Monaco’s annual Monegasque Language Competition returns this May, once again bringing together nearly two thousand students to celebrate and safeguard one of the Principality’s most treasured cultural legacies.
Kicking off with written examinations from Monday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 14, and followed by oral rounds in early June, the competition plays a central role in the ongoing effort to preserve the Monegasque language among the next generation.
Jointly organised by the Monaco Town Hall, the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports (DENJS), and the National Committee of Monegasque Traditions, the competition underscores the strong institutional commitment to protecting the country’s linguistic heritage.
The written exams will be held at several schools across the Principality, including Collège Charles III and the François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré Institution. Students from CM2 (final year of primary school) through to the final year of lycée (sixth form) will test their knowledge of the local language. The oral examinations will follow between Monday, June 2 and Friday, June 6 at Monaco Town Hall, open only to students who qualify from the written round.
This year’s edition sees the participation of 1,911 students—slightly down from 1,919 in 2024—demonstrating a continued interest in the preservation of the Monegasque language among young residents.
Winners will be honoured at an official awards ceremony on Monday, June 16 in the Cour d’Honneur of the Town Hall, marking the culmination of an event that remains a cornerstone of Monaco’s cultural and educational calendar.
