Events of the First Weekend of 2026 in Monaco

Monte-Carlo kicks off 2026 with sport, art and culture

The new year begins in Monte-Carlo with a weekend packed with events, appealing to sports fans, families and art lovers alike. Between top-level football, performances, exhibitions and Epiphany celebrations, the first weekend of 2026 offers the perfect opportunity to experience the Principality at its most vibrant.

On Saturday 3 January, the sporting spotlight will be on the Stade Louis II, where AS Monaco face Olympique Lyonnais in Matchday 17 of Ligue 1 McDonald’s. A prestigious fixture that promises excitement and attracts supporters from across the region, once again confirming Monaco as one of French football’s most important stages.

The weekend also celebrates entertainment and creativity. On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 January, Ma Bayadère, on Avenue Princesse Grâce, will host the Christmas Animations, featuring creative workshops designed especially for children. A perfect opportunity for families wishing to extend the festive spirit into the first days of the new year.

Along Avenue Princesse Grâce, over the same weekend, visitors can also explore the photography exhibition “Au-delà des limites”, an evocative display inviting reflection on physical and symbolic boundaries through powerful imagery.

Nature and environmental enthusiasts will enjoy the MAPN Exhibition – 50 years of commitment to biodiversity, open until 4 January on Avenue Saint-Martin. The exhibition celebrates five decades of dedication to biodiversity protection, a key theme for the planet’s future.

Monaco’s exhibition calendar remains particularly rich beyond the weekend itself. Until 11 January, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco presents “Cactus”, while “Tango Argentin à Monaco” continues until 30 June, paying tribute to the passion and elegance of Argentine tango.

Also worth visiting are “CINÉAM, the Monaco independent film-makers club”, on view until 30 January at L’Engelin, and “Mediterranean 2050”, a long-term exhibition running until 2030, offering insight into the future of the Mediterranean region.

To mark Epiphany, the Casino Café de Paris is offering a special Epiphany distribution, available until 6 January, adding an elegant touch to one of the most cherished winter festivities.

Among the last opportunities not to be missed, “La Mostra Fluo: Space, Matter and Black Light”, featuring paintings by Frédéric Gracia, is on display at Espace 22 until Saturday 3 January. Meanwhile, the Monaco Monte-Carlo SNCF railway station hosts an exhibition open until 15 April 2026.

Finally, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology welcomes visitors with “Magies d’ailleurs”, a fascinating exhibition running until 15 April, rounding out an exceptionally diverse cultural offering.

The first weekend of 2026 thus confirms Monte-Carlo as a dynamic and refined destination, seamlessly blending sport, culture and entertainment into an unmissable calendar of events.