AS Monaco Basket claimed a thrilling 100-95 victory over Real Madrid in a tense EuroLeague basketball match at the Gaston Médecin arena, securing an important win in front of their first sell-out crowd of the season.
The result keeps the home side in sixth place in what’s proving to be a tight EuroLeague campaign. Both teams came into the game with identical 10-7 records, and the match lived up to the fans’ anticipation between two evenly matched sides.
Real Madrid’s Facundo Campazzo was the game’s standout performer with 28 points, repeatedly threatening from long range. Centre Walter Tavares also stood out from early on, dominating with 21 points and 11 rebounds that caused Monaco problems throughout the first half.
However, Monaco’s strength lay in their balanced attack. Elie Okobo led the scoring with 22 points, while Mike James led the offence with 15 points and five assists. Matthew Strazel and Nemanja Nedovic both contributed 12 points, with Alpha Diallo adding 11 in a solid all-round display.
The contest remained on a knife-edge for three quarters, with the teams locked at 70-70 heading into the final period. It was then that Monaco found another gear. Nedovic and Nikola Mirotic took control, with the latter’s back-to-back three-pointers managing to establish a 10-point cushion at 85-75.
Campazzo continued to fire from distance in the closing stages, but Monaco’s defence held firm under pressure to close out the victory in front of their home crowd.
Strazel, who spent much of the evening battling Campazzo defensively, said afterwards: “I feel like I did a great job on him, but he still finished with 28 points. Defensively, we made the right stops at the right moments.”
Monaco coach Vassilis Spanoulis praised his team’s work on the boards during difficult stretches. “It’s a great victory for us,” he said, though he acknowledged the challenge ahead with four players due at the All-Star Game before their next fixture against Barcelona.
The win keeps Monaco in the playoff places in what has been an unusually competitive EuroLeague season, where staying in the top eight requires consistent performances at home.
Every year after the Christmas holidays end, people start to look forward to the winter sales: four weeks of shopping therapy with official discounts starting in early January.
In Monaco, like any other year, the winter sales kick off slightly earlier. Most shops begin their sales on Thursday 2nd January 2026, while sports retailers start later on Saturday 15th February.
Across most of mainland France, including the Côte d’Azur, the winter sales will take place from Wednesday 7th January until Tuesday 3rd February 2026, starting at 8am on the opening day.
Online shops must follow these same dates, no matter where they’re located.
However, shops in four departments along France’s eastern frontier get a one-week head start – beginning Friday 2nd January and finishing Thursday 29th January. This earlier schedule helps them stay competitive with retailers just across the border. The departments are: Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, and Vosges.
The rules behind French sales
France’s sales periods operate under strict regulations. Retailers can only reduce prices on goods they had in stock before the sales started, and all discounted items must be clearly labelled.
Price cuts must be measured against whatever the shop charged during the month beforehand, and businesses can only use the term ‘soldes’ during official sales windows.
Standard consumer rights apply throughout. While physical shops only have to accept returns on defective items, online purchases come with the usual fortnight to change your mind.
Reductions are set to reach 50% at shops across the region, with some retailers dropping prices further as the month progresses.
More than 100 business owners, traders and artisans came together on December 17th for the first evening in support of local commerce, organised by Carlo and the Union of Traders and Artisans of Monaco (UCAM).
The event, held at Marius, celebrated Monaco’s retail scene at a key moment: the year-end shopping season.
Five retailers were recognised with Carlo Awards, selected by the Carlo community. Woo took home the ‘Favourite Shop’ award, Narmino the ‘Best Storefront’, Yume the ‘Friendliest Shop’, AMC Haute Couture the ‘Best Customer Experience’, and Fnac Monaco the ‘Most Innovative Shop’.
Awards were presented by National Councillor Corinne Bertani, President of Be Safe Camille Gottlieb, four-time world free-diving champion Pierre Frolla, content creator and founder of ‘Vivre Monaco’ Romain Picard, and Head of Protocol and Communication for the Diocese of Monaco Ferxel Fourgon.
