Monaco Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Photography with Exhibitions and Cultural Events Through 2027

Monaco is celebrating the bicentenary of photography with a series of cultural events running from October 2026 to September 2027. Museums, archives and cultural institutions across the Principality will take part in a programme of exhibitions, film screenings, initiatives for young people and virtual displays, inviting the public to explore the history of photography, its technological development and its role in preserving collective memory.

The international celebrations mark two centuries since the pioneering photographic experiments of French inventor Nicéphore Niépce, regarded as one of the key figures in the birth of photography. Monaco is joining the initiative by showcasing its own collections and documentary archives, which illustrate the evolution of photography and its connection with the history of the Principality.

Bicentenary of Photography in Monaco Opens with Hercule Florence

The programme begins on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at 6 pm at the Rainier III Auditorium, with the preview screening of the documentary Hercule Florence, autoportrait (1804–1879), produced by the Brazilian Hercule Florence Institute.

The film explores the life and work of Hercule Florence, a figure with ties to Monaco who emigrated to Brazil in 1823. Recognised as one of the pioneers of photographic techniques, Florence is also known for having used the term “photography” as early as 1833, contributing to the development of a medium that would transform communication, art and historical documentation.

His work was previously explored by the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM), which dedicated an exhibition to him in 2017 entitled Hercule Florence. Le Nouveau Robinson. Vie et projets d’un inventeur monégasque du XIXe siècle au Brésil.

The opening screening, organised with the support of the Government of Monaco, will also provide an opportunity to present the programme of events promoted by the Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with institutions dedicated to preserving and promoting the Principality’s heritage.

Archives and Collections Preserve Monaco’s Photographic Heritage

One of the main objectives of the bicentenary is to highlight the photographic collections held by Monaco’s cultural institutions. These archives include historical materials dating back to the 1850s, offering valuable evidence of the social, cultural and urban transformations that have shaped the Principality.

The programme will involve several institutions, including the Archives of the Prince’s Palace, the National Archives, the Audiovisual Institute, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the Heritage Collection of the Médiathèque Caroline, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, the Oceanographic Institute and the Société des Bains de Mer.

Through photographs, documents and historic equipment, these institutions will help tell not only the story of photographic technology, but also how images have recorded changes in Monaco’s landscape and society.

Photography Exhibitions Scheduled in Monaco

Among the announced events is an exhibition dedicated to photography, organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Salle du Quai Antoine Ier. The exhibition will form part of a wider programme designed to introduce audiences to the history and expressive possibilities of photography.

The photography competition for young people in the Principality will also return. The initiative aims to encourage younger generations to explore their surroundings through images while promoting awareness of and commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

February–March 2027: Photography, Art and Dante’s Divine Comedy

Between February and March 2027, the Heritage Collection of the Médiathèque Caroline will present an exhibition dedicated to a contemporary artist’s book illustrated through photography and inspired by a journey through the three realms of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

The project will bring photography, literature and visual art into dialogue, demonstrating how a medium born from technical experimentation can also become a tool for artistic interpretation and storytelling.

A historical exhibition on the photography trade in Monaco between 1860 and 1960 is also planned for the same period. Covering a century of activity, it will explore the circulation of images, the role of photography professionals and the development of photography as a cultural and professional practice in the Principality.

Spring 2027: Monaco Through the Eyes of Amateur Photographers

From spring 2027, the Audiovisual Institute will present a new cabinet of curiosities dedicated to how amateur photographers captured Monaco throughout the 20th century.

The exhibition will explore images taken by photography enthusiasts who documented everyday life, places and changes across the Principality. Alongside the photographs, visitors will discover the cameras and photographic media used over the years to capture, preserve and pass on these memories.

The initiative will offer a complementary perspective to that of official archives, highlighting images that tell history through personal experiences and individual viewpoints.

Summer 2027: A Virtual Exhibition on Portrait Photography

The programme will continue in summer 2027 with a digital project by the National Archives. A virtual exhibition dedicated to portrait photography in Monaco will be published on the institution’s website, covering the period from the 1850s to the second half of the 20th century.

The online journey will trace the evolution of portraiture over more than a century, exploring changes in photographic techniques, conventions and approaches to representing people. Its digital format will also make this heritage accessible to those unable to visit exhibitions in person.

Monaco Highlights Photography as History, Culture and Inspiration for New Generations

The bicentenary offers the Principality an opportunity to bring institutions and collections together around a heritage that documents local history while reflecting the evolution of a universal visual language.

From early 19th-century experiments to amateur photography in the 20th century, and from artists’ books to online exhibitions, the programme will take audiences on a journey through images, technologies and forms of storytelling.

The initiatives planned through 2027 aim to deepen public knowledge of Monaco’s photographic archives, encourage younger generations to participate and demonstrate how photography remains an essential tool for interpreting the past, documenting the present and preserving memories for the future.