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Month: September 2026

MEB opens new business channels with Corsica and Bordeaux

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2026

The Monaco Economic Board has expanded its ties with two major French economic regions, signing a partnership agreement with Corsica and opening discussions on future cooperation with the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The two initiatives took place over 17th and 18th September, bringing regional officials and business leaders to the Principality for meetings focused on tourism, retail, yachting, training and cross-border commercial opportunities.

New economic partnership with Corsica

The central development was the signing of a framework agreement between Monaco Economic Board President Michel Dotta and Gilles Simeoni, President of the Public Establishment of Commerce and Industry of Corsica, during the Monaco Business trade fair.

The partnership is intended to increase contact between companies in Monaco and Corsica, facilitate the exchange of expertise and develop cooperation in sectors shared by the two economies.

Initial areas identified for follow-up include tourism, yachting and professional training for the hospitality and events industries.

The two organisations also shared a stand at Monaco Business, allowing companies and visitors to make direct contact with representatives of Corsica’s economic network.

The agreement follows earlier partnerships established by the MEB through Monaco Business with organisations including the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, the Nice Côte d’Azur CCI, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Nice and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional CCI.

MEB representatives are expected to travel to Ajaccio before the end of the year to identify opportunities for a future economic mission.

Bordeaux delegation explores Monaco’s retail and tourism sectors

The previous day, a delegation from the Bordeaux Gironde CCI visited Monaco through an initiative organised with payment application Carlo, which operates in both the Principality and Bordeaux.

The visit focused on retail and tourism, with the two regions exchanging information about changing consumer habits, destination marketing and the challenges facing local businesses.

A forum at MonacoTech opened with a presentation of Monaco’s economy before two panel discussions moderated by MEB Executive Director Guillaume Rose.

Corinne Bertani, Vice-President of the National Council’s Finance and National Economy Committee, and Alexandre Pasta, President of the Union of Traders and Artisans of Monaco, discussed the diversity of Monaco’s retail sector and how businesses are adapting to evolving customer behaviour.

A second discussion brought together Guy Antognelli, Director of Monaco’s Tourism and Convention Authority, and Axel Hoppenot, a former Marketing and Sales Director at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer and current French Foreign Trade Adviser.

The speakers examined Monaco’s international tourism profile, with particular attention paid to the Formula One Grand Prix and its role in promoting the Principality worldwide.

The Bordeaux delegation also presented the Gironde economy and its experience in building an internationally recognised destination around the Bordeaux name.

The programme concluded with a networking reception connecting members of the delegation with Monaco-based entrepreneurs already active in Gironde or considering opportunities in the region. The MEB is also planning a visit to Bordeaux before the end of 2026 to assess the potential for further business exchanges.

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo: Michel Dotta, President of the Monaco Economic Board, and Gilles Simeoni, President of the Public Establishment of Commerce and Industry of Corsica, sign a framework partnership agreement at Monaco Business. Also pictured, from left: Justin Highman, Deputy CEO of the MEB; Jean Dominici, First Vice-President of EPCI Corsica; Guillaume Rose, Executive Director of the MEB; Maurice Cohen, President of Monaco Communication; Lionel Beffre, Monaco’s Minister of the Interior; and Benoît Jourdan, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Marseille. Photo: EPCI Corsica/Charly Gallo

 

Guide: Make the most of rare access to Monaco institutions on Heritage Days

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2026

Monaco will open the doors to some of its most important political, cultural and historic buildings for the 31st European Heritage Days, with 48 sites and activities included in the Principality’s 2026 programme.

The main programme takes place on Sunday 4th October, while several museums, exhibitions and cultural activities will also be available on Saturday 3rd October.

This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine, examines the threats facing built, natural and intangible heritage, from climate change and environmental damage to urban transformation and the loss of traditional knowledge.

For visitors, however, the immediate attraction is the rare opportunity to enter institutions that are normally closed or only partly accessible to the public, alongside free or reduced-price access to many of Monaco’s best-known museums and landmarks.

