The Grimaldi Forum Monaco’s major summer exhibition, which opened on June 30 in the presence of Prince Albert II, is now open to the public and will run through September 6, 2026.
The opening night brought together nearly 500 guests, including the exhibition’s curator, Rodolphe Rapetti; numerous lenders—ranging from institutions to private collectors from Europe and the United States; and several prominent figures from the automotive world. Notable guests included Bernie Ecclestone, Michel Boeri, Jean Alesi, Thierry Boutsen, Daniel Elena, Ari Vatanen, Guy Fréquelin, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, and Gilles Valérian.
Spanning an area of more than 3,500 square meters, the exhibition “Monaco & the Automobile: From 1893 to the Present” offers a journey through the more than 130-year history linking the Principality to the automobile. More than 50 authentic vehicles—all with a connection to Monaco—tell a story in which elegance, innovation, performance, prestige, and collective memory merge.
The exhibition traces the origins of this Monegasque passion: the *Concours d’Élégance* (which began in the late 19th century), the Monte Carlo Rally (first held in 1911), and the Monaco Grand Prix (which made its debut in 1929).
Thanks to the valuable collaboration with the Automobile Club de Monaco, the exhibition brings together exceptional—and often never-before-seen—archival pieces, as well as numerous documents, photographs, and videos that allow visitors to experience these vehicles in action.
Among the most important exhibits is the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, which was used at the wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly in 1956; it is on loan from an American collector who has owned the vehicle for more than forty years.
The exhibition also features rally cars, Grand Prix race cars, a Venturi Formula E car, and a model of the Monaco race track, as well as a tribute to the Monegasque race car drivers Louis Chiron and Charles Leclerc.
The exhibition concludes with a dialogue between the past and the future: On one side stands a Panhard & Levassor—a vehicle that drove to Monaco after competing in the 1893 Paris-Nice race, at a time when the Principality was pioneering the first experiments with asphalt roads; on the other side is the MONA LUNA lunar rover, developed by Venturi Space and designed for use on the Moon by the year 2030.
By combining history, aesthetics, culture, and technology, the exhibition “Monaco & the Automobile: From 1893 to Today” appeals to both enthusiasts and the general public. It is a groundbreaking exhibition that tells the story of both Monaco and the automobile—from the car’s first revolutions to its future horizons on the Moon.
Further information is available on the Grimaldi Forum Monaco website.
