There’s a reason so many people head to Monaco every year despite it covering just over two square kilometres: nowhere else packs this much spectacle into so little space. Formula 1 cars scream past luxury yachts in the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The world’s best tennis players battle it out on clay overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Superyachts worth hundreds of millions of euros line up in Port Hercules for the Monaco Yacht Show. And that’s before the art festivals, show jumping, and black-tie galas that fill every gap in between.
For residents and property owners, it isn’t just a tourist spectacle, but the rhythm of life in the Principality. Traffic patterns shift, restaurant reservations become gold dust, and property values along the Grand Prix circuit or Port Hercules can hinge on timing. Knowing the calendar isn’t optional if you live here; it’s essential.
As one of Monaco’s leading real estate agencies, La Costa Properties Monaco has tracked this calendar for over four decades. Below, we’ve compiled every major event on Monaco’s calendar, including dates, what to expect, and insider tips on the best way to experience each one, whether you’re watching from your own terrace or in the thick of it.
The best Monaco events
January events in Monaco
Rallye Monte-Carlo
Held in mid-January each year, Monaco opens the motorsport calendar by hosting the world’s oldest and most prestigious rally. As the traditional curtain-raiser for the FIA World Rally Championship season, it sends crews through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and back to Monaco on a route that can throw dry asphalt, snow and ice at drivers within a single stage. The event culminates with the podium ceremony on the Quai Albert 1er.
Explore the Rallye Monte-Carlo
Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival
Taking place in mid-to-late January, this is Monaco’s most celebrated cultural institution and one of the world’s leading circus events. The main festival runs alongside the New Generation competition for emerging talent, with performers from across the globe competing for the festival’s prestigious Golden Clown awards under a jury traditionally chaired by Princess Stéphanie.
Explore the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival
Fête de Sainte Dévote
Celebrated every year on the 26 and 27 January, Monaco’s patron saint feast blends religious tradition with local folklore. A torchlit procession on the eve of the feast leads to the ceremonial burning of a boat outside the Chapel of Sainte Dévote, followed by a public holiday marked by a formal mass at the Cathedral attended by the Princely Family.
Explore the Fête de Sainte Dévote
February events in Monaco
Monaco Run
Held annually in mid-February, this is Monaco’s flagship road-running event, drawing several thousand runners to a course starting and finishing at Port Hercule. A full weekend of races caters to everyone from serious competitors to families, with a port-side village adding to the atmosphere.
Explore the Monaco Run
Menton Lemon Festival
Just along the coast in neighbouring Menton, this iconic festival runs from mid-February into early March and is a firm fixture on the Riviera social calendar. Giant sculptures built entirely from lemons and oranges line the Jardins Biovès, accompanied by illuminated night parades and citrus-themed festivities. It’s not technically a Monaco event, but its proximity and popularity make it a natural addition to any Monaco resident’s February diary.
Explore the Menton Lemon Festival
March events in Monaco
Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo (Spring Arts Festival)
Monaco’s most significant cultural event of the year, running from March into April each spring. Founded in 1970 at the wishes of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III, and today held under the patronage of Princess Caroline of Hanover, the festival brings world-class orchestras, dance companies and musicians to venues across the Principality. The programme typically spans several weeks and dozens of composers, with performances by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo among the highlights.
Explore the Spring Arts Festival
Les Sérénissimes de l’Humour
Held annually in mid-March at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, this long-running comedy festival brings some of the biggest names in French-language stand-up to Monaco for a run of sold-out shows. It’s become a fixture of the Principality’s spring entertainment calendar and a favourite with residents looking for something lighter than the classical programme dominating the rest of the month.
Explore Les Sérénissimes de l’Humour
April events in Monaco
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Held annually in early April, this is one of tennis’s most prestigious clay-court events and the traditional curtain-raiser to the European clay season ahead of the French Open. Part of the ATP Masters 1000 series, it draws the world’s top players to the Monte-Carlo Country Club for over a week of competition, with the Monte-Carlo Beach Club transformed into a Players’ Village for the duration.