The challenging retail scene
Carlo CEO Antoine Bahri highlighted the challenges retailers face, saying, “In Monaco, as elsewhere, the challenges are very real: changing consumer habits, competition from e-commerce giants, the constant pressure on prices, ever-increasing customer expectations, and strong regulatory constraints.” He added, “Local commerce is far more than simply an economic sector. It is a human relationship. It is what connects us… it represents a commitment to quality, service, and trust, reflecting the image and identity of our country.”
A film was also screened during the event, featuring voices from Monaco’s business and institutional community. Afterwards, a moving contribution from Alain Latorre of the Capucine boutique followed, which closed this year after more than 60 years of operation.
Government and National Council representatives thanked then retailers for their role in keeping Monaco alive, before the evening wrapped up with a networking cocktail.
Founded six years ago in Monaco, Carlo now counts nearly 750 partner merchants and over 80,000 users while UCAM continues to represent around 150 traders and artisans
As the clock ticks towards the new year, few places can compete with Monaco’s New Year’s Eve glamour. Lights, music and gastronomy… the Principality offers everything from Michelin-starred dinners to firework shows.
For those seeking culinary perfection, the three Michelin-starred Louis XV-Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris presents a New Year’s Eve dinner at €1,300 per person (including a glass of champagne and hot drinks), with food and wine pairing available at an additional €500 per person. Chef Emmanuel Pilon’s exceptional cuisine promises an unforgettable evening.
The Hôtel de Paris, photo source: MCSBM
Le Grill, the one Michelin-starred restaurant on the eighth floor with sweeping views across of the Principality, offers a single menu at €1,050 per person (drinks excluded).
For those seeking theatrical flair, La Salle Empire hosts a New Year’s Eve dinner show at €1,350 per person with food and wine pairing.
Moving to Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, at the one Michelin-starred Pavyllon Monte-Carlo by Yannick Alléno, a six-course menu is priced at €990 per person (including half a bottle of champagne, with additional wines available).
Additionally, L’Abysse Monte-Carlo offers a Menu Omakase at €600 per person (drinks excluded) or €800 per person with food and wine pairing while The Salle Belle Epoque presents a five-course menu with musical entertainment at €780 for adults and €390 for children under 12 (including half a bottle of champagne, water, and coffee).
Hermitage Hôtel. Photo by Monaco Life
Following, at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, the two Michelin-starred Le Blue Bay Marcel Ravin offers a menu at €850 per person (including half a bottle of champagne) from 8pm, while La Table de Marcel presents a menu at €999 per person (wine and food pairing included) from 8pm.
Meanwhile, L’Orange Verte provides a more accessible option at €395 per person (including half a bottle of champagne) with performers from 8pm.
Contemporary dining
The iconic Café de Paris Monte-Carlo serves a New Year’s Eve menu at €470 per person (drinks excluded), with musical entertainment throughout the evening in the heart of Place du Casino.
Café de Paris. Photo source: MCSBM
Meanwhile, the famous Sass’ Cafe frequently preferred by celebrities, offers a set menu at €650 per person including a bottle of Dom Pérignon for two at midnight. Get ready for toro tartare with caviar oscietra, king crab brioche, white truffle risotto, and wagyu filet rossini style, as live music transitions to DJ sets.
Mediterranean and Asian cuisine
GAIA Monte Carlo Carlo hosts an elegant ‘Night in White’ celebration from 8pm, with a dedicated New Year’s Eve set menu at €450 per person featuring caviar platter with sea urchin, tuna peinirli, and kobe beef with foie gras, accompanied by live entertainment and DJ sets.
Moving to Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo, it offers two options: €490 per person in the restaurant (including half a bottle of Amour Deutz 2014 champagne), or €600 per person in the Lounge for the Dinner & Party Clubbing experience. An Omakase menu is also available at €350 per person with a €250 minimum spend on drinks.
