Under the glass canopy of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, more than 700 figures from business, culture, diplomacy and media gathered for the institution’s traditional galette des rois celebration. This was no ordinary toast. It marked the close of a record-shattering 2025 and unveiled plans that could redefine the Forum’s role on the international stage in 2026.
A Quarter-Century Reimagined
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Grimaldi Forum has undergone a dramatic transformation. The Mareterra expansion project added an extra 6,000 m² of indoor exhibition space plus 2,000 m² outdoors, significantly amplifying the venue’s ability to host large-scale exhibitions, congresses and performances. Impressively, this new footprint achieved a one-third occupancy rate in its first year, a feat that even seasoned event planners hailed as exceptional.
Financially, 2025 was a banner year: €28 million in revenue, a 17 % increase on 2024, driven by a strategic focus on fewer but far larger events.
Flagship Moments and Milestones
Several events punctuated the Forum’s recent success: “Couleurs! Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou” became one of the most visited exhibitions in the institution’s history, drawing more than 76,000 art lovers through Monaco’s doors.
The AMWC aesthetic and beauty conference attracted a record crowd of 17,000 participants, underlining the Forum’s weight in the professional congress circuit. Other major gatherings, such as the Blue Economy & Finance Forum and the European Association of Osseointegration medical science & dental implants congress, brought together thinkers and innovators from around the world.
The venue maintained strong commitments to environmental and social responsibility, renewing its ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 certifications and earning the Handipact 2025 Award for inclusivity initiatives.
2026: A Stage for Prestige and Panache
With commercial targets already surpassed before the year has even begun, 2026 shapes up to be historic. Included in the standout events announced is the Historic Cérémonie du Guide Michelin France & Monaco: For the first time, the gastronomic globe’s most anticipated annual celebration of culinary excellence will unfold at the Grimaldi Forum on 16 March 2026, drawing top chefs, food critics and stars of the culinary world. The Principality’s extraordinary concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, including a potpourri of three-star, two-star and one star establishments, makes it a fitting host.
La Vuelta’s Grand Departure
The internationally renowned cycling race will arrive in Monaco for the first time, marking an exciting addition to the principality’s sporting calendar and bringing global attention to the Riviera in late August. In addition, the Conference of Ministers of Sport and the Forbes Travel Guide Summit return with renewed energy, further solidifying Monaco’s appeal as a forum for high-level dialogue and travel industry leadership.
Culture on a Global Arc
The Grimaldi Forum’s artistic ambitions don’t stop at its walls. The summer exhibition “Monaco and the Automobile, from 1893 to the Present Day”, scheduled from 1 July to 6 September, will celebrate the principality’s deep automotive roots, while the blockbuster Couleurs! exhibition begins the year abroad at Beijing’s Minsheng Art Museum.
Beyond exhibitions, the calendar includes a rich spectrum of performing arts, from ballets and concerts to theatrical productions and solo shows, all reinforcing Monaco’s status as a cultural hub.
Enduring Partnerships and Future Horizons
Solidifying its foundations, the Grimaldi Forum renewed a 21st consecutive year of partnership with CMB Monaco.
As the Forum’s director general, Sylvie Biancheri, put it: 2025 wasn’t just a success, it was a turning point. With the momentum of expansion, strategic programming and international recognition behind it, 2026 may well be the year Monaco’s crown jewel of events truly shines on the global stage.