Explore the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Monte-Carlo Fashion Week
Monaco’s fashion event takes place annually in mid-April, bringing runway shows, sustainability talks and industry gatherings to venues across the Principality, including the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Grimaldi Forum Monaco. Founded in 2013, it has grown into a fixture on the international fashion calendar, spotlighting both major international brands and emerging designers, and closing with a Fashion Awards Gala Dinner.
Explore Monte-Carlo Fashion Week
Monaco Historic Grand Prix (biennial – even years only)
Held every two years, this event sees over 200 vintage racing cars take to the same legendary street circuit, which is around 80% unchanged since 1929. It’s a genuine spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts and collectors, offering the sounds and sights of Grand Prix racing from a bygone era. The next edition falls in an even-numbered year, so it won’t appear on every year’s April calendar.
Explore the Monaco Historic Grand Prix
May events in Monaco
Monaco E-Prix
Held annually in early May, this all-electric Formula E race brings 100% electric single-seaters to the same iconic street circuit used for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, combining top-level motorsport with a strong sustainability angle. Recent editions have delivered some of the most action-packed racing on the Formula E calendar, with close battles and frequent overtakes on Monaco’s tight, technical layout.
Explore the Monaco E-Prix
Top Marques Monaco
Billed as the world’s most exclusive supercar show, Top Marques takes place annually in early May at the Grimaldi Forum. Expect world-first launches of supercars and hypercars alongside dedicated spaces for haute horlogerie, high jewellery and superyachts, offering a magnet for collectors and enthusiasts alike, with several exclusive unveilings each year.
Explore Top Marques Monaco
International Bouquet Competition
Founded by Princess Grace in 1968 and organised by the Garden Club de Monaco, this beloved floral art competition takes place annually in early May at the Yacht Club de Monaco. Amateur and professional florists from around the world compete under a themed brief, with categories judged by both an official jury of floral art specialists and a special jury chaired by the Princess of Hanover. Entry is free to view, making it one of the more accessible events on Monaco’s calendar.
Explore the International Bouquet Competition
June events in Monaco
Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco
The undisputed jewel of the Formula 1 calendar, and — as of 2026 — one with a new home on the calendar. Under a fresh six-year agreement between the Automobile Club de Monaco and F1 (running to 2031), the Grand Prix has shifted from its decades-long late-May slot to the first full weekend of June. Drivers navigate the world’s most demanding and glamorous street circuit through the heart of Monte Carlo, with the harbour lined by superyachts for the occasion.
Explore the Monaco Grand Prix
Fête de la Musique
Held every year on 21st June to mark the summer solstice, this free, city-wide music celebration sees dozens of live performances break out across Monaco’s streets and squares, from jazz and rock to DJ sets on the Quai Albert 1er. Part of a wider French tradition dating back to 1982, Monaco’s edition has grown into a genuine community occasion, blending professional headline acts with local talent.
Explore the Fête de la Musique in Monaco
July events in Monaco
Jumping International de Monte-Carlo
Held annually in early July at Port Hercule, this is Monaco’s premier show-jumping event and a stop on the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour. The world’s top-ranked riders compete on one of the circuit’s most technical courses — short, narrow and demanding – set against a backdrop of superyachts at the foot of the Prince’s Palace.
Explore the Jumping International de Monte-Carlo
Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
Taking place annually in early-to-mid July in the Baie de Monaco, this is a genuinely unique event: a competitive race for boats powered entirely by alternative energy, including solar, hydrogen, electric and other zero-emission technologies. Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with the Prince Albert II Foundation, it doubles as an open-air showcase for the future of sustainable yachting, with the fleet, teams and technology growing each year.
Explore the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
Monte-Carlo Summer Festival
Running from July into August, this open-air concert series at the Sporting Monte-Carlo has been a fixture of the Principality’s summer nightlife since 1974, mixing gala dinners with performances from major international artists. It’s one of the more glamorous ways to experience a Monaco summer evening.
