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Month: June 2026

Unveiling half a century of marine protection: The Ramoge Agreement exhibition

by: Virginia D’Umas
29/06/2026

Prince Albert II inaugurated a new exhibition at the Interior Ministry on Friday 26th June, titled ‘Preserving the Mediterranean: Ramoge, a pioneering agreement for 50 years’. Curated by the National Archives of Monaco and the Ramoge Secretariat, the exhibition commemorates half a century of environmental cooperation between France, Monaco, and Italy.

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge until 30th October 2026. It is hosted in a space of deep symbolic significance, as it serves as the venue where the Ramoge Commission has gathered annually for the past 45 years. The selection of this location underscores the historic importance of the agreement, which was signed on 10th May 1976 in the Palace’s Throne Room—a unique occurrence in Monaco’s modern history for an accord of this nature. The initiative was born under the impetus of Prince Rainier III, who aimed to establish a pilot zone for the protection of the marine environment and coastline, initially spanning from Saint-Raphaël to Genoa, and later expanded from the mouth of the Rhône to the mouth of the Magra.

Uncovering the archival record

Curated by Michaël Bloche—Director of the National Archives of Monaco—the exhibition is the result of intensive research that draws upon a vast array of historical sources. The displays feature previously unseen documents from the Ramoge Agreement fund—deposited at the National Archives of Monaco in 2025—alongside contributions from the Prince’s Government, the Palace Archives, and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco. Further insights are provided by French and Italian diplomatic archives, the Oceanographic Institute, the Scientific Centre of Monaco, and historical press coverage from publications such as Nice-Matin and Il Secolo XIX.

Michaël Bloche (Director of the National Archives of Monaco) and Florent Champion (Executive Secretary of the Ramoge Agreement). Photo by Monaco Life

Bloche said the agreement remains as relevant today as it was when it was signed 50 years ago. “It is still at the vanguard 50 years after its signing; it is the only agreement at the Mediterranean level to include both an anti-pollution component and a biodiversity preservation component.”

50 years of evolution

The exhibition follows a chrono-thematic path, documenting how the accord has continuously adapted to environmental challenges through photographs, educational content, testimonies, and moving images. The narrative begins with the project’s 1970s inception and the early maritime campaigns of the 1980s. It then highlights the 1991 Haven oil tanker disaster, a tragedy that prompted the 1993 creation of the Ramogepol plan to coordinate multinational anti-pollution responses. The exhibition moves on to the 2003 revision, which expanded the mission to include integrated coastal and biodiversity preservation, before concluding with the deep-sea exploration campaigns conducted from 2015 to the present day.

‘Preserving the Mediterranean: Ramoge, a pioneering agreement for 50 years’ exhibition at the Ministère d’État / Photo by Monaco Life

Sustaining a legacy of cooperation

The exhibition also highlights the continued role of the Ramoge Agreement as Monaco, France and Italy work together to tackle shared environmental challenges in the Mediterranean. More than five decades after it was signed, the agreement continues to coordinate joint action on issues ranging from marine pollution to biodiversity conservation.

Florent Champion, Executive Secretary of the Ramoge Agreement, said its longevity stems from active collaboration rather than simply having an agreement on paper. “It is a cooperation which is alive, and that is important because it is not enough to just create an institutional agreement with three countries; one must also know how to make it live.”

See also: 

Fifty years on: Monaco honours the Ramoge Agreement’s environmental legacy

 

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Main photo: Michaël Bloche, Director of the National Archives, presents the exhibition to Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco / Photo credits: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department 

F1: Leclerc comes in eighth as Ferrari struggles in Austria

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, holding off a late charge from Max Verstappen to take his first victory since the season-opener. It was a tougher afternoon for Scuderia Ferrari HP, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc forced into a largely defensive race, finishing fifth and eighth.

Both Ferrari drivers made strong starts, with Hamilton passing Leclerc on the opening lap, but it soon became clear the SF-26s could not match the pace of their closest rivals on the medium tyre, dropping behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Verstappen. In an effort to fight back, the team switched from a two-stop to a three-stop strategy, which did not work out. Hamilton was eventually overtaken by Oscar Piastri to finish fifth, while Leclerc dropped behind Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar to take eighth.

“It was an extremely hot and demanding race,” said Hamilton. “The team did a great job with the pitstops but it’s clear we’re still struggling on the straights, and tyre degradation was quite high, which made things challenging. We’ve got a week until Silverstone and will look at everything we learnt.”

Leclerc pointed to a setup that worked in qualifying but not in the race. “In the race, it was less effective and I struggled mainly with the rear, which caused me to slide around quite a bit. These new cars are very sensitive, so if you are not in the right window with the setup, you pay the consequence. We have a lot of work to do ahead of Silverstone.”

Team Principal Fred Vasseur said the team had been too focused on Mercedes. “We pushed hard in the opening laps and then reacted too aggressively with the strategy, trying to stay with them when, realistically, that wasn’t our race. We will learn from this and immediately turn our attention to the British Grand Prix.”

