For those who spend the summer in Liguria or the nearby French Riviera, a stop at the Principality of Monaco is a must. Every summer, Monte Carlo unveils numerous novelties for those who visit it.
Again this year there are several, ranging from exhibitions dedicated to Monaco’s myths – from the diva Grace Kelly who left an indelible mark on Formula One – to new districts for the ultra-rich, but also new parks and initiatives aimed at sustainability. Big changes, in short, but also timeless classics, for a place that has long been capable of making dreams come true. Here is what’s new to see if you’re in town.
The Start of the Vuelta
The Vuelta 26, the most important Spanish multi-stage cycling race, alongside the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, will kick off in Monaco on the afternoon of August 22, 2026, with a spectacular time trial taking place through the streets of the Principality. The Monte Carlo Casino will be the starting point of a stage that will pass by iconic locations such as Larvotto Beach, the Louis II Stadium, and the interior of the Chapiteau of the Espace Fontvieille. Naturally, road traffic will be diverted all day, but it will be a one-of-a-kind spectacle that will attract thousands of enthusiasts and tourists.
The new Mareterra district
The new Mareterra project has been completed and is now open to visitors. This vast waterfront development was designed by the architectural firms Valode & Pistre and Renzo Piano Building Workshop, in collaboration with landscape architect Michel Desvigne, and features open-air works by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, British sculptor Anish Kapoor, and American Alexander Calder. In certain areas, the sea literally enters the foundations of the platform, so that one of the entrances to the new condominiums, named Grotte Bleue, is accessible to the public; in a reinforced concrete alcove, you can see the foundations extending into the sea and watch a video showing the seabed of that zone. The district includes multi-story apartment blocks (in the Piano-designed building, whose shape resembles the hull of a ship, some Formula One drivers live there; despite being rivals on the track, they are neighbors off it), multi-level villas, a marina, shops and restaurants. In this new ochre-hued quarter, which in places evokes a Middle Eastern city, with promenades, dense vegetation including aromatic plants, and pedestrian streets flanked by trickling waterways and expansive infinity pools, the atmosphere is hushed and you can hardly hear the roar of Ferraris roaring along the Larvotto seafront.
The Wedding of the Century
The Prince’s Palace, perched on Monaco’s rock, hosts the exhibition “Wedding of the Century” celebrating the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly which captivated the world. From the jewelry donated by the citizens of Monaco to the bride-to-be and her most beautiful dresses, including the wedding gown that traveled the world, these are displayed together with portraits, photographs and other memorabilia from the royal couple’s private life. An opportunity, for those who have never done it, to also visit the palace’s public rooms, with the marble floors, frescoes and vaulted ceilings. The exhibition can be visited until September 25, 2026.
The Wedding of the Century, Part II
For the more romantic among you who wish to retrace the milestones of the wedding of the century, in L’Engeliné, on the same street as the Jardin Exotique, is on display “Un Mariage sous les projecteurs. Rainier III et Grace Kelly. 12-19 avril 1956” (A Wedding Under the Spotlight. Rainier III and Grace Kelly. April 12-19, 1956) with films, photographs, archival documents and equipment that retrace the history of a unique film production and that illustrate in detail the media apparatus of an event that changed the face of the Monaco Principality. Indeed, on the occasion of Rainier and Grace’s wedding, to facilitate the work of some 1800 journalists from around the world and the era’s official TV networks, Radio Monte-Carlo and Télé Monte-Carlo, which oversaw the production and broadcast of the ceremonies on Eurovision, reaching 30 million viewers, a press room was established on the Rocca. All these films, together with amateur footage that captured the fever of the entire population, have been collected by the Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco and are shown daily free of charge from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:30 (16:30 on Fridays) until February 26, 2027 at the institute’s headquarters.