The Palace, Government and National Council open their doors

On the Rock, the Prince’s Palace will open its State Apartments free of charge from 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Visitors will be able to see the Palace’s restored Renaissance frescoes, uncovered as part of a major conservation campaign launched in 2015. More than 600 square metres of historic decoration have been revealed in the Galerie d’Hercule and other areas, with the final phase of restoration expected to continue until 2028.

Nearby, the Hôtel du Gouvernement will welcome visitors into the official residence and offices of the Minister of State. Its reception rooms and terrace overlooking Port Hercule will be accessible from 10am to 5pm.

The National Council, Monaco Town Hall and Palais de Justice are also participating, along with the private chapel and gardens of the Archbishop’s residence.

Traditional Monegasque culture will form part of the programme at the National Council and Town Hall, where U Cantin d’a Roca will perform songs in the Monegasque language. Performances are scheduled at the National Council at 10am and 11am, followed by appearances in the Town Hall’s Salle des Mariages at 3pm and 4pm.

A guided walk through Monaco-Ville will offer further insight into the origins of the Principality, its architecture, traditions and lesser-known stories. The 90-minute tour begins near the Malizia statue in Place du Palais and requires advance registration.

Oceanographic Museum explores a living heritage

The Oceanographic Museum will approach the theme through the natural heritage of the sea, examining the pressures facing marine ecosystems and the work being undertaken to protect them.

Founded by Prince Albert I and inaugurated in 1910, the museum was conceived as a place where art and science could come together to advance knowledge of the marine world. Today, it receives more than 650,000 visitors annually.

Special guided tours will take place at 10.30am, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm. Each lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes and is limited to 10 participants, with registration available at the museum ticket desks.

Unlike many participating sites, admission to the Oceanographic Museum is not free. A special Heritage Days rate will apply, with tickets priced at €9 for adults and €6 for visitors aged four to 17, students and people with disabilities. The museum will be open from 10am to 6pm.

Elsewhere on the Rock, visitors can explore the National Committee of Monegasque Traditions, Pavillon Bosio art school, Lycée Albert Ier and activities devoted to the preservation of Monaco’s traditional cuisine.

From the Casino to the Théâtre Princesse Grace

In Monte-Carlo, the Casino will offer free general access until midday on Sunday, with guided visits scheduled at 9.30am and 11am. Advance online registration is required for the guided tours.

The visit will focus on the building’s Belle Époque architecture, decorative arts and changing role within Monte-Carlo over more than a century. A retrospective film using archival photographs will also trace the evolution of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer over the past 160 years.

The Théâtre Princesse Grace is another major addition to the programme. Guided visits will take place at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm, offering access to the former Théâtre des Beaux-Arts.

Opened in 1932 and later restored at the request of Princess Grace, the theatre retains its Art Deco character and a history linked to performers including Édith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier. Registration is required through the Heritage Days website.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will open Villa Girasole and its gardens from 10am to 5pm. Visitors will also be able to see exhibitions devoted to Greenland and Antarctica, accompanied by walking talks on the protection of the polar regions.

Other Monte-Carlo participants include the Francis Bacon MB Art Foundation, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Mémoria Archives and the Logoscope research and creative laboratory.

Museums, gardens and major sporting venues

The recently reopened Jardin Exotique will offer free admission from 9am to 6pm, giving visitors access to one of Monaco’s most distinctive landscapes following six years of work.

Guided visits to the Botanical Centre will be held at 10am and 2pm, with advance reservations required. Its glasshouses contain one of the world’s significant collections of cacti and succulents.

Also participating in the Jardin Exotique district are the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco and Villa Paloma, part of the New National Museum of Monaco.

At the Audiovisual Institute, visitors can see how Monaco’s film, television, photographic and sound archives are preserved, restored and digitised. Guided behind-the-scenes visits will be offered at 9.30am, 11am and 2pm, while screenings and exhibitions will be freely accessible during the day.