Explore the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival
Monaco Art Week
Held annually in early July under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, Monaco Art Week transforms the Principality into an open-air gallery, with exhibitions, installations and events spanning galleries, public spaces and cultural institutions across Monaco.
Explore Monaco Art Week
Summer Concerts at the Palais Princier
A classical music tradition dating back to 1959, these concerts are staged through July and August in the Cour d’Honneur of the Prince’s Palace — a striking setting for orchestral and chamber performances that has made this one of the most atmospheric fixtures on Monaco’s summer cultural calendar.
Explore Summer Concerts at the Palais Princier
Monaco Red Cross Gala
Held annually in mid-to-late July at the Salle des Étoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, this is one of the most prestigious events on Monaco’s social calendar, alongside the Rose Ball, it’s considered the Principality’s premier charity gala. Presided over by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, the evening combines a formal dinner with a headline show and a much-anticipated raffle, raising funds for the organisation’s humanitarian work. Guests have included world-renowned performers and international dignitaries over the years, reflecting Monaco’s standing within the global humanitarian network. Dating back to 1948, the Gala is one of the longest-running traditions in Monaco’s events calendar.
Explore the Monaco Red Cross Gala
Monaco events in August
Monaco Fireworks Nights (Monaco Art en Ciel)
Monaco’s fireworks tradition dates back to 1966 and, for decades, ran as the “Art en Ciel” international pyrotechnics competition, with teams from around the world competing over multiple nights set to music. In more recent years the format has evolved into a smaller number of standalone fireworks nights (rather than a multi-country competition), reflecting the town hall’s efforts to reduce the event’s environmental impact – but the tradition itself continues, with displays typically held over Port Hercule in late July and early-to-mid August, accompanied by free concerts and family entertainment beforehand.
Palermo-Montecarlo Regatta
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, this offshore sailing race, one of the classic routes in Mediterranean yacht racing, typically finishes in Monaco in mid-to-late August, drawing competitive sailors after a demanding crossing from Sicily. It’s a lower-profile event than the Grand Prix or Monaco Yacht Show, but a genuine draw for sailing enthusiasts and a good excuse to be at Port Hercule for the arrivals.
Explore the Palermo-Montecarlo Regatta
Musical Evenings
Running through much of the summer into August, Monaco’s free open-air concert series brings live music to spots like Larvotto beach and Square Gastaud most evenings; a good lower-key addition for residents looking for something to do without a ticket or a booking.
Monaco events in September
Monaco Yacht Show
Held annually in late September at Port Hercule, this is the world’s premier superyacht exhibition and the definitive event for the luxury yachting industry. Now in its 35th year (running since 1991), the show typically brings together around 120 superyachts, many over 50 metres, with some exceeding 100, alongside more than 500 exhibitors spanning shipyards, designers, brokers and luxury brands. With around 30,000 visitors over four days, it’s one of the most concentrated displays of superyachts anywhere in the world, and a fitting way for the Mediterranean yachting season to close.
Explore the Monaco Yacht Show
Monaco events in October
La Foire Attractions de Monaco (Monaco Fun Fair)
Monaco’s beloved autumn funfair takes over Port Hercule annually from mid-October through to National Day on 19th November, offering rides and attractions for all ages, from gentle children’s rides to high-adrenaline options, plus food stalls serving crêpes, waffles and other classic fairground treats. Admission is free, making it one of the most accessible events on the calendar for residents with families.
Explore the Monaco Fun Fair
Monte-Carlo E-Rally
Held annually in October, this is the all-electric and hydrogen-powered edition of the Rallye Monte-Carlo, first launched in 1995. Competitors tackle a demanding, secret route of regularity stages between the Principality and the Alps, testing the latest developments in clean vehicle technology — a fitting complement to the more famous January rally.
Explore the Monte-Carlo E-Rally
Sportel Awards
Held annually at the Grimaldi Forum under the honorary presidency of Prince Albert II, this ceremony recognises the finest sports broadcasting and sequences of the year, drawing champions and sports personalities to Monaco for a prestigious industry event.
