What's On Guide

Discover our guide to the best events on the French Riviera this week or weekend. Do not miss any major events such as the Cannes film Festival, Nice and Menton Carnival, Monaco Grand Prix or the Monaco and Cannes Yacht Shows.

Check our guide often as possible, you will be updated with the best things to do on the French Riviera (exhibitions, shows, races, concerts and more...).

Oceanographic Museum Exhibition "The Prince and the Mediterranean"

06 January to 31 March 2024
Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum in Monaco has opened its new permanent exhibition, "The Prince and the Mediterranean" which pays tribute to Prince Rainier III's bond with the ocean and in particular the Meditteranean. Visitors to the exhibition will step aboard his boat, Deo Juvante II. Guided by the voice of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, they will navigate through four fascinating spaces, each exploring a different facet of the Prince and his passion for all things aquatic. The exhibition is on until the end of 2024. More details on www.oceano.mc
 

Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology

17 January to 31 March 2024
Monaco

The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology has an interesting exhibition which allows visitors to discover a different side of Prince Albert I of Monaco. Meet the prehistorian prince, the scientist and explorer, and trace the history of his archaeological expeditions. From the Grimaldi caves to Spain, from the founding of the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology to the Paris Institute of Human Paleontology, visitors will follow his incredible journey and archaeological discoveries. It’s on until 31 March. You can find the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology on boulevard du Jardin Exotique in Monaco. More information on https://map-mc.org

Looking for Free Knots

09 February to 28 May 2024
Monaco

Le Quai exhibition space on the port in Monaco is hosting a new group exhibition, Looking for Free Knots, curated by Maria Katia Tufano, from a selection of artworks from the collection of Silvia Fiorucci. The exhibition explores concepts around memory and identity and features works from more than a dozen artists. It's open until 28th May at Le Quai, which can be found on the 4th floor at 8 Quai Antoine Ier in Monaco. To book a visit, email contact@lasocietadelleapi.mc

Imaginaires Carnavalesques

17 February to 31 March 2024
Nice

To coincide with the Nice carnival, the West End hotel on the Promenade des Anglais presents the exhibition "Imaginaires carnavalesques". It features colourful works from three local artists, on the theme of the Nice carnival and its history. The exhibition is open until 31st March and entry is free. See hotel-westend.com

Brigitte Bardot: Beyond the Image

09 March to 26 May 2024
Villefranche-sur-Mer

On the occasion of her 90th birthday, Brigitte Bardot is being celebrated with a unique exhibition in the Citadelle of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Brigitte Bardot: Beyond the Image features some previously unpublished photos from the private collection of writer and journalist Henry-Jean Servat, and takes a look at her many links to the Riviera. One of the first films in which Brigitte Bardot starred, Un Acte d'Amour, was filmed in Villefranche-sur-Mer alongside Kirk Douglas. This exhibition can be found inside the Chapelle Sainte Elme from 9th March to 26th May and you'll find more details at lacitadellevsm.fr

CMB Monaco Master padel

16 March to 24 March 2024
Monaco

The CMB Monaco Master is back on the terraces of the Casino of Monte Carlo until 24th March. As a major stage in the international A1 padel circuit, this prestigious master welcomes the best padel players from across the world for one week only. Tickets are available from a1padelglobal.com

MonacoUSA networking

19 March 2024
Monaco

MonacoUSA will host its next Networking event on Tuesday 19th March from 6pm to 8pm at the restaurant Conscientiae on the port. Entrance is free and all nationalities are welcome. Special guests for the event are the organisers of the TEDxYouth Event to be held at the International School of Monaco in April. For more info, see www.monacousa.org.

English-American Library exhibition

19 March to 01 April 2024
Nice

The English-American Library of Nice presents an exhibition of colourful collages by its resident librarian, Derek Gillespie, who was born in Scotland and trained in the London Central School of Arts.  The opening is on Saturday 23rd March from 3-6pm. Entry is free, and it’s a chance not just to see the artworks on exhibition but also to visit and discover the library itself. The library can be found on Rue de France in Nice, but entrance is via Holy Trinity Anglican church on Rue de la Buffa. See nice-english-library.org

Flor MacCarthy at Princess Grace library

19 March 2024
Monaco

The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco invites you to meet their spring writer-in-residence, the author and journalist Flor MacCarthy, for a talk about the relationship between the Monegasque princely family and successive Irish presidents, as seen through their correspondence. She’ll talk about her bestselling book The Presidents' Letters: An Unexpected History of Ireland, and why she’s busy in the principality researching the palace archives for her new book. The talk is at Princess Grace library on Tuesday 19th March at 2.30pm and entry is €10. See pgil.mc

Sevenoaks School in Monaco

19 March 2024
Monaco

Front Row Education is a consultancy firm helping parents who want to send their child to some of the world's best-ranked schools. They're organising a presentation in Monaco with the headmaster and admissions staff from Sevenoaks School, an IB boarding school outside London, this Tuesday at 5pm at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte Carlo, followed by a cocktail reception. To reserve your place, email info@frontrowgroup.co.uk

Monaco oceans conference

20 March 2024
Monaco

To coincide with Monaco Ocean Week, The Animal Fund is putting on an enriching conference on 20th March at the Novotel in Monaco from midday. It's a chance to explore the wonders of the ocean and the impact it has on us all, discover what causes a decline in biodiversity, understand the dynamics of the ocean ecosystem and find out ways we can safeguard our oceans together. Guest speakers are Dr Marianne Helene Rasmussen, a marine biologist, research professor, and director of the University of Iceland's research centre, and Daniel Kreizberg, an award-winning filmmaker, actor and director. For more info, see theanimalfund.net

Le Condor

20 March 2024
Valbonne

A few days after St Patrick's Day, here's a concert combining Celtic influences with Provençal music. Jean-François Gérold's ensemble, Le Condor, has been invited by the Ensemble Vocal de Cannes for a special performance on Wednesday 20th March at 8pm at the Salle du Pré des Arts in Valbonne. For details and the phone number to book, see ensemblevocaldecannes.org.