In Fontvieille, the programme includes Stade Louis II, the National Archives, the Museum of Stamps and Coins and Imprimerie Graphic Service.

The Museum of Stamps and Coins will open free of charge from 10am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Its collection traces Monaco’s monetary history from the first coins struck during the reign of Honoré II in 1640, as well as its philatelic history from the first Monegasque stamps issued in 1885.

The Prince’s Car Collection and the Quai Antoine Ier exhibition hall also form part of the programme.

Behind the scenes at Monaco’s institutions

Several participating venues offer a view of Monaco beyond its familiar visitor attractions. The Museum of the Princes of Monaco and Their Guards, at the Prince’s Carabiniers headquarters, will open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Guided visits and activities will trace the history of Monaco’s military guard from 1817 to the present day.

The programme also includes the Ballets de Monte-Carlo workshops, Princess Grace Academy, Rainier III Academy of Music and Theatre, Monaco Scientific Centre, Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace and Monaco-Monte-Carlo railway station.

The International Hydrographic Organization will open its headquarters on Quai Antoine Ier from 10am to 5pm, presenting the underwater drones, digital technologies and mapping techniques used to study the seabed.

Visitors can also explore the Caroline Multimedia Library’s heritage collection, learn about the conservation of public artworks through AMAPEI and join guided heritage walks through both Monaco-Ville and Monte-Carlo.

An exhibition titled Mémoire des lieux will run at the Quai Antoine Ier exhibition hall on both Saturday and Sunday. Through contemporary art, it examines how Monaco’s rapid urban transformation has reshaped buildings and landscapes while leaving traces of collective memory.

Reservations open on 25th September

Reservations for visits managed through the official Heritage Days website will open on Friday 25th September at 9am. Other venues use their own booking systems, telephone numbers or on-site registration, so visitors should check the conditions for each location carefully.

While many participating venues are free, this does not apply universally. Some, including the Oceanographic Museum, are offering reduced admission instead.

Monaco buses will be free for the occasion. A special daily parking rate of €9 will also be available at Les Salines, Condamine, Pêcheurs, Stade Louis II, Boulingrins, Grimaldi Forum and La Colle car parks.

The complete programme, booking information and interactive map are available at journeepatrimoinemonaco.com.

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo source: MCSBM

 

Pierre Casiraghi assembles star crew for Tuiga’s Saint-Tropez campaign

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2026

Yacht Club de Monaco flagship Tuiga will return to Mediterranean competition at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez with Pierre Casiraghi leading a crew drawn from the America’s Cup, The Ocean Race, IMOCA sailing, foiling and freediving.

The 1909 gaff cutter will join around 253 yachts for the 28th edition of Les Voiles, taking place from 26th September to 4th October. The fleet is expected to include 80 classic yachts, more than 20 of which are over a century old.

Tuiga arrives in Saint-Tropez following an East Coast tour of the United States linked to celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Spithill and Herrmann join Casiraghi at the helm

Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, will serve as skipper and tactician, sharing helming duties with two-time America’s Cup winner Jimmy Spithill and Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann.

The crew also includes Dutch offshore sailor Rosalin Kuiper, British sailor Tom Dawson and Italian Moth and foiling specialist Lorenzo De Felice.

French freediver Arnaud Jerald, who set a constant weight bi-fins world record with a dive to 126 metres in 2025, will make his first appearance aboard Tuiga. Nineteen-year-old Yacht Club de Monaco sailor Louise Debeaumont, an ILCA 6 competitor, will also take part in her first regatta on the historic yacht.

The line-up reflects Casiraghi’s aim of bringing together competitors from different disciplines while introducing a new generation to traditional sailing.

“The backgrounds are diverse yet complementary, involving different ways of reading the wind, trimming the boat and anticipating manoeuvres,” said Casiraghi.

He added that adapting those skills to Tuiga would require close coordination aboard a heavy and powerful yacht with considerable inertia.