Amazónico also offers two options: an early menu at €200 per person (arrival 7pm-7:30pm) or the main New Year’s Eve menu at €650 per person including €300 for drinks (arrival 9pm-10pm).
Additionally MayaBay presents exquisite Thai-Japonese cuisine with a €350 minimum spend per person. The evening features DJ sets, dancers, and shows.
Lastly, the Niwaki offers special Omakase menu at €350 per person including a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne or sake for two, water, and coffee. Live music and DJ sets keep the atmosphere lively, with karaoke available in the private lounge.
Hotel dining
The Fairmont Monte Carlo offers two exceptional New Year’s Eve experiences. In the Grand Salon, a New Year’s Eve Gala at €495 per person includes a gourmet buffet, half a bottle of champagne, and festive entertainment featuring cabaret, a magician, a DJ, and children’s entertainment.
At Nobu Monte Carlo, again within Fairmont, an extraordinary eight-course Omakase dinner at €450 per person blends Japanese and Peruvian flavours with festive ingredients including caviar, snow crab, oysters, and foie gras, with one glass of champagne and a live DJ.
Lastly, Marlow at Mareterra offers a New Year’s Eve dinner menu at €280 per person.
Where to dance the night away
Jimmy’z Monte Carlo, the nightclub that has hosted some of the world’s greatest DJs, opens from 11pm on December 31st for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party. The dress code is elegant and chic.
The winter pop-up at Blue Gin at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort offers a festive aperitif from 5pm, with the party starting from 11pm (minimum spend per table €350 based on two people).
For a more refined atmosphere, the Bar Américain at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo serves à la carte dinner and tapas with a minimum beverage charge of €1,100 per person from 10pm, including live music and one bottle of Cristal Roederer.
Free public celebration
However, not everything requires booking or deep pockets. The Mairie de Monaco hosts a free, open-access New Year’s Eve celebration at the Monaco Christmas Village on Port Hercule. Two stages animated by DJs will keep the party going from 9pm to 2am, with a spectacular fireworks display set to take place at midnight to welcome 2026.
Important tip: all restaurants and venues require advance reservations for New Year’s Eve, with many requiring prepayment to secure tables.
Cascades of chocolate, Oompa Loompas, and the marvellous Willy Wonka himself are about to take over the Grimaldi Forum as Monaco becomes the first to host a magical new production of Charlie and the Chocolate factory.
The musical made its world premiere on December 12th before embarking on an international tour, bringing Roald Dahl’s beloved tale to life. The production follows young Charlie Bucket as he wins a Golden Ticket and joins four other children on a journey though Willy Wonka’s extraordinary chocolate factory, encountering everything from the famous TV room and mixing room to the nut sorting room along the way.
During open rehearsals on Friday, Monaco Life sat down with the creative team to discover what it takes to create a world of pure imagination on stage.
During the rehearsal, photo by Monaco Life.
Finding the child within
For Sam Varley, who plays Charlie Bucket, the key to portraying the young protagonist isn’t pretending to be a child at all. “It’s less about presenting myself as a little boy, which is less interesting, and more about finding the childhood that is within us all, all the time,” he told Monaco Life.
The actor, who grew up on Roald Dahl’s stories, sees the role as a celebration of wonder. “I think part of what this story is about is finding your joy and your innocence unperturbed by adulthood, believing in magic and allowing yourself to be truly awed by anything.”
Standing on stage surrounded by the elaborate illusions, Varley admits he’s barely acting. “It’s so awe-inspiring anyway that I just allow myself to be as amazed as I am. I think that reads as joy, and childhood is joy.”
During the rehearsal, photo by Monaco Life.
The genius of Wonka
Haydn Oakley faces the challenge of bringing the complex chocolatier Willy Wonka to life, a character known for his quick mood shifts between whimsy and darkness. But the actor, doesn’t find it particularly difficult. “Luckily, I’m closer to Wonka than further away, so I just kind of lean into that part of my own personality,” he says laughing.