Explore the Sportel Awards
Monaco events in November
Fête Nationale (National Day)
Arguably, Monaco’s most important date of the year, held every 19th November regardless of what else is on the calendar. Typically, the Princely Family appears at the Palace windows to greet the public, followed by a military parade, a medal ceremony, and a memorial mass for Princess Grace at the Cathedral. The evening before, fireworks light up the Principality’s skies, and celebrations continue with concerts and free public events, including tastings and activities at the Condamine Market.
No Finish Line
A genuinely moving charity institution since 1999, this run/walk event takes place over roughly a week in mid-to-late November around the Chapiteau de Fontvieille circuit, open to absolutely everyone regardless of pace or fitness level. For every kilometre covered — running or walking, at any hour of the day or night — one euro is donated to Children & Future, supporting sick and disadvantaged children. Past editions have collectively covered hundreds of thousands of kilometres, making it one of the most participatory and heartfelt events on Monaco’s calendar.
Explore No Finish Line
Monaco events in December
Christmas Village at Port Hercule
Every December, Quai Albert 1er transforms into a vibrant Christmas market, running from early December through to early January. Wooden chalets, an ice rink, festive rides and food stalls create a proper winter-market atmosphere despite Monaco’s mild Mediterranean climate, alongside artisanal products, mulled wine and family activities including creative workshops for children.
Casino Square Illuminations
Place du Casino gets a full seasonal transformation each year, with a lighting ceremony in late November kicking off a programme of projection and light shows on the Casino façade running through the holiday season. Giant illuminated Christmas snow globes – a genuine Monaco tradition – return each year with a new festive theme, alongside Christmas choir performances and Santa Claus appearances throughout Monte-Carlo’s boutiques and hotels.
New Year’s Eve
Monaco closes the year with a free public celebration centred on the Christmas Village, with extended opening hours, live DJ sets from around 9pm, and a midnight fireworks display over Port Hercule. Casino Square hosts its own countdown and illuminations, while several of Monaco’s grand hotels, including the Hôtel de Paris and Hôtel Hermitage, offer their own festive dining experiences for those seeking a more exclusive celebration.
Explore New Year’s Eve in Monaco
Monaco’s calendar rarely has a dull month, but that’s precisely what makes timing your visit, or your move, worth thinking through in advance. Whether you’re drawn by the roar of Grand Prix engines in June, the elegance of the Spring Arts Festival, or simply the quiet charm of the Christmas Village at Port Hercule, there’s a version of Monaco that suits every taste and every season.
For those considering a more permanent place in the Principality, La Costa Properties Monaco is on hand to help you find a home from which to enjoy it all. Get in touch to start your search, or explore our latest listings to see what’s currently available.
Monaco events: Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest event in Monaco's calendar?
The Formula 1 Grand Prix is widely considered Monaco’s flagship event, drawing global attention to its historic street circuit. That said, for Monégasques themselves, the Fête Nationale (National Day) on 19th November holds even greater significance, as the Principality’s most important civic and cultural occasion of the year.
When is the Monaco Grand Prix?
As of 2026, the Monaco Grand Prix has moved from its traditional late-May slot to the first full weekend of June, following a new six-year agreement between the Automobile Club de Monaco and Formula 1 that runs through 2031.
What is the best time of year to visit Monaco?
It depends what you’re after. April through July is Monaco’s busiest events season, packed with tennis, motorsport, fashion and yachting events, though hotel prices and crowds rise accordingly. For a quieter visit with a genuine local flavour, January’s Circus Festival and Rallye Monte-Carlo, or the Christmas Village in December, offer a different side of the Principality with fewer crowds.
Are Monaco's events free to attend?
Yes, many are. The Christmas Village, Fête de la Musique, Fête Nationale celebrations, No Finish Line, and Monaco’s fireworks nights are all free and open to the public. Ticketed events include the Grand Prix, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Top Marques, and the Monaco Yacht Show.
