The Monegasque Athletics Federation unveiled the main lines of its 2026 season at a press conference held in Monaco. On the agenda: several international events and, above all, the 39th edition of the Herculis Meeting, scheduled for July 10 at the Louis-II stadium. Among the major announcements, the highly anticipated presence of the world record holder in pole vaulting, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, now based in Monaco.
A busy calendar in the Principality! The season will begin on May 30 with the European Challenger Championships, a competition bringing together 18 nations. A few weeks later, on July 10, Monaco will host the 39th edition of the Herculis Meeting. Organized at the Louis-II stadium, it is one of the major stages of the Diamond League.
The Monegasque Athletics Federation also announced the creation of a new event: the Monaco Athletic Festival, scheduled for August 5 at Monaco’s port. This competition will feature a spectacular high jump event bringing together twelve of the world’s best specialists.
A meeting that continues to innovate
Among the new features announced is notably the use of adhesive bibs, which will replace the traditional pins used by athletes. A technical but symbolic change, intended to improve athlete comfort.
Another particularity of the Monaco meeting: the organization of popular 1,000-meter races on the Louis-II stadium track before the start of professional events. These races allow amateurs to run on the same track as the greatest champions.
For Frédéric Choquard, director general of the Monegasque Athletics Federation, the objective remains clear: to provide a framework conducive to performance. “We want to continue to evolve the meeting while allowing athletes to achieve great performances,” he explained.
Mondo Duplantis, new attraction of the meeting
The press conference was particularly marked by the presence of Armand Duplantis, a major figure in world athletics and world record holder in pole vaulting. The Swedish champion, who recently moved to Monaco with his partner, himself expressed the wish to participate in the meeting. “We just arrived here. It would have been strange for such an important meeting to take place next to my home without me participating.“
For the athlete, this edition will have a special flavor. He will indeed be able to prepare for the competition from his Monaco home, a situation he compares to what he previously experienced at the Stockholm meeting. “It’s special to be able to compete at home. I’ll be able to sleep at home and come to the stadium to vault in front of the crowd,” he smiled.
An unprecedented pole vault competition at Louis-II stadium
The organizers have designed an unprecedented setup at the Louis-II stadium. A second runway and a second landing area will be installed to allow the simultaneous organization of men’s and women’s competitions. A format rarely used at single-day meetings, generally reserved for major international championships.
Already holding the Louis-II stadium record, the Swedish pole vaulter makes no secret of his ambitions for this edition. “I would like to put on a great show and vault very high in front of my new crowd.” And why not aim even higher. “It would be incredible to break the world record here,” he added. Target to beat: 6.31 meters!
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
