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Grimaldi Forum unveils ‘Shrek’ the musical for 2026

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
04/01/2026

Lovers of Shrek the animation will have the chance to see the award-winning Broadway adaption when it arrives at the Grimaldi Forum next December.

The musical, based on the hit animation, brings what producers call “the greatest fairy tale never told” to the stage with its cast of beloved characters, from the grumpy green ogre himself to his wisecracking donkey sidekick and a princess with a few surprises up her sleeve.

Running from 11th to 13th December 2026, the production will take over the Salle des Princes for five performances across the weekend.

The stage version stays true to the film’s unique humour that has left its audience crying of laughter when it first aired in 2001, all while adding theatrical spectacle through elaborate sets and costumes. At approximately two hours plus interval, it provides entertainment for the whole family.

Audiences should note the production will be performed in English, though French subtitles will be provided throughout.

Tickets are priced from €47 and can be booked through the Grimaldi Forum box office on +377 99 99 30 00, which operates Tuesday to Saturday between noon and 7pm. Bookings are also available online at montecarloticket.com

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Main photo provided by the Grimaldi Forum

Five artists set to explore the power of silence in Monaco exhibition

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
03/01/2026

An unusual collective exhibition opening in Monaco next month invites visitors to experience art through quietness and contemplation.

‘Shared Silences’, running from January 8th to 31st at Espace 22, brings together five international artists whose work explores themes of intimacy, emotion and “invisible resonances”.

The exhibition features painters, photographers and mixed-media artists from diverse backgrounds, each offering their own interpretation of silence.

Among them is Bénédicte Ansaud, a French artist of Andalusian and Corsican heritage who grew up between Africa and Réunion. Working primarily in oils during night-time hours, she creates deeply personal pieces informed by cultural diversity and solitary reflection.

Following, Romanian photographer Florin Mihai takes a different approach, combining monochrome photography with gold and silver leaf, punctuated by touches of red. His graphic compositions examine the relationship between light, image and feeling.

Then, Turin-born born Caterina Reviglio Sonnino, now based in Monaco, draws inspiration from historic Sèvres porcelain techniques and watercolour painting. Her delicate works use colour to evoke calm and lightness.

Ukraine born actress and self-taught artist Julia Jakonda, who lives in Cannes, works with oil, acrylics and specialised pencils to create pieces rooted in imagination and inner emotion. Her drawings, which she has practised since childhood, find beauty in nature and everyday moments

Lastly, Brazilian visual artist Arlette Lima De Matos completes the group. A trained psychologist who has lived abroad since 2014, she divides her time between Monaco and southern France. Since her first solo show in New York in 2015, she has developed a distinctive handmade practice in abstract mixed media.

The exhibition opens with a public vernissage on January 8th at 6pm at Espace 22, located at 24 boulevard d’Italie, Monaco, and will be open daily afterwards from 11am to 7pm throughout the exhibition’s run

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Main photo credit: Florin Mihai 

Monte-Carlo Printemps des Arts Festival returns with ‘Utopias’ theme

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
01/01/2026

The Monte-Carlo Printemps des Arts festival has unveiled its 2026 programme, providing a chance to music lovers to experience 27 concerts featuring more than 80 works performed by 260 artists from March 11th to April 19th. 

Artistic director Bruno Mantovani revealed the season’s highlights during a presentation at the Oceanographic Museum on December 5th, which will present 12 world premiere performances, and showcase works by 50 different composers.

The 42nd edition is titled ‘Utopies – opus 1’ and will place musical instruments at the heart of the programme. Both period and modern instruments will feature in dialogue from Renaissance masters to contemporary composers.

The festival, presided over by Princess Caroline of Hanover, will open on March 11th with works by Gesualdo and Monteverdi performed by La Venexiana and Duo Xamp at the Église Saint-Charles. The following evening, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra will present pieces by Stravinsky, Monnet and Debussy at the Auditorium Rainier III.

Concerts will take place in various locations including the Oceanographic Museum, the Prince of Monaco’s Car Collection, as well as venues in Nice such as the Théâtre National’s Franciscan hall.

Highlights include a candlelit concert on March 14th featuring violinist Tedi Papavrami and pianist Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, and ‘La Grande Battle’ by Ensemble I Gemelli at the Oceanographic Museum on 13th March.

The programme also features performances from earlier centuries, including ‘Laude Novella’ by Ensemble Gilles Binchois and ‘Harmonia Artificiosa’ by Ensemble Artifices, alongside major works such as Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie performed by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Grimaldi Forum on 4th April.

The festival concludes with ‘Miniatures’, a series of ballet performances by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo from 16th to 19th April.

Accessible pricing

In a significant change for 2026, the festival has introduced the same pricing for most concerts at €20, making the festival more accessible to audiences.

Exceptions include concerts in partnership with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. The festival remains free for under 25-year-olds with advance booking.

Tickets are now available online via the Monte-Carlo Ticket platform: https://indiv.themisweb.fr/0526/fListeManifs.aspx?idstructure=0526 or at the box office in the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s entrance hall, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm, and on concert Sundays from 10am to 4pm (closed 24th and 25th December).

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Photo credit: OPMC

Condamine market to host farewell party ahead of temporary closure

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
31/12/2025

Monaco’s much-loved Condamine Market will host a special farewell celebration next week, before the interior of its hall closes temporarily.

La Mairie is inviting residents and visitors to join the free entrance event on January 7th, from 6:30pm to 10:30pm, under the theme ‘A se revëde’, Monégasque dialect for ‘see you again’.

The evening will feature a DJ set and dance floor, giving the community a chance to enjoy the market’s atmosphere before the temporary closure. Food and drink will be available for purchase on site throughout the event.

The Condamine Market, located in the port district, has long served as a gathering place for locals. It is for that reason that the event is open and welcoming for all, keeping up with the warm spirit of the market.

Wednesday’s closure will mark the beginning of the 13-month long, and much anticipated, renovation plans.

For the event, no prior booking is required as everyone is welcome to attend.

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Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti 

Author Sylvie Le Bihan to discuss new novel at Hotel Metropole

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/12/2025

Award nominated novelist Sylvie Le Bihan will appear at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo on January 20th to discuss her latest work, ‘L’ami Louis’.

The book takes readers through 20th century French literary history, honouring the working class roots of writers like Albert Camus and Louis Guilloux. Le Bihan pays tribute to the “petites gens”, the ordinary people, from whom these writers came.

Set in 1976, the novel follows Élisabeth Daguin, who returns to Paris to work as an assistant to Bernard Pivot on his television programme Apostrophes. Estranged from her family, her life changes when she meets the ageing writer Louis Guilloux, a friend of Camus who has faded from public memory.

What begins as a professional interview develops into a personal connection. Through their conversations, Louis reconnects with a lost love while Élisabeth uncovers secrets about her own family history.

In Le Bihan’s telling, major literary figures including Camus, Guilloux, Grenier and Malraux come vividly to life. Above all, the book explores friendship, solidarity and the values that guided these writers’ commitment to freedom.

Additionally, her previous novels have earned critical acclaim, with ‘Les Sacrifiés’ shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Renaudot.

Places are limited and advance booking is required. Anyone interested can contact (+377) 93 15 15 41 or m.fays@metropole.com to reserve.

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Main photo credit: Eric Garault

Monaco edge past Real Madrid in thrilling EuroLeague game

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
29/12/2025

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.

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Main photo credit: Direction de la Communication – Manuel Vitali