What to do in Monaco this April

Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo

The Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo is still in full swing! The unique cultural event has already seen some wonderful musical moments, and there are plenty still to be experienced between now and 27 April when the festival officially draws to a close. From 23 to 27 April, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will be performing three ballets, each a heady combination of emotion and virtuoso talent: George Balanchine’s “Les Quatre Tempéraments”, along with “Wartime Elegy” by Alexeï Ratmansky and Marco Goecke’s “La Nuit Transfigurée”. Don’t miss them at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.

Exhibitions

"Mediterranean 2025" at the Oceanographic Museum

The Oceanographic Museum this month proudly unveils its latest major contribution to the noble cause of ocean conservation in the shape of new immersive exhibition “Mediterranean 2050”. Visitors of all ages can journey through time, exploring a utopian vision of the future in which the Mediterranean is healthy, clean, and teeming with biodiversity thanks to decisions taken in the here and now. The exhibition is a call to action, highlighting the need to protect the sea’s unique and fragile ecosystem, while inspiring everyone to play their part both individually and collectively.

“CINEAM, Monaco's amateur filmmakers club” at the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco

The Audiovisual Institute of Monaco is presenting an all-new exhibition about Cinéam, the Principality’s amateur filmmakers’ club. The retrospective, which runs until 30 January 2026, offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of amateur cinema in Monaco, from the early days in the 1950s to the advent of video in the late 80s. The exhibition is a unique chance to learn about the inventiveness and passion of the filmmakers who succeeded in capturing the essence of Monaco in their work.

"Karl goes to Memphis", an exhibition at the Almine Rech gallery

The exhibition “Karl goes to Memphis” at the Almine Rech gallery is devoted to the apartment of Karl Lagerfeld, one of the Principality’s highest-profile residents.  The designer’s bold and colourful Monegasque living space is a testament to his abiding affection for the Memphis style, with modern graphic designs illustrating the movement’s energy and dynamism. The exhibition runs until 24 May 2025.

Current exhibitions

"Agora, Place of the Museum" Villa Sauber – until 4 May 2025
"Francisco Tropa, Paesine" Villa Paloma – until 21 April 2025
"The Butterfly Effect: the Prehistory of Animals" at the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology – until 1 December 202

Culture and Entertainment

Music, sport, and dance at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco

The Grimaldi Forum has become synonymous with eclectic events. The month will kick off on 1 April with Pascal Obispo performing live, accompanied by just five musicians for a special concert with an intimate feel.

The GFM will then host an exhibition of premium and luxury used vehicles with Monaco-Occasions Special Days on 4 and 5 April, while the popular Thursday Live Sessions will return on 10 April. On stage will be  Lidiop, a singer-songwriter from Senegal whose distinctive style blends reggae, dancehall, R’n’B, afro and pop in a marvellous musical mix not to be missed!
On 11 April there will be a celebration of Celtic culture with Irish Celtic – "Le chemin des légendes", a unique exploration of Irish song and dance.

Finally, the last weekend of April (26 and 27) will be all about the biggest sports craze of the moment, as the GFM hosts Padel Best Village. The big draw of this two-day event will be the Givova Five Padel Cup, a meeting with five tournaments involving padel-loving football legends, celebrities, and athletes. Grab your rackets.

 Théâtre Princesse Grace

The first date on the April calendar has been given the “discovery label”, meaning the team at the Théâtre Princesse Grace thinks the play will be of particular interest to everyone, not just regular theatre-goers. “L’effet miroir” by Léonore Confino, nominated for the 2024 Molière award for best play by a living francophone playwright, stars Jeanne Arènes, winner of the Molière for best actress in a supporting role.

This month, the Theatre will also host meetings of the Principality’s philosophy society Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco on the theme of identity, while Alexis Michalik will be providing food for thought with his play “Passeport” on 8 April. On 23 and 24 April, the audience can see a performance of “Dead Poets’ Society”. The hit movie has been adapted for the stage by Tom Schulman and won two Molières in 2024, with Ethan Oliel being named best male newcomer and Olivier Solivérès collecting the award for best direction in a private theatre play.  

Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra

As usual, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic or OPMC will be putting on a diverse programme of concerts this month, including a mixture of all-time classical works and more contemporary creations. On 5 April, the Orchestra will accompany violinist Valeriy Sokolov at the Auditorium Rainier-III as part of the Printemps des Arts Festival. The venue will also host a symphonic concert on 13 April, where piano prodigies Lucas and Arthur Jussen will perform pieces by Debussy among others, followed by a spiritual concert at Monaco Cathedral on 14 April.  The perennially popular Musical Happy Hour series will return with the OPMC’s tribute to Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky on 16 April. Finally, on 27 April, pianist Grigory Sokolov will perform a recital featuring works by Byrd and Brahms.

