Monaco National Day (Fête Nationale): 18–19 November Guide

Monaco's Fête Nationale falls on 19 November and is the one day of the year when the whole Principality — Monegasques, residents and the Palace — celebrates together. In practice it is a two-day affair: the fireworks are on the evening of the 18th, and the official ceremonies take place on the morning of the 19th. In 2026, the 19th is a Thursday.

Why 19 November?

In Monaco, the reigning Prince chooses the date of the national day. Prince Rainier III fixed it on 19 November in 1951 — the feast of Saint Rainier, his name day. When Prince Albert II succeeded his father in 2005, he kept the date rather than moving it to his own name day (Saint Albert, 15 November), so the tradition has been unbroken for more than seventy years.

19 November is a statutory public holiday for employees in both the public and private sectors. When it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is taken off instead.

18 November: the fireworks

The evening before the national day, a pyromusical fireworks display is fired over Port Hercule. It is free and open to everyone; in 2025 it started at 20:10. The best views are from the quays around the port — Quai Albert-Ier and Quai Antoine-Ier on the Condamine side give you the display with the Rock and the Palace behind it. Restaurant terraces overlooking the port are booked weeks in advance.

The Mairie usually pairs the fireworks with a concert: in 2025 the rock band Superbus played at the Espace Léo Ferré straight afterwards.

19 November: the official day

• Te Deum — the morning begins with a solemn mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral on the Rock, attended by the Prince, the Princely Family, the Government, the Conseil National and the diplomatic corps.
• Military review and decorations — in the late morning, the Prince reviews the troops in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palace and presents decorations and medals.
• Parade on Place du Palais — the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince and the Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers then parade on the Palace square, watched by the Princely Family and the public massed around the square.

Flags are hung from buildings and balconies across the Principality, and red-and-white is everywhere.

The Mairie's programme

Alongside the state ceremonies, the Mairie de Monaco organises a programme of shows around the 18th and 19th. In 2025 this included a family show (L'Île au Trésor) on 15 November, the Superbus concert on the 18th and a comedy show on the 19th, all at the Espace Léo Ferré, plus festivities and a giant stockfish (the Monegasque stocafi) at the Marché de la Condamine.

The Espace Léo Ferré shows are free but by invitation only, reserved for Monegasques and residents. Invitations are handed out at the Espace Léo Ferré and at the Mairie on presentation of an identity card, a residence permit (carte de séjour) or, for resident children, the family record book — one invitation per card, while stocks last. The fireworks and the market festivities need no invitation.

The Mairie publishes each year's line-up in October or November on its website; check it for the 2026 programme and invitation dates.

Practical tips

• Get to Place du Palais early on the 19th: the square fills well before the parade and access to the Rock is controlled.
• Expect road closures around Monaco-Ville on the morning of the 19th and around the port on the evening of the 18th. The CAM buses run, but leave the car at home — see our public transport guide.
• Coming by train? Check your return before the fireworks: the last regional trains leave earlier than many visitors expect, and roads out of Monaco are slow after the display.
• Shops and offices: the 19th is a holiday, so administrations, banks and many shops are closed. See the full calendar in our public holidays guide.

Related

• National Day event page
• Visiting the Prince's Palace
• Monaco Cathedral
• Monaco's flag and anthem