Spanish Week, 150 years of friendship between Monaco and Spain at the Café de Paris Monte Carlo

From June 17 to 21, 2026, the traditional "Spanish Week" makes a grand return to the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. This festive week celebrates Iberian cuisine and takes place against a special backdrop this year: the 150th anniversary of the Principality of Monaco's diplomatic mission to Spain and the upcoming start of the Vuelta race this August.

With musical entertainment, flamenco, tapas, and other Iberian specialties, the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo brasserie will be decked out in yellow and red for "Spanish Week" from June 17 to 21. The week will feature a menu of authentic Spanish dishes-such as the *Tabla de jamón ibérico de bellota* ("Pata Negra"), *Paella mar*, *Pata de pulpo braseado* (braised octopus leg), and *Entrecote de Vaca Rubia de Galicia madurada* (aged Galician Blond beef ribeye)-crafted by Café de Paris Monte-Carlo Chef Victor Marion in collaboration with Chef Fernando Lopez.

As always, the atmosphere will be convivial and, above all, musical, thanks to European Flamenco champion Jose Lucena. He will perform a daily flamenco dance show for guests, accompanied by his dancers and singer Alvaro Alcaidhe. To complete the immersive experience, master Iberian ham carver Sandra Fernandés Santos will give live carving demonstrations, ensuring truly gourmet and festive evenings. A Gala Evening Marking 150 Years of Friendship Between Monaco and Spain
This traditional event, first held in 2009, takes on special significance this year as it marks the 150th anniversary of the Principality of Monaco's diplomatic mission to Spain, originally established on July 14, 1876.

The anniversary will be celebrated on June 20 at 7:30 PM with a gala dinner. Hosting the event will be Stéphane Valeri, Deputy Chairman of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, and Christophe Navarre-Project Manager for the Princely Government's Department of Public Works and the event's creator and organizer. They will welcome Her Excellency Catherine Fautrier-Rousseau, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Principality of Monaco to Spain.

The menu will be crafted by Michelin-recognized Chef Albert Gonzales Margallo, of the restaurant *Le San Sebastián 57* in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Additionally, a unique collaboration with H.E. Laura Calvo Borrego, Monaco's Consul in the Balearic Islands, and Mr. Francisco J. Doblas Gonzales de Aledo, the future Consul of Monaco in the Canary Islands, will allow guests of honor to discover iconic products typical of these two Spanish archipelagos.
Throughout the evening, films showcasing the Balearic and Canary Islands-as well as the richness of their local produce-will be screened, inviting the audience to discover these exceptional regions.

This Spanish gastronomic week takes place just two months before the "Grand Départ" of La Vuelta 2026, which Monaco will host for the first time in its history from August 20 to 23. The official team presentation will take place in Casino Square on August 20, making Monte Carlo and the Principality of Monaco the setting for one of the major events in international cycling.