Monaco’s summer calendar is starting to take shape, and as ever, the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival is right at the centre of it.
The 2026 edition, unveiled on Thursday, March 26 by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, brings together a line-up that leans heavily on global star power while maintaining the festival’s signature mix of genres and atmospheres. From French chanson to soul, pop, and international headliners, the programme once again spreads across two of the Principality’s most iconic venues — the Salle des Étoiles and the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
The festival opens on July 3 with Sébastien Tellier, whose surreal and distinctive sound returns to the stage of the Opéra Garnier. Just a few days later, on July 7, Jon Batiste brings his genre-defying style to Monaco, followed closely by Jason Derulo, who is expected to deliver one of the more high-energy performances of the summer.
One of the festival’s longstanding traditions also returns on July 11, with a charity evening in support of Fight Aids Monaco, featuring a Queen tribute led by Pablo Padín. A week later, the prestigious Monaco Red Cross Gala will once again combine philanthropy and spectacle, this year introducing a new production titled SOUL!, a show dedicated to the legacy of African-American music.
The programme continues with a diverse run of artists, including London-based rising act The Last Dinner Party, francophone pop phenomenon Aya Nakamura, and Latin rock star Juanes, whose stop in Monaco forms part of his 2026 world tour.
Among the standout moments of the season will be John Legend’s more intimate “Songs and Stories” performance on July 26, offering a contrast to the larger-scale productions that define much of the festival.
The end of July sees the return of SOUL! for an extended run at the Salle des Étoiles, before the programme shifts back to the Opéra Garnier with Vanessa Paradis on July 31.
August maintains the momentum, with performances from LP, Lisa Stansfield, and finally Laura Pausini, who will close the festival on August 15.
Throughout the season, audiences at the Salle des Étoiles will also be welcomed by the Ultramarine Girls Band, returning after a well-received appearance last year with a high-energy repertoire spanning pop, rock and Latin hits.
Now in its third decade, the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival continues to strike a balance between glamour, accessibility, and international appeal — a formula that has made it one of Monaco’s defining summer events.