Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: 40 Years of Creation, Audacity, and Vision in Motion

Forty years of history, research, and passion: founded in 1985, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo celebrate their landmark anniversary in 2026 with an exceptional season, conceived as a true artistic manifesto. Under the direction of choreographer and artistic director Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company reaffirms its identity: a generous, open, and plural form of dance, deeply contemporary and in constant dialogue with music, technology, and new scenic languages.

The season opens with Miniatures, a world premiere running from 16 to 19 April 2026 at the Salle Garnier of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, co-produced with the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo. The project brings together international contemporary composers—including Violeta Cruz, Aurélien Dumont, Martin Matalon, Misato Mochizuki, Bruno Mantovani, and Ramon Lazkano—and choreographers from the company, resulting in a constellation of short choreographic pieces that interlock like fragments of stories, lives, and destinies. On stage, the Ensemble Orchestral Contemporain, conducted by Bruno Mantovani, accompanies the dancers in a close dialogue between sound and movement.

From 27 to 29 April, at the Grimaldi Forum, Maillot presents a new version of Core Meu. Accompanied by Antonio Castrignanò & Taranta Sounds, the company performs the extended version of the ballet, already acclaimed in Italy and Cuba, where audiences were invited to join the dancers on stage. On 29 April, an open workshop for all levels offers the opportunity to explore the choreographic universe of Core Meu from the inside.

The month of June is devoted to training and transmission: on 19 and 20 June, at the Salle Garnier, the end-of-year Gala of the Académie Princesse Grace celebrates the talent of young dancers destined for international careers.

The highlight of the year will be the 40th Anniversary Gala Evening, taking place on 3 and 4 July at the Grimaldi Forum. A celebratory event with a deliberately undisclosed programme, bringing together artists, choreographers, and musicians who have shaped the history and evolution of the company.

The summer season continues with Waku Doki (10 and 11 July, Salle Garnier), a new creation by Éric Oberdorff for the Compagnie Humaine, blending choreographic virtuosity and immersive digital devices into a powerful sensory experience. From 17 to 19 July, in collaboration with the Grimaldi Forum, the Ballet de l’Opéra national de Paris takes the stage with La Dame aux Camélias by John Neumeier, accompanied by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, conducted by Vello Pähn.

Alongside the major productions, the season features Impromptu performances, open workshops, educational initiatives, and site-specific performances in museums, reinforcing the company’s role as a vibrant and inclusive cultural force within the Principality.

At the same time, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo continue their extensive international touring, with performances across Europe and Asia, from Cannes to Madrid and from Riga to Seoul, carrying the excellence of Monegasque dance around the world.

🎟️ Tickets & information

• Online tickets: www.montecarloticket.com

• Box offices: Atrium du Casino (+377 92 00 13) | Grimaldi Forum (+377 99 99 3000)

• Full programme & subscriptions: www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Forty years after their founding, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo continue to dance the present, honouring memory while opening new paths for contemporary creation.