“Utopias and Sounds”: Le Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo 2026 Opens a New Artistic Season

From March 11 to April 19, 2026, Le Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo launches an innovative season with the thematic cycle “Utopias”, curated by artistic director Bruno Mantovani. This new phase of the festival invites audiences to rethink the role of art and creativity in an increasingly standardized world, offering a reflection on freedom, ideals, and the eccentricity of the artist.

“We live in a highly regulated context that pushes us to be cautious and conformist. Today more than ever, we feel the need to rethink utopia, ideals, and even the excesses of the artist,” explains Mantovani. In the 2026 edition, utopia becomes the guiding thread of concerts, exhibitions, and encounters, symbolizing transformation, radicality, and artistic evolution.

Visual Art as an Opening to the Future

The first chapter of the cycle is illustrated by the work of Yves Millecamps, a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Known as a “painter of utopia,” Millecamps presents a visionary visual language, often ahead of its time, which ideally complements the festival’s aesthetic reflection.

Musical Instruments at the Center Stage

The true protagonist of this edition is the musical instrument, seen as a means of expression, an object in constant evolution, and a witness to the history of taste, technique, and aesthetics. From the spoken and sung voice, to the duduk, the ondes Martenot, gut-stringed instruments, and the virtual oboe, the festival explores music in all its richness and diversity.

The guiding thread is virtuosity, understood not as mere technical skill, but as research and sonic transformation. “Modern instruments like the clarinet or piano seem natural today, but each has its own fascinating history and evolution. The connection between musical composition and instrument-making shows how composers actively participate in the life of their instruments,” Mantovani adds.

Highlights of the 2026 Edition

The 2026 edition features 27 concerts in 24 locations, with 50 composers and over 80 works, including 12 world premieres.

In addition to concerts, the program includes:

• Carte blanche to conservatories

• Two film screenings

• Three workshop meetings

• A visit to a lutherie laboratory

• An organ concert and a jazz concert

• Fifteen ensemble and orchestra performances

• Three backstage immersions and two commented rehearsals

• Twelve “before” events and three “after” events

All performances are priced at 20 euros, except for those on March 11, 19, and 25. Concerts on April 1 and 5 (8 PM) are free, as is entry for under 25s, with mandatory reservation on the official website: www.printempsdesarts.mc.

Public Encounters

A press conference in Nice on January 29, 2026 will provide a unique opportunity to meet Bruno Mantovani and delve into the season’s artistic vision, with interviews and exclusive encounters.

An Invitation to Imagine

With “Utopias”, Le Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo invites audiences to be surprised, explore new forms of listening, and rediscover the transformative power of music. The festival celebrates not only talent and technique, but also boldness, research, and the ability of art to create possible worlds, making the Principality a space where the future of creativity comes alive.