Monaco & l’Automobile is presented in a new light through its expanded press pack

In the summer of 2026, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco will host a special exhibition celebrating more than 130 years of the Principality’s relationship with the automobile.

With ‘Monaco & the Automobile, from 1893 to the present day’, 55 iconic vehicles retrace this unique history, from the early days of the automobile to the most cutting-edge technologies. From the end of the 19^th century, Monaco established itself as a pioneering territory, serving both as a laboratory for innovation — notably with the first experiments in tarmac roads — and as a centre of international influence, through the early organisation of motoring events.

Over time, the Principality has become a unique setting where the automobile is celebrated in all its forms: elegance, with the concours d’élégance held around the Casino de Monte-Carlo since 1897; endurance, with the Monte-Carlo Rally established in 1911; performance, with the Monaco Grand Prix held in the city since 1929.

The exhibition brings together nearly 20 cars from the Monte-Carlo Rally and some thirty Grand Prix single-seaters, including some of the most iconic in history.

These include, notably, the Bugatti 35B, the first winner of the Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, and the Ferrari driven to victory by Charles Leclerc in 2024, alongside legendary models from the Monte-Carlo Rally, such as the Mini Cooper S that won in 1964 and the Lancia Stratos HF, winner in 1977.

Also on display are the Panhard & Levassor Type P2D, currently the world’s oldest working petrol-powered car, which arrived in Monaco in 1893, and the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from the wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly in 1956. Brought together thanks to the contribution of international lenders, these cars are all authentic models that have competed in — and often won — the major Monegasque races.

Never before has a collection of such quality and historical significance been brought together in a single exhibition.

The exhibition also explores contemporary issues, featuring a Formula E single-seater, reflecting the new technological and energy trends in motorsport, and the MONA LUNA rover from Venturi Space, designed to operate at the Moon’s south pole by 2030.

Spanning over 3,500 m², the exhibition offers an immersive experience combining cars, artefacts, images and scenographic installations, allowing visitors to relive the golden age of Monegasque motor racing.

Originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic, the exhibition is finally taking place in 2026 and promises to be one of the season’s major cultural events. It is curated by Rodolphe Rapetti, Chief Heritage Curator, art historian and motoring specialist.

He is notably responsible for the exhibition ‘The Art of the Automobile – Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection’, which attracted over 150,000 visitors in Paris in 2011.