workshops are now available on reservation, and DJ evenings run every Saturday night.

Basta Pinsa is open Monday to Saturday from 5pm to 10:30pm.

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Photo credit: Basta Pinsa

 

Leclerc targets Monaco redemption after difficult Canadian GP

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/05/2026

Charles Leclerc recovered from a difficult weekend to finish fourth at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, as teammate Lewis Hamilton claimed second place to give Scuderia Ferrari HP their fourth podium in five races.

Hamilton’s result at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve — Ferrari’s 840th podium — came after a determined late-race charge past Max Verstappen, while Leclerc’s points finish represented a solid salvage job following a weekend in which he struggled to find confidence in the SF-26.

A tale of two Ferraris

The contrast between the two drivers could hardly have been sharper. Hamilton, who qualified fifth, produced one of his strongest performances of the season — running third in the opening laps after an excellent start that carried him past Oscar Piastri, before eventually hunting down and passing Verstappen with five laps to go.

Leclerc, starting eighth after a qualifying session he described as a struggle with tyre warm-up, made an early gain past Isack Hadjar off the line. Both Ferrari drivers switched from used Soft tyres to Mediums during a Virtual Safety Car window on lap 31, and while Hamilton maintained his position, Leclerc temporarily lost fourth to Hadjar before reclaiming it with a clean, decisive overtake on lap 40. He finished the race 34 seconds behind his teammate.

Ferrari’s 37-point weekend haul — seven from Saturday’s sprint, 30 from Sunday’s race — extended the team’s advantage over McLaren in the constructors’ championship.

Leclerc eyes Monaco redemption

Leclerc was candid in his assessment of the weekend, admitting he needed to understand where Hamilton had found the performance he could not. “It has been a difficult weekend for me, starting from FP,” he said. “I just didn’t get the right feeling in the car and struggled to put the tyres in the right window. Lewis on the other hand had a great weekend in the same car, so I have to look into his data and understand what he did differently to make it work.”

With Monaco next on the calendar, the Monegasque driver will be hoping conditions in the Principality offer a more natural fit. “Next up is my home race in Monaco,” he added. “I look forward to racing there, and I hope that our car will give us an advantage on that track.”

Hamilton was equally positive after what he described as a deeply satisfying result. “I felt at one with the car from the first laps in practice,” he said. “The fight with Max was intense and enjoyable, that’s why we race.”

The Monaco Grand Prix takes place from 5th to 7th June.

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

 

Monaco chairs its first Council of Europe ministerial meeting in Strasbourg

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/05/2026

Five days after formally assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Monaco took the chair for the first time in Strasbourg on 20th May, as Foreign Affairs Minister Isabelle Berro-Amadeï set out the Principality’s priorities for the six-month mandate.

Berro-Amadeï outlined six thematic areas that will guide Monaco’s presidency through to 10 November 2026: the protection of women, children’s and young people’s rights, support for the European human rights protection system, the fight against organised crime, sport, and the pursuit of practical solutions to contemporary challenges.

A historic first for the Principality

Monaco is assuming the presidency of the Committee of Ministers for the first time since its accession to the Council of Europe, under the guiding ambition of ‘Protecting everyone, through an effective Organisation, in response to contemporary challenges’.

The 46 member states take on the presidency in turn for six months, in English alphabetical order, with the rotation changing each May and November. Monaco follows the Republic of Moldova and will be succeeded by Montenegro.

Speaking as she assumed the chair, Berro-Amadeï warned that “European democracies are currently facing major challenges and the principles at the heart of our shared endeavour are sometimes being undermined.”

Ceremonies mark the handover in Strasbourg

The day included several events celebrating Monaco’s new role. A bilateral meeting with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset was followed by a musical performance by Stella Almondo, a young Monegasque pianist, in the foyer of the Council of Europe building.

A flag-raising ceremony was held on the Council of Europe forecourt in the presence of the Secretary General, and, following tradition, Monaco’s flag was raised in Strasbourg city centre. A tram in the colours of the Monegasque presidency was also inaugurated. La Palladienne performed on the Place de la Mairie as part of the day’s programme.

Months of events ahead

Monaco’s institutions are fully mobilised for the presidency, with the Secretary of State for Justice and members of the Prince’s Government set to participate in events across all six thematic priorities in the coming weeks.

A cultural programme will run alongside the political agenda, with events designed to promote Monaco’s cultural life to audiences in Strasbourg, including concerts, film screenings, and gastronomy initiatives.

Ambassador Gabriel Revel, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, is leading the day-to-day work of the presidency, supported by Deputy Permanent Representative Gabriel Chabert, Margaux Girardin, and legal adviser Ghiwane Boumediene, alongside the team from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Full details of the presidency’s programme are available at monaco-coe-presidency.gouv.mc.

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Photo credit: Stephane Danna, Government Communications Department