From 4–6 June 2027, the Monaco Grand Prix will be held with a sprint for the first time. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the weekend – the circuit, the history since 1929, where to watch the race, and how to plan the rest of the principality.
One weekend every early summer, Monaco is transformed into a racetrack. The streets of Monte-Carlo and La Condamine are closed, grandstands spring up by the harbour, and the yachts lie close together in Port Hercule. In 2027, the weekend will be unusual even by Monaco's standards: for the first time, a sprint will be held here.
2027: the first sprint on the streets of Monte-Carlo
When Formula 1 presented the 2027 calendar on 16 September 2026, Monaco was listed as one of ten sprint weekends, up from six the year before, reported Irish Examiner. The race takes place on Sunday 6 June 2027, with the weekend running from 4–6 June. The sprint format means the weekend gets an extra qualifying session and a shorter race in addition to the Grand Prix. The decision has come under criticism, as overtaking is notoriously difficult on Monaco's narrow streets.
Since 2026, the race has been held on the first weekend of June, according to Wikipedia. In 2026, Kimi Antonelli won in a Mercedes from pole position, ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari and Pierre Gasly in an Alpine.
From 1929 to the present day
The Monaco Grand Prix is organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco. It was Antony Noghès who created the race in 1929 under Prince Louis II. The first race was held on 14 April 1929 and was won by William Grover-Williams, who competed under the pseudonym "Williams", in a Bugatti Type 35B.
Ayrton Senna has won the most times, six victories, in 1987 and 1989–1993. McLaren has the most team victories with 16. The race is part of motorsport's triple crown together with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Graham Hill is the only driver who has won all three.
The circuit: Sainte-Dévote, the tunnel and Rascasse
The Circuit de Monaco is 3.337 kilometres long, and the Grand Prix is run over 78 laps, totalling 260.286 kilometres. The track runs through the streets of Monte-Carlo and La Condamine along Port Hercule and through a tunnel. Among the famous corners are Sainte-Dévote, Portier, Tabac, Rascasse and the chicane at the swimming pool, and the Nouvelle Chicane was added in 1986. It takes around six weeks to build up the track and three weeks to dismantle it, according to Wikipedia.
The Monaco Grand Prix in numbers
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 4–6 June (race on Sunday 6 June), with a sprint |
| Track length | 3.337 km |
| Laps in the Grand Prix | 78 (260.286 km) |
| First race | 14 April 1929 |
| Most wins | Ayrton Senna, 6 |
| Build-up/dismantling | Approximately 6 weeks / 3 weeks |
Where can you watch the race?
Tickets for the grandstands are sold by the organiser, Automobile Club de Monaco. The track runs along Port Hercule, where the grandstands are erected, and on the harbour's yachts many guests follow the race from the deck. The hotels along the track are sought-after during the weekend: The Rake has described Hôtel Hermitage as one of the best vantage points over the race. Read more about the Hermitage and about Port Hercule in VERA PI's Monaco guide.
Plan the rest of the weekend
During the Grand Prix days, part of the principality is closed. The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, for example, is closed for the four Grand Prix days, according to the museum. Book hotels and restaurants well in advance. Our plan for 48 hours in Monaco shows how the days fit together, and the district around the track is portrayed in our story on La Condamine.
Circuit de Monaco
The circuit since 1929
3.337 kilometres through Monte-Carlo and La Condamine, with start and finish at Port Hercule.
4–6 June 2027.
Monaco, every street of it
Every MICHELIN table and the grand hotels – Metro Mode with VERA PI.