Events in Menton on October 3 and 4, 2026: What to Do This Weekend

The first weekend of October offers a particularly rich programme in Menton for anyone who wants to experience the Côte d’Azur beyond its beaches and seafront promenade. On Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026, the city will host cultural events, exhibitions, guided tours, gastronomic experiences and outdoor activities. Several events and exhibitions also continue throughout the autumn, providing further opportunities to discover Menton’s artistic heritage and culinary traditions.

Among the weekend highlights are the conference on artificial intelligence at the Palais de l’Europe, the Fête de la Science at the Musée de Préhistoire régionale and the watercolor workshop dedicated to the travel sketchbook. Visitors looking for a more relaxed itinerary can also combine the Saturday morning markets with exhibitions devoted to Jean Cocteau and photography.

Saturday, October 3 in Menton: from artificial intelligence to watercolor

The programme for Saturday, October 3, 2026 gets underway at 2:15 pm, when the Palais de l’Europe, 8 avenue Boyer, hosts Les colloques de Menton – L’intelligence artificielle : opportunités ou dangers ?. The conference, with free admission and no booking required, focuses on one of the most debated issues of our time, examining both the opportunities and potential risks associated with artificial intelligence.

The discussion will be moderated by Denis Carreaux, journalist and former editor-in-chief of Nice-Matin. Speakers include Laurent Alexandre, Alexandre Tsicopoulos, Antoine Buéno and Guillaume Grallet, offering different perspectives on technological change, work and transformations in society. A book-signing session will also take place after the conference, in partnership with the Les Mandarins bookshop. Admission is free, subject to available seating.

For those who would rather spend the weekend outdoors, the Watercolor Workshop – Travel Sketchbook in Menton takes place on October 3 and 4. The activity takes participants outdoors around the old town, seafront, port and gardens of Menton, turning the Mediterranean scenery into inspiration for a travel sketchbook.

The workshop is designed for motivated beginners as well as intermediate watercolor artists. Participants learn how to observe and simplify landscapes, work with natural light, create a balanced composition and develop a more spontaneous approach to drawing.

The two-day course is organised in small groups to allow for more personalised guidance. Prices start at €300, with a package also available including two nights at the Hôtel Princess & Richmond, a welcome aperitif and breakfasts. Availability should be checked directly with the organisers, as places are limited.

Fête de la Science in Menton: prehistoric life takes centre stage

Another interesting event during the weekend is the Fête de la Science at the Musée de Préhistoire régionale de Menton, taking place from October 2 to 12, 2026, at the Musée de Préhistoire Régionale, rue Lorédan Larchey.

The theme is « De la forêt à l’assiette », les menus des humains de la préhistoire, an exploration of the relationship between food, the environment and everyday life in prehistoric societies. On Saturday, October 3 at 3 pm, a guided commentary is scheduled, while on Sunday, October 4 at 3 pm, a conference will take place as part of the Fête de la Science and the museum’s first-Sunday-of-the-month programme.

On Sunday afternoon, the museum will also offer demonstrations showing how fire could be produced using prehistoric techniques. Admission to the Fête de la Science activities is free. During the event, the museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm.

The event is also suitable for families, with a clue-based game designed especially for younger visitors.

Saturday morning in Menton: markets and local flavours

For a more relaxed start to Saturday, the Marché des Halles de Menton, at 5 quai de Monléon, is one of the city’s most characteristic places. The covered market is open on Saturday, October 3 from 8 am to 1 pm and brings together around thirty traders offering fresh and local products. The building, dating from 1898, stands between the port and the old town and remains an important part of everyday life in Menton.

Saturday morning shopping can continue outdoors at Place Fornari, where the Marché forain offers clothing, household goods, toys and other non-food products. The market is held on Saturday mornings, from approximately 7:30 am to 1 pm.

Another option is the Marché du Careï, at 4 promenade du Maréchal Leclerc de Haute Cloque, open on Saturday from 7:30 am to 1 pm. This neighbourhood market offers food products as well as flowers and other local goods.

Jean Cocteau at the heart of the weekend

October 3 is also an excellent opportunity to discover the world of Jean Cocteau, the artist whose work is deeply connected with Menton.

At the Musée Jean Cocteau – Le Bastion, quai Napoléon III, visitors can see Le Château de la Bête, an exhibition running from July 4 to November 16, 2026. The exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of the film La Belle et la Bête and brings together works, posters, programmes and photographs from Parisian and Menton collections.

The museum is open on Saturday from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm. The standard admission fee is €5.

A guided tour at 2:30 pm on Saturday, October 3, lasting approximately 45 minutes, offers a deeper introduction to the exhibition. The price is €9, including museum admission.

Also on Saturday, October 3 at 2:30 pm, visitors can join a guided tour devoted to the Musée Jean Cocteau – Le Bastion itself. The tour explores the history of the former military fort and its relationship with Jean Cocteau. It lasts approximately 45 minutes and costs €4, in addition to the €5 museum admission fee. The meeting point is in front of the museum.