 Smakelijk! Comedy Club

It’s your last chance of the year to experience big laughs with your significant other, friends, or family at Smakelijk Comedy Club at the Méridien Beach Plaza!  On 18 and 19 April, the season will conclude with a cosmopolitan line-up of comics. The central concept for these two evenings of humour? ‘A Belgian, a Swiss, and a Parisian”, with Inno JP, Charles Nouveau, and Nathalie Boitel.

Box98

A new leisure centre in Monaco! Box98 opens in April, adding to the already generous range of entertainments options on offer in the Principality. The 4,700 m² venue in the Fontvieille district houses an electric go-karting track and racing simulators. Previously occupied by the Sovereign Prince’s personal cars collection, the centre will also have a bowling alley and karaoke. It’s the perfect place for fun with friends and family, and can also be hired privately for seminars and work events.

Sport

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters

The arrival of spring in Monaco can only mean one thing: the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is just around the corner! For the 118th time, the best tennis players on the planet will face off in this most idyllic of settings as they attempt to claim the first Masters 1000 title of the season to be played on clay.

One of the world’s oldest tournaments, the Masters is constantly changing and this 2025 edition will include some new features:

• The Hôtel Monte-Carlo Beach will be made entirely private for the exclusive use of the players, their staff and families, effectively expanding the site by 35%.
• Court number 2 is being renamed after Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, in tribute to an important figure in Monegasque tennis. 
• Hawk-eye and video reviews will be used at the tournament for the first time 

A week of incredible tennis gets under way on 5th April, culminating in the final on the 13th!

AS Monaco Football Club

The football season is heading into the final straight as AS Monaco look to secure European competition in 2025-2026! The Monegasques will host Olympique de Marseille for a thrilling top-of-the-table Mediterranean derby on 12 April, before Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace visit the Principality on 19 April.

Roca Team

The Principality’s biggest basketball team is also into the final sprint, with the elite clubs vying for a place in the playoffs. In the domestic championship, the Roca Team will host Nanterre 92 on 5 April, Saint-Quentin on 12 April, and historic side CSP Limoges on 27 April. Meanwhile, in the Euroligue, Mike James and co’ will welcome the visit of second-placed Panathinaïkos for the final home fixture of the regular season!

Gourmet Food

Festival des Etoilés 2025

The Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo is back with more culinary excellence in the shape of a series of very special dinners created by teams of Michelin-starred chefs from around the world.

This year’s event will get under way on 10 April with a prestige dinner at Le Grill*, where Dominique Lory and Pierre Gagnaire will be linking up again after 25 years in the business together. Then on 20 June, Alain Ducasse and Albert Adrià will team up at the Louis XV for a gastronomical French-Spanish experiment in fusion cuisine. On 13 July, Yannick Alleno and Davide Oldani will serve up a sumptuous feast at Le Pavyllon, followed by an exception event at the Blue Bay on 18 July with Marcel Ravin and Anne-Sophie Pic. The Festival will conclude with a special gala dinner.

The third in a trilogy of incredible dinners

After two special dates on 21 and 28 March at the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo and Blue Bay Marcel Ravin, guests can look forward to the climactic episode of this unique trilogy on 26 April. Le Grill at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo will be paying tribute to Italian cuisine with a lavish Mediterranean dinner prepared by Alessandro Borghese and Dominique Lory.

Further afield

Away from Monaco, two major developments are worth noting in Japan and Germany:

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai - Monaco Pavilion

Expo 2025 in Osaka Kansai will take place from 13 April to 13 October 2025, and is expected to attract some 28 million visitors. The international exhibition’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, with the Principality having opted to focus on “Connecting Lives”. The Monegasque pavilion will comprise several buildings surrounded by a Mediterranean garden, and is designed to highlight Monaco’s environmental commitments.

Monaco at Europa Park

Monaco is coming to Europa Park! In 2026, the Principality will become the 18th country to have its own themed area of the famous theme park on the Franco-German border. With elegant architecture, exclusive experiences, and a prestige feel, the new area will give park visitors from all over the world the chance to experience a miniature version of Monaco.  A fine opportunity to enhance the destination’s international reach and inspire travellers in search of excitement and wonder.