“For every manoeuvre, preparation and timing between the helm, rig management and crew movement is critical,” he said. “It is this collective effort that interests me and which I believe can lead us to victory.”

Historic yachts return to the Gulf of Saint-Tropez

Racing begins on 28th September, with the traditional yachts competing for the Rolex Trophy. The programme will also include the Centenarians’ Trophy on 1st October for vessels more than 100 years old.

The 2026 edition coincides with the centenary of the Comité International de la Méditerranée, whose rating system provides the framework for classic yacht racing.

For Tuiga, the regatta marks a return to familiar waters and one of the Mediterranean’s largest gatherings of historic sailing yachts.

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Carlo Borlenghi

Prince Albert II unveils a Malraux tribute at Roquebrune’s open-air art show

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2026

Prince Albert II inaugurated the 15th edition of Les Journées de l’Art-Bre, the open-air contemporary-art exhibition in neighbouring Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, on Thursday 17th September, unveiling a bust of André Malraux as this year’s event honours the 50th anniversary of the French writer’s death. The Sovereign was welcomed to the French commune by its mayor, Patrick Césari, alongside Martine Césari, president of the tourist office, and Anne-Hélène Mazzoni, director of its tourism events office.

Held each September in the olive grove of the Parc du Cap Martin, Les Journées de l’Art-Bre scatters sculptures and other works through the trees — the name a play on the French word “arbre”, or tree. The free, open-air exhibition, staged as part of the commune’s heritage season, has grown over 15 editions into a fixture of the local cultural calendar, and Prince Albert II has long attended as its guest of honour. Among its permanent features is a trail of busts honouring the many figures who once lived in or passed through Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, from Coco Chanel and Winston Churchill to Joséphine Baker and Jacques Brel.

Photo credit: Michaël Alesi / Palais princier de Monaco

This year’s edition is dedicated to André Malraux, the novelist, art theorist and statesman — author of La Condition Humaine — who served as France’s first Minister of Cultural Affairs under Charles de Gaulle and died in 1976.

The works on show

The centrepiece of the Prince’s visit was the unveiling of the Malraux bust, created by the artist Cyril de la Patellière, who was present for the ceremony. The Sovereign also saw the unveiling of a work titled “Poséidon” and viewed a portrait of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace by the artist Marcos Marin, before discovering “suspensions” and “basse-cour”, two pieces by Martin Caminiti. The inauguration closed with a speech by the mayor.

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Michaël Alesi / Palais princier de Monaco

 

Monaco’s financial crime watchdog blocks €87 million as reports hit record high

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/09/2026

Monaco’s financial-crime watchdog froze more than €87 million in suspect transactions, increased its inspections by half and imposed fines of up to €800,000 in 2025 – a year that saw the regulator markedly toughen its enforcement. Suspicious-activity reports also reached a record, as the authority pushed its scrutiny well beyond the banks and into property, luxury goods, yachting and corporate services.

The figures come from the annual report of the Autorité Monégasque de Sécurité Financière (AMSF), which describes 2025 as “a year of strong acceleration” in the Principality’s fight against financial crime. Across reporting, supervision and enforcement, it points to a regulator that is both bigger and more assertive than a year earlier.

The AMSF suspended 10 transactions during the year, together worth more than €87 million. This power allows the authority to temporarily stop an operation linked to a suspicious transaction report when the seriousness or urgency of the case warrants intervention.

All 10 cases were subsequently referred to the General Prosecutor’s Office. One of the suspensions followed a request from a foreign financial-intelligence unit.

Overall, the AMSF’s Financial Intelligence Unit sent 73 reports to prosecutors in 2025, representing a 59% increase compared with the previous year.

Suspicious transaction reports reach record level

The rise in referrals followed another record year for suspicious transaction reporting. The AMSF received 1,479 reports in 2025, up 9.5% from 2024 and more than double the 685 recorded in 2021.