Photography enthusiasts can visit the Heather McDonough Photo Exhibition at the Bibliothèque anglaise Saint John’s, 31 avenue Carnot. Running from September 2 to October 28, 2026, the exhibition presents a photographic series created in St. John’s Church in Menton in 2003, exploring themes of memory, community and belonging.

Admission is free, and on Saturday the exhibition is open from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.

At the Galerie des Musées at the Palais de l’Europe, 8 avenue Boyer, Les jardins enchantés de Cocteau continues to explore the artist’s relationship with gardens, nature and the Mediterranean imagination. The exhibition is open on Saturday, October 3 from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm. Admission is €2, with a reduced rate of €1. The gallery is closed on Sundays.

Sunday, October 4: science, prehistory and Mediterranean landscapes

Sunday, October 4, 2026 can be devoted in particular to the Fête de la Science. After a stroll through the historic centre, the 3 pm event at the Musée de Préhistoire régionale offers an opportunity to explore prehistoric food through a dedicated conference. The afternoon programme also includes demonstrations of prehistoric fire-making techniques.

Admission to these activities is free.

For participants in the watercolor workshop, Sunday is the second day of the Watercolor Workshop – Travel Sketchbook in Menton, with practical exercises carried out in some of the city’s most scenic locations. The programme uses the relationship between sea, architecture, gardens and Mediterranean light as a natural outdoor studio, helping participants turn their travel experience into a visual diary.

Food experiences to book during the weekend

The weekend of October 3 and 4 is also an opportunity to explore Menton through its cuisine. The Gourmet Food Tour in Menton starts on Saturday at 11 am from the Carrousel de Menton, 11 rue Saint-Michel, taking participants on a gastronomic route of less than one kilometre.

The experience includes tastings of specialities such as pichade, barbajuan, tapenade, socca, cheeses, white truffle and Provençal products, as well as the famous Menton lemon, including lemon tart served with Italian coffee and limoncello.

The tour runs approximately from 11 am to 2 pm, is limited to a maximum of 10 participants and includes the food and wines provided as part of the experience. The listed price is €90 per adult and €40 for children aged 10 to 14. Booking is recommended.

The Wine Tasting Evening in Menton takes place on Saturday evening from 6 pm to 9 pm, with the meeting point at 11 rue Saint-Michel. The experience combines a walk through the city with several tastings: three citrus-based wines inspired by Menton lemon, three wines from a Provençal producer and another three wines from a Provençal appellation.

Cheese and cured meats accompany the tastings, while the evening ends with the traditional Menton lemon tart. The listed price is €115, with groups limited to 10 participants.

Those looking for a daytime gastronomic experience can opt for the Gastronomic Experience in Menton, which also starts at 11 am from the Carrousel de Menton. The route includes the market, restaurants and three specialist food shops. It is mostly flat and lasts until around 2 pm.

The experience is available on Saturdays and Sundays and costs €90 per adult and €40 for children aged 6 to 11.

Among lemon groves and nature: La Ferme des Citrons

Visitors looking to combine nature, agriculture and gastronomy can choose the Guided Tour and Country Lunch at La Ferme des Citrons, also available on Saturday, October 3.

The meeting point is at 9:50 am at 12 avenue des Acacias, near the Anne Frank bus stop. From there, a free 4×4 transfer takes participants to the plantation.

The visit introduces visitors to the IGP Menton Lemon and the other citrus fruits grown on the estate, including mandarins, clementines, oranges and grapefruits, as well as olive trees and avocados.

The programme includes a guided tour of approximately one hour, a visit to the apiary and a lunch featuring Menton specialities made with lemon. The price is €39 per adult and €25 for children aged 3 to 10.

Another option is the Guided Tour of Domaine Gannac, at Maison Gannac, 2970 route de Super Garavan. The experience combines the history of the Domaine with an introduction to citrus cultivation and the IGP Menton Lemon, including access to the orchard and a tasting of organic products from Maison Gannac, such as jams, creams, liqueurs and rum.

The listed price is €25 per adult, while children under eight enter free of charge. As parts of the orchard are on sloping ground, comfortable shoes are recommended.

A weekend in Menton between culture, food and the Mediterranean

The weekend of October 3 and 4, 2026 in Menton therefore offers plenty of ways to create a personalised itinerary. Saturday can begin at the Halles and local markets, continue with an exhibition or a Jean Cocteau tour and end with the artificial intelligence conference or an evening wine tasting.

Sunday, meanwhile, offers a free Fête de la Science programme at the Musée de Préhistoire régionale, while the watercolor workshop provides an opportunity to experience Menton through its landscapes.

For those staying longer, many exhibitions and gastronomic experiences continue throughout October. Before travelling, however, it is advisable to check availability, booking requirements and opening times directly with the organisers, particularly for limited-capacity activities and gastronomic experiences.

Information and updates: the agenda of the Menton, Riviera & Merveilles Tourist Office remains the main reference for checking any changes to programmes, opening hours or admission conditions.