Monaco and the automobile: a history of passion since 1893
During the summer of 2026, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco will be hosting an exceptional exhibition devoted to the Principality's automotive history. For the first time, " Monaco and the Automobile, from 1893 to the present day " retraces more than 130 years of mechanical passion, offering an unprecedented look at the unique relationship between Monaco and the world of four wheels.
Spread over 4,000 m², the event brings together some fifty emblematic vehicles. Visitors can admire more than twenty cars that have won the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Rally, created in 1911, as well as models from the Princely Family collection. From the very first car to take to the streets of the Principality to the most legendary racing cars of all time, the exhibition presents a complete historical fresco.
Excellent curators and exceptional archives
Curated by Rodolphe Rapetti, General Curator of Heritage, who orchestrated the exhibition "The Art of the Automobile - Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection" in Paris in 2011, this event benefits from the full collaboration of the Automobile Club de Monaco. This prestigious institution has opened up its archives to the Grimaldi Forum, allowing us to discover documents, photographs and videos, some of which have never been seen before.
This exceptional journey through time illustrates the evolution of concours d'élégance, legendary sporting competitions and the automobile as a work of art. Each piece on display bears witness to the Principality's long-standing passion for precision engineering and the beauty of automobile design.
An enriched visit for young and old
Enriched with interactive tools, the exhibition offers an immersive experience that enables visitors of all ages to fully grasp Monaco's automotive history. More than just a contemplative experience, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the world of legendary races, prestigious parades and technical innovations that have marked more than a century.
Originally scheduled for 2020, this long-awaited exhibition will finally be held in 2026, as a major cultural event at the heart of the summer season.
A celebration of heritage, speed and style, it's a must-see event for motoring enthusiasts and lovers of history and culture alike.
A retrospective
Since its inauguration on 20 July 2000 by Prince Rainier III and Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) has produced a major themed exhibition every summer devoted to a major artistic movement, a heritage or civilisation theme or any subject that expresses the renewal of creativity.
The GFM collaborates with the world's leading cultural institutions - museums, foundations and galleries - which support the success of these major summer exhibitions with loans of major works.
Thanks to the quality of its major summer exhibitions, the Grimaldi Forum has established itself as a cultural institution in its own right.