The 65th Monte-Carlo Television Festival came to a close during a spectacular Closing Ceremony hosted by Ricky Whittle and Louise Ekland in the Salle des Princes at the Grimaldi Forum.
The event was held in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco, who honoured the winners and presented several major distinctions before an audience of leading television professionals, industry executives, media representatives and television fans from around the world.
This anniversary edition celebrated sixty-five years of television excellence by bringing together some of the most influential talents, creators, producers, actors, directors, journalists and decision-makers from across the international audiovisual industry.
The 2026 Official Selection brought together 24 programmes from around the world across the Fiction, Feature Reports & News and Digital categories. Showcasing acclaimed international talent, ambitious premium productions, powerful investigative documentaries and innovative digital formats, this anniversary selection reflected the diversity, creativity and excellence of contemporary audiovisual storytelling.
Marking a significant milestone in the Festival’s history, 2026 also saw the presentation of the first Golden Nymph Awards in the Digital category, recognising the growing influence of digital creators and original online storytelling within the global audiovisual landscape.
Following several days of screenings and deliberations, the Festival’s international juries presented the prestigious Golden Nymph Awards this evening.
One of the highlights of this landmark 65th edition was the presentation of the Crystal Nymph to Kurt Russell in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the entertainment industry and his remarkable career spanning more than six decades.
From iconic films such as Escape from New York, The Thing, Tombstone and Stargate to more recent successes including The Hateful Eight, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Kurt Russell has established himself as one of the most respected, versatile and enduring figures in international entertainment. The distinction was presented by H.S.H. Princesse Charlene of Monaco.
British actor Matthew Broome received the International Golden Nymph for Most Promising Talent. Having gained international recognition through his leading role in My Fault: London (Prime Video) and his performance in The Buccaneers (Apple TV+), he has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising talents of his generation. The award was presented by H.S.H. Princesse Charlene of Monaco.
Throughout the week, the Festival celebrated its 65th anniversary through an exceptional programme featuring 13 screenings, including 4 french premieres, 5 international premieres and 4 world premieres, as well as more than 29 public events, autograph sessions, Behind the Scenes discussions, public conferences and unique encounters with some of the biggest names in international television. Together, these events reaffirmed the Festival’s unique position as one of the world’s most prestigious television gatherings.
The Festival welcomed an outstanding line-up of talent including Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Ester Expósito, Lesley Manville, CBE , Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, John Hannah, David Boreanaz and many other acclaimed creators, producers and executives from across the global television industry.
Alongside the public programme, the Business Forum once again confirmed its role as a key platform for industry dialogue, bringing together leading creators, producers, executives and talent from across the international audiovisual sector. Over three days of discussions and exclusive conversations, participants explored topics ranging from the creative process and the evolution of storytelling to audience engagement, emerging technologies and the future of premium television. The programme featured renowned industry figures including Michael Hirst, Aldis Hodge, Ben Watkins, Rola Bauer, Kevin McKidd and Susanne Daniels, while the second edition of the Tell Me A Story! Pitch Contest in collaboration with 1895 Films, once again showcased the next generation of creative talent, welcoming nine young filmmaker finalists to pitch their original and factual creations in front of an international judging panel, as part of the Business Forum. Mariana Machado of Universidade Lusófona (Portugal) was announced as the winner of Season 2 for her project Late to Desire: The Sex Lives They Never Had.
More than 1500 interviews were conducted throughout the Festival by journalists representing media outlets from around the world, highlighting the international reach and influence of the event.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco stated:
“The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has showcased once again the extraordinary vitality, diversity and creativity of the international audiovisual industry. Through the quality of the programmes presented, the individuals honored for their outstanding talent and the conversations shared throughout the week, this 65th anniversary edition has celebrated the power of storytelling to inspire, entertain and bring people together.”
Laurent Puons, General Manager of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, declared:
“This anniversary edition has been a remarkable success. For sixty-five years, the Festival has championed excellence in television, and this year’s programme perfectly reflected the creativity, ambition and innovation that continue to drive our industry forward. I would like to thank our partners, juries, talent, speakers, media, audiences and my team who helped make this edition so memorable.”
Cécile Menoni, Executive Director of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, added:
“This 65th edition has once again demonstrated the unique ability of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival to bring together every facet of the international audiovisual community. From the programmes in competition and exclusive premieres to public events, industry discussions and encounters with exceptional talent, Monaco has once again become a global meeting place for creativity, inspiration and shared passion for television.”
The Monte-Carlo Television Festival now looks ahead to its 66th edition and will welcome audiences and industry professionals back to Monaco in 2027.