Banks remained the largest source, accounting for 855 reports, or almost 58% of the total. However, reporting also continued to increase across other regulated sectors, indicating that anti-money laundering obligations are becoming more firmly established beyond traditional financial institutions.

Non-financial professions submitted 578 reports, an increase of 14%. Gaming establishments accounted for 235, followed by notaries with 97, real estate agents with 61 and accountants with 57.

Reports from company service providers increased by 71%, while submissions from portfolio management companies rose by 87%.

Inspections and follow-up action intensify

The authority also stepped up its direct supervision of regulated businesses, conducting 54 on-site inspections during the year – 50% more than in 2024.

It completed 54 follow-up procedures, compared with only nine the previous year, as it placed greater emphasis on whether businesses corrected weaknesses identified during inspections. Those weaknesses continued to involve customer due diligence, risk classifications, the verification of sources of wealth and funds, politically exposed persons and transaction monitoring.

Meanwhile, engagement with STRIX, the AMSF’s risk-assessment platform, improved significantly. The authority received 1,294 responses, with the participation rate rising from 84% to 96%.

But compliance with mandatory annual activity reporting was considerably weaker. The AMSF received 631 reports, representing only 59% of the businesses required to submit one.

The rate varied sharply between sectors. Banks recorded a 90% submission rate, compared with just 23% in the yachting industry and 20% among traders in high-value goods.

Hundreds of penalties issued

The AMSF issued 803 formal notices during 2025, mainly to businesses that had failed to submit internal-control procedures or complete the STRIX questionnaire. More than 80% subsequently corrected their position. However, the authority still imposed 166 simplified penalties totalling €384,500.

Seven more serious cases resulted in formal sanction decisions, including a fine of €800,000 issued to Landmark Management SAM and €500,000 against International Corporate Structuring SARL (ICS).

A bigger, busier regulator

The expansion was underpinned by 20 new recruits and a new Legal Department, which between March and December alone fielded nearly 500 queries from regulated businesses on Monaco’s anti-money-laundering rules, due-diligence duties and the treatment of politically exposed persons.

Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok. 

Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti

 

Monaco United claims historic first Monaco women’s derby

by: Kayla Sauceda
22/09/2026

For the first time in history, Monaco United faced AS Monaco FF in the Monaco derby, resulting in a 3-1 victory for Monaco United. The match was filled with passion and emotion, carrying significance beyond the result itself, with an enthusiastic crowd contributing to the atmosphere.

“It was a great opportunity to show that women’s football has its place in the Principality, that it is developing, and that it deserves all the attention it can receive,” said Monaco United coach Marco Simone.

AS Monaco FF opened the scoring first; however, Monaco United remained organised and gradually regained control of possession. This allowed captain of the day, Rachel Robert, to level the score at 1-1 just minutes before half-time. Reflecting on the opening half, she said, “The start of the match was difficult, and it took us some time to impose our rhythm.”

Following the break, Monaco United prioritised regaining greater control of the game and improving its decision-making. The second half also demonstrated the importance of substitutes as several players came on to help maintain the high intensity throughout the remainder of the match.

Monaco United’s Jade Prault won a penalty after a foul from the opposing goalkeeper. Robert stepped up to take the penalty, converting to give Monaco United a 2-1 lead. Léa Rosenberger added to this lead with one of her first touches after stepping onto the pitch. This goal gave Monaco United a level of comfort heading into the closing minutes.

A HISTORIC DERBY VICTORY

The final scoreboard read 3-1 in favor of Monaco United, making the team the first-ever winners of the Monaco women’s football derby. This match marked another strong performance from the team in the second season of its history. With clear ambitions for the 2026-2027 season, the club stepped up in a moment that will certainly remain one of the key fixtures of the season.

“What we are building at Monaco United is not limited to a season or a result,” Simone said. “We want to develop a genuine sporting project with a culture of hard work that will allow us to improve year after year.”

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Photo credit: Flare Vision