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From Santana to Scorpions: Monaco’s epic final week of July

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
22/07/2025

The Principality is set to close out July in fashion, with a line-up of world-class performances ranging from rock legends to classical masterpieces. 

Guitar icon Carlos Santana will make his highly anticipated return to Monaco on Wednesday 23rd July, taking the stage at 22:30 at the Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo on Avenue Princess Grace. The performance, part of the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival 2025, promises what organisers describe as a ‘hypnotic’ experience.

The festival continues its star line-up on Thursday evening with German techno pioneer Paul Kalkbrenner performing at 20:00. Featuring original saxophonist Chris White, the performance promises to deliver the ‘magnificent musical world’ that has captivated generations of rock fans.

The week’s highlight arrives on Saturday with German hard rock legends Scorpions taking the stage at 22:30. The band, which has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, is set to deliver a truly unforgettable evening for rock enthusiasts.

Jazz Meets Mozart

On Thursday 24th July jazz pianist Thomas Enhco will also present ‘Mozart Paradox’ at 21:30 on Avenue de la Quarantine. The innovative performance will showcase Enhco building bridges between jazz and classical music through solo piano improvisations on Mozart’s timeless themes.

Cinema under the stars

Two outdoor experiences will be offered to film enthusiasts on Thursday 24th July. The New National Museum of Monaco on Avenue Princesse Grace presents John Ford’s western classic ‘The Man Who Killed Liberty Valance’ (1962) at 21:30, following free access to the ‘Cactus’ exhibition from 19:00-21:00, with refreshments provided by The Stop.

Meanwhile, the Stade Louis II transforms into an open-air cinema for the first time as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations. Luc Besson’s ‘Valerian et la cité des mille planètes’ will be screened on the stadium’s brand-new giant screen at 20:30, complete with deckchairs and popcorn. Doors open at 19:00, but places are limited and invitations must be collected directly from the Stadium Management (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm).

Family fun

La Note Bleue at Plage du Larvotto on Avenue Princesse Grace hosts two vibrant musical experiences. Friday sees Carlos Lopes bring his Cabo Verde heritage to the stage with a unique blend of Afro Pop, Soul, Jazz, and R&B at 21:00. Saturday’s highlight features the return of Tamo Junto, the South of France’s ‘most infamous Samba band,’ promising to transport audiences to the heat of Brazilian Carnival with their 21:00 performance.

Families can also enjoy Saturday evening’s fireworks at Quai Albert 1er, beginning at 18:00 with free access to inflatable castles and building to the main fireworks display at 22:30, followed by a DJ set.

Palace performances

The week concludes with two classical performances at the Prince’s Palace. Sunday 27th July sees the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra perform Paul McCartney’s ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ in the Cour d’Honneur at the Prince’s Palace on Avenue Princesse Grâce. Conducted by Kazuki Yamada at 21:30, the concert features the CBSO Chorus and Rainier III Academy Children’s Choir in this collaboration between the former Beatle and Carl Davis.

The month’s final concert comes Thursday 31st July with conductor Charles Dutoit leading the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra alongside pianist David Fray. The 21:30 concert in the Cour d’Honneur at the Prince’s Palace features Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1, Ravel’s ‘Valses nobles et sentimentales,’ and Respighi’s ‘The Pines of Rome’.

Theatre and Practical Information

Theatre enthusiasts can experience ‘Du domaine des murmures’ on Tuesday 29th July at 21:30 on Avenue de la Quarantaine. Based on Carole Martinez’s Prix Goncourt des Lycéens-winning novel, the production tells the story of Esclarmonde, a young woman who refuses marriage and chooses religious seclusion in 12th-century France.

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Main photo credit: Thibault Trillet from Pexels

 

Interview: Team Blue Rising claims historic first victory in Monaco

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
21/07/2025

Team Blue Rising pulled off a sensational victory at Monaco on Saturday, claiming their first-ever E1 World Championship win. Cricket legend Virat Kohli’s team staged a remarkable comeback from what looked like a hopeless position to cross the line ahead of Team Brady and Team Brazil by Claure Group.

The victory moves team Blue Rising to fourth in the championship standings with 114 points, keeping them firmly in the hunt as the reason reaches its climax. More significantly, it allows defending champions Team Brady to reclaim the overall lead with 135 points—though they hold just a single point advantage over Team Rafa’s 134 points.

Exclusive: Inside the winning strategy 

Speaking exclusively to Monaco Life’s Kyriaki Topalidou after their breakthrough victory, Team Blue Rising’s pilots were still processing their historic achievement.

