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Month: August 2026

‘Ramba Zamba’ in Monte-Carlo: How Monaco’s Swiss community celebrated National Day in style

by: Virginia D’Umas
11/08/2026

The Club Suisse de Monaco‘s recent gathering at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel on Saturday 1st August showed how well Alpine traditions blend with Mediterranean style.

Attended by local leaders, parliamentarians, and members of the Swiss community, the sold-out event moved away from a traditional formal reception, offering instead an engaging evening of entertainment and lively celebration.

A shared identity in the heart of Monaco

While the room was anchored in patriotism—highlighted by powerful, pin-drop a cappella renditions of both the Swiss and Monegasque national anthems—the evening’s core message was one of integration.

Host Monika Kaelin struck a chord with the crowd during the event by saying: “Home is not a place, but a feeling,”. And: “Home is where the heart is.”

It was a fitting sentiment for a community that maintains deep roots in the Confederation while thriving along the Côte d’Azur.

That cross-cultural blend spilled right into the entertainment lineup. Alongside slick magic acts and a blazing fire show by local performers, the night featured the live premiere of ‘Viva Munegu’. Written specifically for the event, the track mixed traditional Swiss sounds and unexpected yodelling motifs with a Mediterranean rhythm, brought to life on stage by a star-studded ensemble including Swedish personality Victoria Silvstedt and Club President Arik Röschke.

Honorary Ambassadors of the Club Suisse de Monaco in Switzerland: former club president Philippe Ragaz and Monika Kaelin. Photo credit: Sébastien Nash

New ambassadors for the club

Between the performances, the club paused to formally appoint two new honorary ambassadors, confirming leadership roles approved earlier at its March General Assembly.

Monika Kaelin was officially named Honorary Ambassador of the Club Suisse de Monaco in Switzerland, alongside former club president Philippe Ragaz. The move honours Kaelin’s longstanding dedication to the organisation—a relationship that notably includes hosting the club’s 75th-anniversary event alongside Prince Albert II.

‘Ramba Zamba’ at the Club Suisse de Monaco. Photo credit: Sébastien Nash

When ‘Ramba Zamba’ takes over

No gathering hosted by Kaelin would be complete without a grand finale, and the evening’s formal elegance didn’t last once the music shifted.

The moment the opening notes of her cult hit ‘Ramba Zamba’ filled the room, any lingering distinction between VIP guests, dignitaries, and members instantly vanished. The ballroom erupted into an impromptu conga line, turning a traditional 1st of August celebration into a full-scale folk festival in the heart of Monaco.

As the festivities stretched late into the night, one thing was entirely clear: Monaco’s Swiss community doesn’t just mark its national day—they make the principality dance.

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Swedish personality Victoria Silvstedt at the Swiss National Day celebration in Monaco. Photo credit: Sébastien Nash

Prince Albert II joins farewell concert for Monte-Carlo philharmonic director Kazuki Yamada

by: Virginia D’Umas
11/08/2026

The historic courtyard of the Prince’s Palace hosted the final summer concert of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra on Thursday 6th August, marking the departure of its artistic director, Kazuki Yamada.  

Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the event, which marked an emotional final chapter for the famous orchestra.

Pianist Alexandre Kantorow and conductor Kazuki Yamada. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier

The open-air concert brought together two prominent figures in the classical music world: conductor Kazuki Yamada and pianist Alexandre Kantorow. The ceremony took place within the courtyard of honour of the princely palace, featuring a demanding performance and celebrated repertoire dedicated to the works of Franz Liszt and Maurice Ravel.

End of an era for artistic direction

The final summer concert of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier

Beyond the musical performances, the evening carried deep emotional and symbolic weight for the orchestra and its audience. The concert served as the final official appearance of Kazuki Yamada in his capacity as the artistic and musical director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, concluding a defining chapter in the ensemble’s recent history.

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Monte-Carlo philharmonic director Kazuki Yamada. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier

Monaco to ban disposable plastic food containers from September

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/08/2026

Monaco will extend its crackdown on single-use plastics from 1st September, banning disposable plastic boxes, trays and salad bowls used for most ready-to-eat food sold across the Principality.

The change, adopted under Ministerial Decree no. 2026-129 in March, will affect food packaged for immediate sale or carrying a use-by period of no more than three days. It applies whether meals are eaten on the premises or taken away.

The ban covers ready-to-eat food that does not require cooking or boiling, bringing much of the packaging used by restaurants, snack bars, takeaways and other food businesses within its scope.

Exemptions written into the decree

Lids and closure systems are excluded from the new restriction. Containers used for fresh, cut and unprocessed fruit may also be exempt when the packaging is considered necessary to maintain freshness or food safety, or to prevent waste.

The decree also permits containers with a polyethylene, polylactic acid or equivalent coating, meaning businesses will still be able to use certain coated alternatives.

For food traders, the September deadline will mean replacing affected disposable plastic packaging with compliant options, including reusable containers or alternatives made from materials such as cardboard and moulded fibre.

Customers can bring reusable containers

Customers will retain the right to ask for food to be placed in their own reusable container, a provision introduced in Monaco in 2021. Businesses can refuse if the container is visibly dirty or unsuitable for the food being purchased.

Many establishments have already begun changing their packaging as earlier restrictions have taken effect. Businesses participating in Monaco’s Commerce Engagé and Restaurant Engagé programmes have also received support from the Department of the Environment and its partner, Ecoscience Provence.

Monaco moves towards 2030 target

The latest measure is part of Monaco’s drive to eliminate single-use plastic waste by 2030.

Single-use plastic checkout bags were prohibited in 2016, followed by plastic straws and stirrers in 2019. Restrictions on disposable plastic plates, cups, glasses and cutlery came into force in 2020.