Cars, Rally and Formula One
If the wedding exhibition will captivate many women, the show at the Grimaldi Forum will captivate the men. Because Monaco rhymes with Formula One, since June 30 there has been a display titled “Monaco and the Automobile, from 1893 to the Present Day”, open to the public only until September 6, 2026. Spanning over 3,500 square meters, the exhibition offers a journey through more than 130 years of Monaco’s relationship with the world of motor sport. More than 50 authentic vehicles, all linked to Monaco, tell a story that begins with the late 19th-century elegance contests, includes the Monaco-Monte-Carlo Rally ongoing since 1911 and the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929. Thanks to the contribution of the Automobile Club of Monaco, the exhibition path brings together exceptional, often unseen archives, plus numerous documents, photographs and videos that allow visitors to see the cars in action. Among the most important objects is the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly’s wedding in 1956, rally cars, Grand Prix single-seaters and a tribute to Monaco drivers Louis Chiron and our own Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
The New Jardin Exotique
The Jardin Exotique of Monaco reopened last spring after six years of renovation work, revitalizing one of the Principality’s most picturesque and lesser-known corners. This park, perched behind the modern skyscrapers, is now even more beautiful than before. With its remarkable collection of desert succulents and cacti from all around the world, the Jardin Exotique of Monaco is a microcosm that simply deserves a visit. The obligatory route winds through paths wrapped in lush vegetation. There is also a hidden cave, Grotte de l’Observatoire, discovered in 1916 during foundation work and now open for guided tours with specialists. At every turn, stunning views unfold of the sea, the Monaco Rock, and the Riviera coastline.
The New National Museum of Monaco
Since July 3, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, housed at Villa Paloma, has been dedicating a show to Romanian painter Victor Brauner (1903-1966), a prominent figure of international surrealism. “Victor Brauner, L’Aventure magique” brings together over 160 works, including paintings, drawings and sculptures spanning Brauner’s career from the 1920s to the 1960s, all from a private collection based in Monaco. The exhibition path is complemented by ten objects of non-Western art owned by Brauner himself, loaned by the Saint-Étienne Métropole Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in the Loire. Villa Paloma sits just a short stroll from the Jardin Exotique and from its panoramic terrace you can enjoy a splendid view over the Principality.
Sea and Sustainability
sustainability is a highly felt topic in the Principality, and the same Prince Albert II takes it very seriously. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Monaco Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), at the Le Méridien Hub of the Méridien Beach Plaza a photographic exhibition has been installed; it retraces half a century of commitment to safeguarding Monaco’s marine protected areas, and is open until October 15, 2026. This retrospective immerses visitors in the heart of the association’s history and its numerous initiatives in favor of marine biodiversity. Through archival photographs, contemporary images, documents on scientific research programs, ecological restoration projects, technological innovations and numerous initiatives, the show testifies to the AMPN’s evolving missions and its essential role in protecting Monaco’s coastline.
A New Way to Visit Monaco
The Principality of Monaco has recently launched an initiative called Visit Monaco City Walk, which allows visitors to tour the city on foot, leaving the car in one of the many parking facilities — where the first hour is often free — and exploring the various districts, taking advantage of the many experiences offered along the route with guided options. Thanks to the proximity of the main points of interest, Monaco is easily discoverable on foot or by renting bicycles. From one neighborhood to another, visitors can stroll and explore gardens, museums, shops, restaurants, viewpoints or iconic locations. On the site citywalk.visitmonaco.com (also available in Italian) the recommended itineraries are listed, with walking times, including some pedestrian routes, parking with real-time availability, and an interactive map.
The News for Kids in Monaco
Not everyone knows that Monaco houses a very interesting museum of history: the Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique de Monaco, founded by Prince Albert I, which is also located near Villa Paloma and the Jardin Exotique. Throughout the summer, two very engaging and educational exhibitions are on view, especially for young people: the first, interactive and immersive, titled “From Toumaï to Sapiens” (until October 16, 2026) recounts the birth and evolution of the human species and traces the journey of those early humans who invented tools and mastered fire, before leaving the cradle of humanity in Africa to populate the entire planet in about 10,000 years; the second, “Magies d’ailleurs” (“Magics from Elsewhere”) is an immersive show for those passionate about discoveries, rites, magic and traditional costumes (until December 15, 2026). The museum is open from 9:00 to 18:00 and also offers guided tours. It’s worth visiting even just to admire the skeleton of a mammoth over 30,000 years old discovered in northern Siberia: the skeleton measures 5 meters in length and over three meters in height.