“Absolutely. Through the moon,” Sara Misir beamed when asked about securing their first win. “Over the moon. Did we even land on the moon?” she joked with her co-pilot John Peeters, to which he replied “I think we overshot it. We went almost until the sun. Yeah. It was pretty special.”

The team also revealed how they orchestrated their comeback after Team Brazil had established early dominance. Sara Misir, explaining their tactical masterstroke, said: “There’s a lot of strategy that goes into these races. It’s a matter of putting in good times. We were able to get John into some clean water; he achieved some solid times, and he was catching up and closing that gap. So, we were just waiting to see one of them make a mistake, and that’s what we really capitalised on and went for it, and came out first.”

The race featured multiple lap configurations—long lap, short lap, and regular lap—each demanding different approaches. “There’s theories how to do that, different deltas for the laps, and you’re able to capitalise on it. We all race in the same water, so it was just part of the deal. Make the most of it.” John Peeters explained.

Team Blue Rising’s Sara Misir and John Peeters after Saturday’s win, photo credit: Shiv Gohil / Spacesuit Media

Survival mode in Monaco waters

Monaco’s water conditions on Saturday tested every team to breaking point.

“It was massively difficult,” the team told Monaco Life. “You know, John brought it home because he called it himself. It was like Seatte waters. I guess this is what you’re used to in the boating world,” Misir added.

When asked how Monaco compared to other E1 race locations, the pair were candid about the challenge: “I think it definitely challenged us. It challenged everybody, but we clearly won, so we like it. I thought it was survival mode out there, so it was very interesting, and I didn’t expect anything different from Monaco.”

The team also acknowledged the conditions were particularly brutal this year: “This was rougher than last year for sure, but we knew that it was going to be part of the strategy.”

The RaceBirds struggling in Monaco’s water conditions during Final 2. Photo credit: Shiv Gohil / Spacesuit Media

Happy but grounded

Despite their euphoria, Team Blue Rising remain grounded about what lies ahead. When asked whether this breakthrough victory gave them confidence for future races, their response revealed the mentality that may have been key to their success.

“No. I mean, we’ve always had the morale of a team where it doesn’t matter what we do today — tomorrow’s a new day, and anything can change. It’s just a matter of how hard we’re ready to work and bring home what we can,” Misir explained.

Alongside their victory in the Monaco E1 race, John Peeters was recognised with the PIF Driver of the Race award. He and co-pilot Sara Misir accepted the team’s trophy on the podium from E1 founder and chairman Alejandro Agag, marking a rewarding conclusion to their steady climb toward this milestone result.

See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s video below…

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Main photo credit: Shiv Gohil / Spacesuit Media

‘Demain l’Océan?’ exhibition tackles climate crisis through contemporary art

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/07/2025

Monaco’s Quai Antoine 1er Exhibition Hall has been transformed into an immersive oceanic journey with ‘Demain l’Océan?’, running until 7th September. The exhibition brings together 34 artists from five continents to explore the relationship with the world’s seas through 71 works including photography, painting, sculpture, and video installations. 

Curated by Elodie Antoine with scenography by Thomas Guillaume, the show coincides with the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and forms part of France’s ‘La Mer en Commun-Année de la Mer’ initiative.

Six-part oceanic journey

Rather than giving direct environmental messages, Elodie Antoine designed the exhibition as a thoughtful journey through six thematic sections. “The idea was to place the spectator facing a horizon that can be somewhat turbulent,” she explains.

The first thematic section, called ‘The Horizon’, opens with diverse mediums including embroidery, photography, video and painting. Featured artists include Kiatu, a Guyanese artist who “reconnects with Asian tapestry,” and Lucas Arruda, whose Amazonian childhood memories create “imagined horizons” through his unique paint-removal technique.

‘Fauna and Flora’ represents the second section and it immerses visitors in an underwater world through green colour schemes. “Little by little to enter into the depths,” Antoine explains. This section features ceramics, bronzes, mobiles, and drawings.

Following, ‘Inhabiting the Shore’ examines humanity’s coastal relationship, exploring how beaches have densified with mass tourism while questioning our responsibility to protect these spaces.

The fourth section, ‘The Sea in Peril’, addresses contemporary environmental threats through installations showing pollution impact and microplastics. ‘What Future for the Ocean?’ concludes with works visualising extreme weather, rising seas and climate disasters, questioning what awaits without immediate action.

Pollution impact featured at ‘Demain l’Océan?’ exhibition, photo by Monaco Life.

Global perspective

Antoine avoided a Mediterranean-centric approach: “I didn’t want us to make an exhibition that only spoke about the Mediterranean.” The international scope addresses marine pollution, climate migration, and rising sea levels through works from multiple continents.