A Mercedes one-two ahead of the Ferraris

Russell took the chequered flag ahead of Verstappen, with Antonelli completing the podium for Mercedes in third place. Piastri finished fourth for McLaren, just ahead of Hamilton in fifth, while Hadjar brought his Red Bull home in sixth. Norris followed in seventh for McLaren, with Leclerc eighth for Ferrari, and the two Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad rounding out the top ten in ninth and tenth.

Formula 1 moves straight on to Silverstone next weekend for the British Grand Prix, Hamilton’s home race.

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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Monaco introduces plea bargain system in biggest criminal justice reform in decades

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

Monaco has introduced plea bargaining into its criminal justice system for the first time, creating new procedures designed to resolve certain criminal cases more quickly while easing pressure on the courts.

The reform, adopted through Law No. 1.593 of 18th June 2026 and published in the latest Journal de Monaco, introduces two new legal mechanisms: plaider coupable (pleading guilty) and the convention pénale.

The changes represent one of the most significant updates to Monaco’s criminal procedure in recent years, bringing the Principality’s legal system closer to practices already used in countries including France.

A faster route for straightforward cases

Under the new legislation, prosecutors will be able to propose an agreed sentence to defendants who acknowledge the facts of certain offences. If both parties accept the proposal, it must still be reviewed and approved by a judge before becoming legally binding.

The objective is to avoid lengthy court proceedings in cases where there is little dispute over what occurred, allowing the justice system to focus more resources on complex criminal trials.

The law also creates a separate convention pénale procedure, giving prosecutors an additional negotiated resolution for eligible offences under judicial supervision.

Judicial oversight remains

Unlike informal settlements, neither procedure removes the court from the process.

A judge retains responsibility for verifying that the defendant entered the agreement freely, understood its consequences and that the proposed penalty is appropriate before giving final approval.

The reform therefore seeks to improve efficiency without reducing judicial safeguards.

Modernising Monaco’s justice system

The adoption of plea bargaining reflects a broader programme of judicial modernisation that has accelerated over recent years, with Monaco updating a number of legal procedures to improve efficiency while maintaining legal certainty.

The legislation came into force following its publication in the Journal de Monaco on 26th June.

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Photo of the court house of Monaco, credit: Cassandra Tanti

Casino de Monte-Carlo marks the “Wedding of the Century” with photo exhibition

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/06/2026

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has opened a photographic exhibition in the Atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo to mark the 70th anniversary of the wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, joining a wider programme of commemorations organised by the Princely Palace. 

Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace married in a religious ceremony at Monaco Cathedral on 19th April 1956, the day after their civil wedding. The service was broadcast live on Eurovision and watched by an estimated 30 million viewers, earning it the title “the Wedding of the Century” and, according to the Palace, making it still the second most widely covered event in the world after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Seventy years on, the Prince’s Palace Archives and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco are marking the anniversary with an exhibition in the Palace’s Grand Apartments, a film screening in the Cour d’Honneur on 20th July, and a series of events across the Principality.

A look back at two evenings in Monte-Carlo

Société des Bains de Mer’s contribution focuses on two evenings held in its own establishments during the wedding celebrations: a dinner-show on 15th April at the International Sporting Club, and a gala on 18th April at the Salle Garnier, the setting designed 78 years earlier by architect Charles Garnier. Working with the Walter scenography studio, the Group has installed ten life-size period photographs in the Atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, drawing on images from the Palace Archives to recreate both occasions.

The 18th April gala saw the premiere of ‘Tribute to the Princess’, a five-act performance by dancers of London’s Festival Ballet, including prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. The dancers wore costumes designed by André Levasseur, with choreography by Michael Charnley set to music by Stan Kenton.

A long-standing connection between the Group and the Princely Family

The 1956 wedding celebrations were not the only occasion on which a Société des Bains de Mer venue hosted the Princely couple. In 1976, the cellars of the Hôtel de Paris were the setting for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace’s 20th wedding anniversary celebrations. More recently, in 2019, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo named its two finest Diamond Suites ‘Prince Rainier’ and ‘Princess Grace’ as part of its renovation, a gesture the Group says reflects ties with the Princely Family stretching back to its founding in 1863.

See also: 

Palace opens exhibition marking 70 years since ‘wedding of the century

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Photo source: SBM

Tom Jones, Seal and Marcus Miller head the bill as Jazz à Juan returns for its 65th edition

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/06/2026

The Jazz à Juan festival returns to Juan-les-Pins from 9th to 19th July, bringing ten nights of concerts to the Pinède Gould with a line-up topped by Tom Jones, Seal, Marcus Miller and rising jazz star Samara Joy.

At 85, Tom Jones opens the festival on 9th July with a set drawing on decades of hits including ‘What’s New Pussycat?’, ‘She’s a Lady’ and ‘Sex Bomb’, marking his third appearance at the Pinède Gould after previous performances in 2012 and 2017. He follows a special opening set from singers China Moses and José James marking the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s album “I Want You”.