American Club get-togethers

21 March to 29 March 2024
Various

The American Club of the Riviera is organising several local networking get-togethers over the coming week. After Miami Plage in Monaco on Thursday 21st March at 10.30am, the next meetings will be in Nice on Tuesday 26th March from 11am at the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais Méditerranean, and on Friday 29th March from 10.30am at the Brasserie le Palais in Fréjus. All the group meetings are free to attend and open to non-members, but you need to register in advance. For more info, see americanclubriviera.com

Art on Cars

21 March 2024
Antibes

Hyundai and the Riviera Car Center are holding a fundraising auction for the Lenval children's hospital in Nice this Thursday. About 30 paintings and sculptures by two local street artists are going under the hammer - but also two Hyundai cars that have been completely repainted by the artists involved and turned into works of art in their own right. The auction is taking place at the Bastide du Roy in Antibes on Thursday 21st March from 7pm. To get your invitation, email com@comforart.fr

American Club tour of Palais Lascaris

22 March 2024
Nice

The American Club of the Riviera is organising a guided tour in English of the Palais Lascaris in Nice old town on Friday 22nd March from 10.30, followed by lunch at the Safari restaurant. Built in the middle of the 17th century for the Lascaris-Ventimiglia family, the palace is one of the most remarkable monuments of the baroque period of Nice with its monumental staircase decorated with frescoes and luxuriously decorated living rooms. The tour and lunch combined cost €66 for members and €76 for guests and you need to book before 19th March. You'll find details at americanclubriviera.com

Monsieur de Pourceaugnac

23 March 2024
Monaco

The Jacques Biagini amateur theatre and dance group present a special interpretation of Molière's classic three act comedy/ballet Monsieur de Pourceaugnac - set in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The performance is raising money for the charity Ecoute Cancer Réconfort. It's in French and you can see it on Saturday 23rd March at 8.30pm at the Théâtre des Variétés in Monaco. Tickets are €20, or €15 for under-15s. They're available on the door or you can reserve in advance by calling 06 80 86 04 33.

Fête de l'Olivier

23 March 2024
Nice

On Saturday 23rd March it's the Fête de l'Olivier in Nice - an event dedicated to celebrating a symbol of the Mediterranean, the olive tree. It's a chance to take part in tasting workshops of some AOP origin-protected olive oils from Nice and Provence, get expert advice on planting and looking after olive trees on your property, and explore the market selling a wide range of Mediterranean plants, olive oils, cosmetics, ceramics and more. There'll also be entertainment for the children and food trucks. The Fête de l'Olivier takes place this Saturday 23rd March from 10am until 5pm at the Palais de l'Agriculture at 113 Promenade des Anglais. See scah-nice.fr

Munegu Repair Cafe

23 March 2024
Monaco

The next edition of Mùnegu Repair Café takes place at the Condamine Market in Monaco on Saturday 23rd March. This a free workshop for any local resident with a household electronic object that needs repairing. The Repair Café is open on Saturday from 3.30pm until 6pm on a first-come first-served basis.

A history of aerospace in Cannes

23 March 2024
Mouans-Sartoux

Cannes has a long history of research and development in the aeronautical and aerospace industries and it's being celebrated with an exhibition and talk at the médiathèque in Mouans-Sartoux. The exhibition is freely accessible until Thursday 28th March, while on Saturday 23rd March at 7pm there'll be a presentation in French about the history of the aerospace industry in Cannes. The mediathèque can be found at 201 Avenue de Cannes. More info at la-mediatheque.fr

Knights Templier Biot

06 April to 07 April 2024
Biot

The Knight Templiers return to Biot. The Knights go back almost a thousand years in this part of the world, and next month they are turning the medieval village of Biot into a spectacular full live experience of what life was like back in their time.

This includes everyone dressed in medieval costumes, market-places with recipes from the time, parades and displays of traditional skills. The best bit is they recreate live battle scenes as the crowds look on.  

Amazingly, all this is free! It is busy - in fact it’s one of the biggest events of the entire year on the Cote d’Azur - but they organise it really well with free busses from Biot train station or huge car parks nearby with free shuttle busses.

We cannot recommend it enough!  Search Google for The Knights Templar Biot for more.

Mini-Mimosa

14 April 2024
Antibes

The annual Mini-Mimosa Kids Fun Run is getting bigger and better this year as it moves to a brand-new venue at Fort Carré in Antibes. If you’ve ever been to this, you will know that the kids love it! It’s a brilliant family-friendly event which promotes health, fitness and community support while at the same time raising funds for kids battling cancer in the South of France. There are three races to run from just 800m to 3k and the kids all get a tee-shirt, medal and certificate to reward their efforts. The run itself is on Sunday April 14th and registration is now open, so get online and get involved at mimosamatters.org