The exhibition, organised by Monaco’s Direction des Affaires Culturelles, aims to reflect the principality’s maritime heritage, from Prince Albert I’s 1921 warnings about marine destruction to Prince Albert II’s current conservation work.

‘Demain l’Océan?’ runs until 7th September 2025 at the Quai Antoine 1er Exhibition Hall and is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 1pm-7pm with free entry.

See more in Kyriaki Topalidou’s video below…

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Main photo by Monaco Life.

Simon Delestre claims third consecutive Longines Global Champions Tour victory

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/07/2025

During a fascinating weekend Simon Delestre secured his third consecutive victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco. Meanwhile, Antoine Ermann claimed the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.

The world number eight delivered an outstanding performance in the jump-off on Saturday evening, riding Cayman Jolly Jumper to finish in 32.05 seconds and win the €1.5 million prize. He beat Britain’s Harry Charles on Sherlock by a strong 1.84 seconds, showing the skill and speed that have made him a three-time Monaco champion.

The victory marks Delestre’s fourth five-star Grand Prix triumph of the season, following earlier wins ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Saut Hermès in Paris. The partnership has now won four of the seven top-level competitions they have contested since January 1st – a remarkable strike rate.

French double delight

France’s successful weekend completed when Antoine Ermann guided Odin vt Hanegoor to victory in the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.

Twelve combinations made it through to the jump-off from the first round, with Delestre third to compete in the deciding phase. “It’s difficult to find the words,” Delestre said after his victory. “Winning here is incredible. I had made it an objective but to actually succeed…I was third to go in the jump-off. I knew I had to do something incredible to hope to win.”

The Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 described his tactical approach: “I took all the risks and couldn’t do any more anyway. At the finish, even though you can always be beaten, I knew that the podium, was assured and that we would be hard to beat.”

Delestre’s victory strengthens his position in the overall Longines Global Champions Tour standings and secures his place at November’s Super Final in Prague, when Grand Prix winners compete for the ultimate prize.

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Photo credit: Monaco Life 

Energy Observer docks in Monaco after seven-year global voyage

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/07/2025

The Monaco Yacht Club welcomed a remarkable vessel to its marina during the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge—the Energy Observer, the world’s first vessel to complete a round-the-world voyage in total energy autonomy. After seven years at sea, covering 68,000 nautical miles, it arrived in Monaco to demonstrate the possibilities of maritime decarbonisation. 

Speaking to Monaco Life, Nolwenn Guenan, the vessel’s 360 Communication Manager, explained the groundbreaking technology that powers the boat. “Energy Observer is a boat operating with a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen on board,” she said.

The technology that powered the global voyage

The boat stands as an example in marine propulsion, operating entirely on a low-carbon energy mix combining solar panels, wind turbines, hydropower, and crucially, hydrogen produced on board from seawater electrolysis.

The Energy Observer’s seven year voyage has taken it to more than 50 countries, making 101 stopovers across the globe. “The objective is to experiment, decrypt, and raise awareness about energy transition.” Guenan explained.

Solar panels on top of the Energy observer, photo by Monaco Life.
Solar panels on top of the Energy observer, photo by Monaco Life.

Next-generation vessel to push boundaries even further

The success of the original Energy Observer has paved the way for an even more ambitious successor. EO3, currently under development, represents the next generation of low carbon vessels, designed from the outset as a commercial ship meeting international standards.

This new vessel will feature an innovative energy system integrating multiple complementary technologies: a 180-square-metre solar array, four wing sails for propulsion assistance, and a revolutionary ammonia-based fuel system.

The Energy Observer’s presence at the Monaco Boat Energy Challenge gave visitors and contestants a glimpse into the future of zero-emission maritime transport.

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Main photo by Monaco Life.

All eyes on AS Monaco as Paul Pogba, Eric Dier, and Ansu Fati presented

by: Luke Entwistle
04/07/2025
Eric Dier, Paul Pogba, and Ansu Fati holding up their AS Monaco shirts in La Turbie following their arrivals at the club.

Paul Pogba, Eric Dier, and Ansu Fati were unveiled as new AS Monaco players on Thursday. The return of Pogba, a 2018 World Champion, was highly anticipated as the eyes of the footballing world fixed on the Principality club.

Around 50 journalists from France, England, and Italy descended on the Principality club’s performance centre in La Turbie on Thursday to catch a glimpse of Pogba, very much the headline act of the highly-anticipated presentation day.

Everyone would have to wait to get a glimpse of the Frenchman, who was not involved in first-team training in the morning. Dier, meanwhile, trained individually, whilst Fati was involved with the first-team, albeit not for the entirety of the session.

