What to do in Monaco in May
Sports
The month of May gets off to a flying start with the Monaco E-Prix! This year, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is set to electrify the crowds on Monaco's urban track, with two rounds scheduled for May 3 and 4. The races promise to be breathtaking, full of suspense and twists and turns: last year, spectators witnessed almost 200 overtaking manoeuvres!
Ideally placed between the Monaco E-Prix and the Formula 1 Tag Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, the 20th edition of Top Marques Monaco will take place from May 7 to 11, 2025. This show of excellence allows visitors to marvel at supercars, and also devotes space to haute horlogerie, haute joaillerie and superboats. Every year, Top Marques hosts world premieres of supercars and hypercars. This 2025 edition will be no exception, with 10 launches and 3 premieres, including the Lafitte LM1 Monaco Edition, with 1,000 hp under the hood.
The Mare Nostrum returns to Monaco in 2025. This prestigious series of international competitions bringing together swimming's elite makes a stopover in Monaco on May 17 and 18. For 30 years, this not-to-be-missed event in the Principality promises record-breaking results, suspense and an electrifying atmosphere at the Stade Louis II.
Formula 1 Tag Heuer Monaco Grand Prix
May in Monaco means Formula 1 Grand Prix! The most famous of all motor races takes place from Friday May 23 to Sunday May 25. The most eagerly awaited event on the calendar, the Formula 1 Tag Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco is one of the drivers' favorite events, with its unique circuit. A true symbol of elegance and excellence, it is an essential part of Monaco's sporting and events scene. In 2024, Monegasque Charles Leclerc won on this demanding circuit. Will he succeed in securing a second consecutive victory?
Visit Monaco tip: to enjoy all these events with peace of mind, the Salines parking lot is the ideal solution. This parking lot, designed for major events, offers attractive rates. What's more, thanks to its position at the entrance to the city, it avoids the Principality's heavy traffic, while offering quick and easy access to the circuit via a free shuttle bus or a signposted footpath. |
The final sprint in the French Ligue 1 championship continues! AS Monaco welcome Olympique Lyonnais to the Stade Louis-II on Saturday, May 10 at 9pm. At stake: the podium and European qualifying places for next season.
Monaco's basketball team is also playing a leading role. In Betclic Elite, the French championship, Roca Team, already qualified for the play-offs, host JL Bourg on May 11 at 7pm. In the Euroleague, Mike James' team-mates qualified for the Final Four after five intense matches against FC Barcelona, and will be aiming to reach the final of the competition!
Culture
Monaco and stand-up comedy! The Principality offers a wide range of events, and on Monday May 5, the Grimaldi Forum will be the scene of a unique evening. The Stand Up Monaco event will see Gad Elmaleh, Gabrielle Giraud, AZ, Hassan de Monaco, Nino Arial and Nash take to the stage in succession! Two shows, at 7pm and 8:45pm, for a unique evening.
Roman Frayssinet returns with Ô Delà, the second part of his trilogy of shows. After Ô Dedans, in which he explored the inner self, this new show invites us to step back and take a fresh look at life. With his unique sense of humor, he searches for nuance, beauty, balance... and above all, laughter!
Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox
Scott Bradlee and the Postmodern Jukebox collective come to the Principality for an unforgettable retro evening on May 27! Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox revisits contemporary hits in jazz, swing soul and doo-wap versions, offering a unique experience.
Il était une première fois" exhibition for the 40th anniversary of the Stade Louis-II
40 years of the Stade Louis-II, Act II! The home of the Principality's sporting exploits turns 40 this year, and celebrates its anniversary in style. After the official ceremony last February, which highlighted its construction and inauguration, the Stade Louis-II is now showcasing all its "firsts" in the heart of its inner pedestrian street. A total of 14 display cases have been installed, featuring press articles, archive photos and posters, evoking the first soccer match, the first world records in swimming and athletics, and the first concert. A journey through 40 years of sporting, cultural, technical and institutional events.
Marcel Duchamp's Monte-Carlo Roulette Bond Centenary Exhibition
We know Marcel Duchamp and his contemporary works, which have left their mark on international art. Less well known is the impact of his time in Monaco and the influence of gambling on his artistic approach. The Centenary of the Monte-Carlo Roulette Bond exhibition explores this. The artist questions chance and gambling through this piece, transforming a simple lottery ticket into a conceptual object. An exhibition that doubles as a show at the Atrium du Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Espace Fontvieille hosts the Monaco International Dog Show on May 10 and 11. The featured breeds at this 2025 edition? The Pyrenean Shepherd, the Beauce Shepherd, the Brie Shepherd and the Picardy Shepherd.
International bouquet competition
Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince and the Presidency of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover, the 56th International Bouquet Competition will be held in the Principality on Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11, 2025. The theme of this year's competition is "Flowers in Motion".
L'apéro des Frenchy - La Condamine market
Fancy a dance to end the day in style? The now famous Apéro des Frenchy is back at Marché de La Condamine! The concept: good humor, entertainment and a maximum of music, a carefully balanced mix that attracts an ever-growing audience. In a festive, friendly atmosphere, this life-size apéro will delight blind-test fans and those nostalgic for hits from the 50s to the 80s!
Ongoing exhibitions
- "Méditerranée 2025" at the Oceanographic Museum
- "Karl goes to Memphis" at Almine Rech gallery
- "CINEAM, le club des artisans cinéastes de Monaco" at the Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco
- "L'effet papillon, la pré-histoire des animaux" at the Musée d'Anthropologie préhistorique - until December 1, 2025
- World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai - Monaco Pavilion
Gourmet
the Principality unveils a host of exclusive concepts for unforgettable experiences. From Monte-Carlo Beach to Le Méridien Beach Plaza and Fairmont Monte-Carlo, Visit Monaco has compiled a non-exhaustive selection of Monaco's finest addresses for enjoying and dining.
Cédric Grolet settles in at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
In addition to this selection, this summer, pastry chef Cédric Grolet will open Cédric Grolet Monte-Carlo in the heart of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, where he will become Executive Pastry Chef. The new space will house a tea room and boutique, enriching the gastronomic offering of Monaco and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. Crowned World's Best Pastry Chef in 2018, Cédric Grolet will offer signature pastries and exclusive creations, including one dedicated to H.S.H. Prince Albert II. His artistic and innovative universe will extend to all the Hotel's restaurants, except Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse.
Regional council
Rose and plant festival at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
L'important, c'est la rose... The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is putting this classic French song into practice with its 14th "Fête des roses et des plantes" on May 3 and 4. Visitors will be able to share their passions with horticulturists, rose growers and nurserymen, discover the villa's 9 listed gardens, enjoy an exhibition-sale and a program of events for the general public.
May on the Côte d'Azur also means the Cannes Film Festival! The city and region vibrate to the rhythm of this not-to-be-missed event, with its screenings, encounters and events that make the seventh art shine. This 78th edition, which runs from May 13 to 24, will be presided over by French actress Juliette Binoche.