As a father of two young children aged seven and five, Oakley has strong views on the darker elements woven through Dahl’s storytelling. “I think children’s brains are probably more accepting of that kind of Roald Dahl darkness that we give them credit for,” he explains. “If anything, there’s a safety in what we’re doing here experiencing those darker undertones in this sort of environment and enjoying what they are.”
He hopes adults will rediscover their own sense of play. “As adults, we prevent ourselves from enjoying those things and thinking that we have to build up walls. So hopefully, people will leave this production feeling more childlike themselves.”
During the rehearsal, photo by Monaco Life.
Directing with imagination
Director and choreographer Grant Murphy has taken an unconventional approach to staging the production. In the final rehearsal room run, he stripped away everything physical. “They had no props, no set, no costume elements, and I asked them to just imagine everything. Like a child would when they’re playing in the garden.”
This technique, Murphy explains, helps the performers maintain the show’s sense of wonder even when surrounded by elaborate technical elements. “Once we open, I’ll be asking the cast to continue imagining that they’re in an empty room with nothing in it and all of the stuff around them is coming from their minds.”
He even suggests a playful interpretation: “Maybe Charlie imagined everything that everyone sees. Could all of this just been in your imagination?”
For now, the cast prepares to bring this magical world to Monaco, before taking it to stages around the globe. The show will be performed in English with French subtitles.
With waterfalls of chocolate, breathtaking illusions, and songs including ‘The Candy Man’, ‘I’ve Got a Golden Ticket’, and ‘Pure Imagination’, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises an unforgettable theatrical experience for the whole family this Christmas season.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory runs at the Grimaldi Forum from 12th to 14th December. Tickets start from €45.
Additionally, during every performance, one lucky child under 12 will have the opportunity to win their very own golden ticket!
Monaco’s new delegate for attractiveness, Ludmilla Raconnat Le Goff, has convened the first in a series of regular meetings bringing together the Principality’s business community to tackle three key challenges: relations between businesses and the state, conditions for economic development, and Monaco’s image and perception abroad.
The first session, held on December 11th at the Monaco Yacht Club, gathered representatives from FEDEM, the Monaco Economic Board, the banking association, and various professional bodies. Minister of State Christophe Mirmand was also present.
Raconnat Le Goff said the meeting stemmed from numerous one-on-one conversations with business leaders that revealed these recurring themes across all sectors.
“I want us to have very concrete discussions based on real examples of what businesses experience today,” she told the press, rather than “pilling up generalised complaints”.
The first theme addresses relations between businesses and the state, including concerns about administrative delays and complicated procedures. The second examines whether certain legal structures or texts “for certain sectors are no longer really adapted” and may need reviewing.
The third theme proved particularly striking. “When I explain our economic reality abroad, people say ‘we didn’t know that’,” Raconnat Le Goff noted, referring to recent trips in Paraguay and Jeddah.
“Monaco is known for a certain historical image that is dear to us – the glamour, festive events, sporting events,” she said. “But the reality of Monaco, the fact that Monaco is a place where it’s good to live, where it’s good to work, where it’s good to develop professional activity – that’s not necessarily perceived. The reality of our economic fabric ranging from industry to tech via services and finance is not known.”
To address this, the principality plans increased international engagement in 2026, joining networks of state agencies focused on attractiveness and meeting with foreign advisers.
Quality over quantity
However, Raconnat Le Goff dismissed any mass attraction strategy, highlighting quality over quantity. “Monaco is two square kilometres with limited real estate, limited possibilities. So we’re not in this mass policy.”
Instead, the focus is on attracting “high value-added companies” across diverse sectors rather than over-specialising. “I think we shouldn’t forbid ourselves anything in principle. Over-specialisation doesn’t seem appropriate either because it puts us at the mercy of a sector of activity.”
The sessions are likely to be held every four to six weeks.