AS Monaco’s Eric Dier in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle

Dier kicked-off procedings in the early afternoon. “It is a new experience for me. I have made the best decision for myself,” began the former Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich man. He added, “I am very excited by the offer and what they have been doing here. That was everything that I needed and I made a decision that I was very happy with.”

Dier sets sights on England return

The Englishman, who hasn’t represented the Three Lions since the 2022 World Cup, announced another ambition in the wake of his move to Les Monégasques. “It is always my objective to be in the national team. I have 49 caps, it would be nice to have 50. This annoys me a little bit (laughs). It is an objective of mine but you just need to play well for your club,” he said.

Simply playing is the objective for Fati, whose loan move from Barcelona was officialised on 1st July. The Spaniard was touted as the next big thing when he broke through at Barça, however, his progress has stalled in recent seasons.

A difficult loan spell at Brighton in 2023/24 failed to get his career back on-track and injuries limited him to just 11 games last season. “I am fighting to get back to my best level and I am here to try to do that,” said Fati.

AS Monaco’s Ansu Fati in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle

“I think that change is good! I want to thank the club where I grew up, Barça. It was a great experience at Brighton, too, even if others think differently. I had an injury and I couldn’t be consistent. I want to bring that [consistency] here,” he added.

Monaco have option to make Fati move permanent

His loan move includes the option to make the deal permanent for a reported €11m, as Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro dismissed any suggestions that this was a “risky” transfer. “I don’t see any bigger risk than any other signing,” said the Brazilian.

Then came the headline act, Pogba. The auditorium at Monaco’s performance centre fell deafly silent as he entered the room and until, in his first words to the press since returning to the professsional game, he evoked the emotional scenes that marked the signing of his contract.

“As you saw, there were a lot of emotions. It is very rare to see me cry like that so I hope you enjoyed it,” he joked, referencing a viral video in which he cried while putting pen-to-paper on a two-year deal. “There were so many images that came into my mind. We know the doping story, my injury… eveything came back to me during the signing and I couldn’t hold back. It was a moment of joy!”

Pogba returns following doping ban

Pogba has been allowed to return to football since March and the expiry of his doping ban, which came into effect in September 2023. The initial four-year ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal.

But in the past three years, the Frenchman has had to contend with plenty of other issues on and off the pitch. His return to Juventus back in 2022 was scuppered by injuries. He played just over 200 minutes in his first season back at the club.

There was also the kidnapping in March 2022 as part of an organised extortion attempt, involving his own brother, Mathias.

It was Mathias who then attempted to defame his brother just months later, claiming that La Pioche had used a marabout to cast a spell on Kylian Mbappé ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League encounter against PSG back in 2019. The marabout in question and Pogba have both denied the claim, although the latter did admit to consulting the former in order to help with his continued injury issues.

‘I hope to be even better than before’ – Pogba

Pogba is now looking forward. “I’ve spoken to people who advised me to live in the moment, live day by day and not think about things that have already happened,” said the Frenchman.

He is now desperate to return. “I feel like a kid that has signed his first professional contract,” added Pogba. The 32-year-old is looking to turn back the clock. “I hope to be even better than before because I have more desire. Here, I have everything to become a big player again,” he said.

AS Monaco’s Paul Pogba at his presentation. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle

“We are pretty confident that Paul can bring a lot,” said Scuro. However, not in the short-term, as he later revealed.

Monaco unveil roadmap for Pogba return

Pogba said that he was “motivated” to play against his formative club, Le Havre, on the opening day of the Ligue 1 season. However, that will not become a reality. “I can guarantee you that he won’t be on the pitch against Le Havre […] I am here to be realistic and to be honest. We expect a three-month process,” said Scuro. A return around the end of September/ start of October is therefore envisaged, all being well.

With three signings secured, Scuro added that focus would now turn towards sales. “We haven’t spent for the moment. Targeting elite players who could come without too much investment was an objective, but to invest more, we will also need to sell and generate more money,” said the Monaco CEO.

Monaco target goalkeeper signing

Maghnes Akliouche, present at first-team training on Thursday, is one of the players linked with a move away from the Principality club. The likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, and Bayer Leverkusen have been linked with the France youth international.

AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche in training. Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle

“It is normal that Maghnes is on the lists of the top clubs. We have our conditions, though. When this is the game, we are here to protect ourselves. He can stay or they can go – that is relevant to all players,” said Scuro.

Should there be outgoings, it would provide funds for Monaco to secure one of their major objectives – a new goalkeeper. “We are working on it,” confirmed Scuro.

Monaco have already made some big moves during the current window, however, ones which will certainly bolster the profile of the club both in France and abroad, but ones which, it is hoped will also raise the standard of the squad as they look to secure another podium finish next season.

 

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Photo credit: Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle