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Monaco’s Electro Winter Party returns with new lineup

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/01/2026

Following a successful debut last year, Monaco’s Electro Winter Party is scheduled to return on February 6th with a fresh line up of electronic music acts. 

The all-night event will take place at the Grimaldi Forum’s Ravel Hall, running from 9pm until 3am. Parisian duo Ofenbach, described as the world’s most-streamed French electronic act, will top the bill alongside Nice-based producer Feder.

The first Electro Winter Party took place last year on January 16th as part of the venue’s 25th anniversary celebrations. That evening had seen Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene open the forum’s new extension, a 6,000-square-metre addition to the facility.

Now, the February edition shifts the focus towards more mainstream electronic dance music. Ofenbach have built a substantial following since they formed, reaching billions of streams across platforms. Their 2022 debut album topped French charts and became one of the country’s most successful exports in recent years. The pair have performed hundreds of shows internationally.

Feder, on the other hand, gained attention nearly a decade ago when his debut track reached the top spot on iTunes in multiple countries. He’s since become recognised for his production work, including tracks used as sporting anthems.

Belgian artist Nathalie Duchene, whose work draws from disco and techno traditions, will also perform, with Monaco-based DJ Baloo closing out the night.

Tickets for general admission cost €70 and include a drink. Meanwhile, the venue also offers VIP table packages for groups of eight or 12, priced between €1,500 and €4,200 depending on the package tier.

Entry is restricted to adults aged 18 and over, with identification checks at the doors, which open at 9pm.

See also: 

Prince Albert, Princess Charlene unveil Grimaldi Forum expansion at 25th anniversary celebration

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Main photo credit: Grimaldi Forum

Monaco Social Services celebrates a decade of support

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/01/2026

Health and Social Affairs Minister Christophe Robino joined staff at Monaco’s Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales Thursday morning to mark the department’s 10th anniversary, revealing the scale of social support provided across the Principality.

The department, which employs 180 staff across 15 professions with an annual budget of €51.4 million, handles around 3,500 cases each year through its Social Protection Office alone.

Speaking at the celebration at the new Honore II premises, Robino revealed the range of services provided since the department’s creation, including support for 500 minors and adults with disabilities, 250 child protection cases annually, and 1,500 people in professional integration programmes.

“I want, above all this morning to salute the women and men who work within the DASO,” Mr. Robino said. “It is thanks to you, thanks to your commitment, thanks to your humanity, that the Prince’s Government can support these thousands of people.”

The Princess Charlene Children’s Home welcomes between 20 and 25 children each year, while the department has introduced significant new benefits including minimum income support, autonomy assistance, and subsidiary medical coverage.

Director Marie Thouvenin-Rapaire, addressing colleagues and partners, explained that behind every case, every file, lies a human story. “Behind each file, each procedure, each decision, there is a story, an expectation, sometimes a worry,” she said. “And our role, collectively, is to find that delicate balance between administrative rigour, fairness, and attention to the person.”

However, she also acknowledged the challenges ahead, describing increasing complex situations, and told staff: “Our work requires technical skill, but also personal commitment, discretion, and often great inner strength. As director and former social worker, I know what that represents. I see your investment. I measure your professionalism. And I want to tell you today: thank you.”

Government Disability Delegate – Technical Adviser Lionel GalfrĂ© was also present in the celebrations, showing his appreciation for the department’s instrumental role in implementing Monaco’s handipact strategy, as well as its continuous development of specialist services, including a specialised educational centre for children with disabilities.

The minister’s visit was then followed by a public open day running until 5pm, with staff celebrating the milestone with anniversary cake and drinks.

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life

Lycée Albert 1er students to return to classrooms by January 26th

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/01/2026

Students from Monaco’s LycĂ©e Albert 1er will return to full in-person teaching by January 26th, the government announced on Tuesday, after structural concerns at their l’Annonciade campus forced an emergency evacuation before Christmas.

The 840 students began remote learning on Monday January 5th, with officials determined to minimise disruption and restore classroom teaching as soon as possible.

“We want this period of distance learning to be as short as possible,” said Lionel Beffre, Government Councillor-Minister for the Interior. “We know that distance learning can work, but over a long period, it can have negative effects, particularly for students who are less attentive when teaching is done through a computer.”

Relocation plan

The government faces the challenge of relocating approximately 950 people (840 students, 102 teachers and 50 non-teaching stuff) across multiple temporary sites within three weeks.

Most facilities will be concentrated around Promenade Honoré II, using available classrooms at Collège Charles III and Lycée Rainier III, supplemented by two purpose-built modular buildings erected immediately beside Collège Charles III. Each temporary building will contain 11 classrooms with heating and air conditioning.

Additionally, the International School of Monaco’s former premises at Quai Antoine 1er will house higher education students from January 12th, freeing up space at LycĂ©e Rainier III. The ISM building will also accommodate support services including careers counselling, psychology support and library facilities.

“To give you an idea of the complexity, there are 499 different class groups,” explained Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports.

Lionel Beffre and Jean-Philippe Vinci during the press conference, photo credit: Stéphane Danna

Gradual return

From January 12th, exam classes and students requiring laboratory facilities will begin returning to in-person teaching.

Meanwhile, students struggling with remote learning can access a dedicated space at Collège Charles III from this week, particularly aimed at younger students who may have poor internet connections or feel isolated.

“We have the experience of Covid,” Vinci noted. “We know that some students who live further away have connection problems, especially with video.”

School meals will be available at both Collège Charles III and Lycée Rainier III for students attending in-person classes.

Exams to proceed normally

The baccalaurĂ©at examinations will take place at the renovated LycĂ©e Albert 1er building at l’Annonciade, expected to be ready by late April or May following accelerated renovation works.

“This is already enough to reassure people that they will find premises that they know and a renovated space, obviously suitable for hosting the baccalaurĂ©at exams,” Beffre said.

Continuous assessment tests will resume from next week in proper examination conditions at the temporary sites.

Structural work continues

Reinforcement work on the wall at l’Annonciade continues, with three additional anchor bolts now fully active to stabilise the structure. Government data shows pressure levels remain well below alert thresholds.

Sport facilities and community spaces in the neighbouring former Lycée Technique building reopened on Wednesday January 7th, along with public access to the Annonciade car park.

For now, students and parents are advised to check Pronote – the school’s digital platform – daily for updates.

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life

Monaco social services department to celebrate 10th anniversary with open day

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/01/2026

The Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales (Department of Social Action and Assistance) is marking its 10th anniversary this week with a special celebration and public open day on Thursday January 8th.

The department, led by Director Marie Thouvenin-Rapaire, handles everything from child welfare and disability services to emergency housing and financial assistance for those in need.

Health and Social Affairs Minister Christophe Robino will visit the department to meet its staff on Thursday morning at its offices located at 5 Promenade Honoré II, Hall A, 4th floor.

Later that day, the public can drop in between 11:30am and 5pm to find out more about the wide range of support available to Monaco residents.

The department operates four main divisions: Social Inclusion and Disability, Childhood and Family Services, the Princess Charlène Children’s Home, and Financial Social Assistance. Staff process applications for state benefits, work with the courts on child protection cases, and provide emergency accommodation for families in crisis.

Teams will be available throughout the open day to explain how residents can access help, whether they need disability support, are facing financial difficulties, or require urgent housing assistance

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life

Fight Aids Cup to unite football legends for sixth edition

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/01/2026
Cirque FC lift the Fight AIDS Cup at the Stade Louis II

Monaco’s Stade Louis II is prepping to once again host the Fight Aids Cup on Saturday January 24th, bringing together some of football’s biggest names for the annual charity match.

The event, set to kick off at 3:30pm, sees the Barbagiuans take on Cirque FC in support of Fight Aids Monaco, the association founded and chaired by Princess Stéphanie for over two decades ago. Running alongside the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, the match combines sport, fun and charitable giving.