Since 2023, restaurants have also been required to use reusable tableware and containers for food and drinks consumed on their premises.

The September ban will extend those restrictions to much of the prepared food sold for takeaway or immediate consumption, further reducing the disposable plastic packaging still in circulation in Monaco.

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AI generated image by Monaco Life

 

Monaco opens Place d’Armes kiosk tender focused on disability employment

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/08/2026

Monaco is seeking an operator for a new inclusive snack bar at Place d’Armes, with the business required to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities as part of a mainstream workplace team.

The Mairie de Monaco launched the public call for applications in the latest edition of the Journal de Monaco. The approximately 29m² kiosk is located along Avenue du Port, at one of the Principality’s busiest neighbourhood squares.

Employment at the centre of the project

The premises must be used as an inclusive snack bar with a social purpose. According to the official notice, the business should “promote the employment of people with disabilities within a team working in an ordinary workplace environment”.

The selected operator will therefore be expected to run a viable commercial activity while making workplace inclusion a central part of the project.

Snack bar planned for Place d’Armes

The Mairie says the proposed business must fit the family-oriented character of Place d’Armes, which brings together residents, workers, traders and visitors throughout the day.

The snack bar must not create noise or other disturbances for neighbouring businesses and residents.

Three-year agreement offered

The kiosk forms part of the State’s public domain and will be made available through a temporary occupancy agreement with the Mairie.

The initial agreement will run for three years and may be renewed at the sole discretion of the local authority. As is standard for public-domain premises, the arrangement will be personal to the selected operator, temporary and revocable.

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Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

 

 

How to watch the Solar Eclipse on 12th August

by: Virginia D’Umas
11/08/2026

The solar eclipse is part of a broader European phenomenon. While a total eclipse crosses Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Portugal, and Spain, Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes will experience a partial eclipse.

Because the event occurs late in the evening shortly before sunset, the sun will sit low on the western horizon, making a clear, unobstructed view to the west essential for anyone hoping to take in the spectacle.

Local timings for the Riviera

For spectators across the region, the eclipse will unfold in the late afternoon and early evening, running from 7:20pm to 9:10pm. The peak of the partial eclipse—when the moon covers the largest portion of the sun—will occur at approximately 8:25pm, providing a dramatic celestial backdrop as the evening light begins to soften.

Essential eye protection and health guidelines

Despite the sun sitting low in the sky, observing the eclipse without dedicated protection poses severe medical risks. Looking directly at the sun, even for a fraction of a second, can cause irreversible retinal damage and permanent vision loss. Standard sunglasses, regardless of how dark their tint or high their UV rating, offer zero protection against direct solar radiation.

Safe viewing strictly requires certified solar eclipse glasses that bear the official CE mark and meet the international ISO 12312-2 standard. These are available through local opticians, pharmacies, and specialist retailers. Parents and guardians must exercise extra vigilance and closely supervise children throughout the event to ensure protective eyewear remains properly in place. If any visual disturbances occur in the hours or days following the event—such as persistent blurred vision, reduced clarity, or a dark spot in the central field of vision—consult an ophthalmologist immediately.

An unforgettable Riviera sunset

With the proper certified protection in hand, this rare astronomical event promises to be one of the season’s highlights. Paired with the iconic scenery of the Mediterranean coast, skywatchers are in for a picture-perfect end to a summer evening on the French Riviera.

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Photo credit: Deepak Ramesha – Pexels 

Turkish chef Osman Sezener to bring his Aegean cooking to Robuchon Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/08/2026

Restaurant Robuchon Monaco is handing its kitchen to one of Turkey’s most decorated chefs this month, welcoming Osman Sezener for a two-night guest residency on 18th and 19th August that will bring his Aegean cuisine to the Principality. The takeover pairs the visiting chef with Jonathan Larrieu, whose kitchen earned its first Michelin star earlier this year.

Guest-chef residencies of this kind are a fixture of the fine-dining calendar, but they rarely last more than a couple of services, making the two evenings a narrow window to eat Sezener’s food outside Turkey.

A chef with two starred kitchens

Born in İzmir, Sezener is among the most recognised names in Turkish gastronomy. His restaurant OD Urla, which he opened in 2018 in the hills of Urla outside the city, holds both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star, the latter awarded for its environmental commitment. Its sommelier, Yunus Öztürk, took Türkiye’s 2025 Michelin Sommelier Award for a wine list built around the terroirs of the Urla region.

Sezener has also earned a Michelin star at a second restaurant, Kitchen by Osman Sezener in Bodrum, placing him among only a small number of chefs in Turkey to hold stars at two separate establishments. A pioneer of farm-to-table and zero-waste cooking, he grows or sources much of his produce himself, working from his own garden, vineyard and olive grove, and builds his menus around the seasons and the ingredients of the Aegean coast.

Hosted by a newly starred Robuchon

The residency takes place at Robuchon Monaco, on Rue du Portier in the Larvotto district, which pays tribute to the late Joël Robuchon and keeps his celebrated mashed potato on the menu. Under Jonathan Larrieu, the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in the 2026 guide, at a ceremony staged in Monaco for the first time in more than a century.

“It rewards a project carried out with rigour and passion every day,” Larrieu said of the star when it was announced, describing an ambition to make the Robuchon name shine in the Principality.

French wines to meet Aegean plates

For the two evenings, each course from Sezener will be matched with French wines chosen by the Robuchon Monaco sommelier. The pairings are intended to draw out the freshness and Mediterranean character of his cooking, setting the vineyards of France against dishes rooted in the Turkish coast rather than defaulting to the wines of his home region.

Practical details

The guest-chef menu, served with its accompanying French wine pairings, runs on 18th and 19th August only, at Restaurant Robuchon Monaco.

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Photo: Osman Sezener and Jonathan Larrieu, image edited by Monaco Life