Spiritual jazz, trip hop and a soul double bill

The festival’s first weekend turns towards more experimental territory on 11th July, when oud player Dhafer Youssef performs ‘Shiraz’, an intimate work dedicated to his wife, before British trip hop group Morcheeba, fronted by Skye Edwards, close the night. Two days later, on 13th July, soul singer Mica Millar opens for Seal, whose performance of hits including ‘Crazy’ and ‘Kiss from a Rose’ is being billed locally as one of the standout nights of the festival.

A free evening for Bastille Day

On 14th July, the festival marks France’s national holiday with a free, invitation-only evening hosted by the town of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, featuring the Banksia Trio, singer Laura Anglade and Maë Defays, followed by fireworks at 11pm.

World music, funk and a tribute to Miles Davis

The programme turns to world music on 15th July, when Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara shares the bill with Bosnian musician Goran Bregović and his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra. The Fearless Flyers, an American funk supergroup featuring Cory Wong, Joe Dart, Nate Smith and Mark Lettieri, play on 16th July alongside Nigerian-born guitarist Keziah Jones.

The festival’s penultimate weekend brings one of its most anticipated nights on 17th July, when 26-year-old Samara Joy, already a multiple Grammy winner, opens for Marcus Miller’s ‘We Want Miles!’ project. The show forms part of Miller’s 2026 Reunion Tour, marking the centenary of Miles Davis’s birth and reuniting former Davis collaborators including guitarist Mike Stern, saxophonist Bill Evans and percussionist Mino Cinelu. It is Miller’s 13th appearance at the festival, cementing his status as one of Jazz à Juan’s most familiar faces.

Closing nights pay tribute to Sketches of Spain and gospel

On 18th July, trumpeter Erik Truffaz and flamenco saxophonist and singer Antonio Lizana revisit Miles Davis’s ‘Sketches of Spain’, before Thomas Dutronc makes his fourth appearance at the festival, joined by pianist Éric Legnini, trumpeter Stéphane Belmondo and guitarist Rocky Gresset. The festival closes on 19th July with a second free, invitation-only evening hosted by the town of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, featuring a gospel performance from Linda Lee Hopkins.

Now in its 65th year

First held in 1960 in tribute to Sidney Bechet, Jazz à Juan is widely regarded as one of Europe’s oldest jazz festivals, having hosted performers including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Nina Simone over the decades. Concerts take place outdoors at the Pinède Gould, with free daily Jammin’ Summer sessions at the nearby Petite Pinède showcasing emerging talent, alongside late-night jam sessions at the Hôtel AC Ambassadeur. Tickets for the festival are available through the official Jazz à Juan website and the Antibes Juan-les-Pins tourist offices.

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Photo source: Jazz a Juan

U Sciaratu summer carnival returns to the Rock on 3 July with ‘Fantastic Beasts’ theme

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/06/2026

Monaco-Ville will host this year’s edition of U Sciaratu, the city’s traditional summer carnival, on Friday 3rd July, with the Mairie de Monaco organising the event around the theme of ‘Fantastic Beasts’.

The free, open-access celebration will see the Rock’s narrow streets filled with travelling performances, acrobatic acts, face-painting workshops, balloon sculptors, popcorn and candy floss stalls and other entertainment from 6.30pm until 11.30pm, with a DJ-led ball taking over Place de la Mairie from 10pm.

The event takes its name from the Monegasque word for “uproar” or “racket”, and traces its origins back centuries to Monaco’s pre-Lenten carnival season, when residents of the Rock would dress in costume, often with women dressed as men and men as women, and young people would parade a straw-and-rag effigy known as “u payassu” through the streets before burning it on a terrace of the Palace. In the post-war years the carnival continued in winter on the Rock, though scaled back to three days, with youths known as “i mufi” tossing the same effigy into the air before it was hanged and burned in Place de la Mairie on Mardi Gras.

The Roca-Club later revived the tradition, adding floats and marching bands to the procession, and it was at this stage that “u sciaratu” itself, in the form of a carnival king parading on a float, took centre stage. The event’s growing popularity eventually prompted organisers to move the parade to summer, allowing greater numbers of both residents and tourists to take part, giving rise to the modern open-air format now held every July.

A different theme each year

U Sciaratu has built a following by pairing its fixed format, street performance, children’s workshops and an evening ball, with a new theme each year. The 2025 edition was themed around pirates and princesses, while 2024’s carnival paid tribute to America, with performers staging a pirate-camp scene in Place du Palais and mock battles between corsairs and cabin boys through the Rock’s lanes, drawing dozens of costumed children up to Monaco-Ville with their parents. Floats, once a central feature of the parade, were withdrawn from the event following an accident in 2022, with the subsequent legal proceedings later closed without further action, though this has not dampened attendance or enthusiasm for the carnival’s other entertainment.

This year’s ‘Fantastic Beasts’ theme continues that tradition, with the Mairie once again positioning the carnival as a free, family-friendly highlight of Monaco’s summer calendar.

Practical information

U Sciaratu takes place in Monaco-Ville on Friday 3rd July, from 6.30pm to 11.30pm, with the ball on Place de la Mairie running from 10pm. Access is free and open to all. For further information or details on accessibility for people with reduced mobility, the Mairie de Monaco can be contacted on +377 93 15 06 03.

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