This year’s line-up features recently retired Belgian international Eden Hazard making his debut appearance, alongside French striker BafĂ©timbi Gomis and regulars Robert Pirès and Ludovic Giuly. Clarence Seedorf, Christian Karembeu and Youri Djorkaeff will also take to the pitch.

Leading Cirque FC will be Ukrainian legend Andriy Shevchenko, the 2004 Ballon d’Or winner and 2003 Champions League victor with AC Milan.

“I was invited by the Princely Family to take part in this major event,” said Shevchenko. “It is a true honour to support them in their efforts to raise awareness in the fight against HIV and to help people in need. Representing the team of Princess StĂ©phanie is a great source of pride.”

This edition also features a strong Italian influence within Cirque FC’s squad, aimed at strengthening ties between the circus festival and Italian audiences.

A growing movement beyond Monaco

The Barbagiuans, initially composed exclusively of former Monaco players, reached a new milestone in 2025, by welcoming major international names. President Louis Ducruet, who is the captain, sees this evolution as key to the team’s mission.

“We can be proud to see, event after event, how the squad continues to grow and how the values embodied by the Barbagiuans resonate with players beyond Monaco,” said Ducruet, approaching his sixth year as president. “The upcoming Fight AIDS Cup will help strengthen our approach to integrating new members into the great Barbagiuans family.”

On the pitch, there is genuine rivalry to address, with the record standing up until now at four victories for Cirque FC and just one for the Barbagiuans across the first five editions.

“We tasted victory in 2022, and I must say it was a wonderful memory,” Ducruet said. “With so many legends on the field, high-level habits return as soon as the match kicks off, and there is a real game to be played—one everyone wants to win.”

Shevchenko, while feeling equally competitive, highlighted what truly matters: “The real victory does not lie in the final score, but in the funds raised for a worthy cause.”

A million euro milestone

Through five editions and other initiatives, the Barbagiuans have surpassed one million euros donated to Fights Aids Monaco, making them the association’s leading donor.

“The Fight Aids Cup represents far more than just a sporting event; it embodies a faithful and sincere commitment, carried by an entire community—that of the Barbagiuans,” said Christophe Glasser, director of Fight Aids Monaco. “The regular presence of football legends demonstrates their unwavering support for the cause we defend.”

Glasser also praised Ducruet’s leadership, noting that the January tradition offers “support that goes beyond the financial aspect. It is moral, symbolic and human. It strengthens our actions and reminds us how collective commitment can have a concrete and lasting impact.”

Tickets for the match cost €10 for the general public and €5 for children from 12-16 years old. Children under 12 and holders of tickets for the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, which runs concurrently, can attend for free. Ticket reservations can be made at: billetterie.asmonaco.com

The match will also be broadcast live on TV Monaco’s website and YouTube channel at 3:30pm, allowing supporters worldwide to follow the event.

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Main photo by Monaco Life

Monaco to host International Épée Tournament this weekend

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/01/2026

Monaco will welcome some of the world’s top fencers this weekend when the International ÉpĂ©e Tournament takes place from January 10th to 11th at the Espace Saint-Antoine.

The prestigious event, held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, will host nearly 200 athletes set to compete across 17 pistes in individual men’s and women’s categories, competing for one of the sport’s most valued prizes: the Prince Albert II of Monaco Cup.

More than 130 of France’s leading female fencers are expected to take part in the National Senior Women’s competition, offering a unique opportunity for European and international competitors to test themselves at the highest level.

The tournament is open to senior épée fencers as well as juniors who have been moved up to compete in the higher category. International participants must hold a valid licence from their national federation.

The finals will take place on Sunday January 11th at 4pm in the Espace Saint-Antoine’s multi-sports hall, with the awards ceremony taking place later in the afternoon.

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Photo credit: FĂ©dĂ©ration MonĂ©gasque d’Escrime