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Few events on the European social calendar have managed to sustain genuine glamour across seven decades. But the Rose Ball in Monaco has stood the test of time and is more lively than ever. The annual charity gala, known in French as Le Bal de la Rose, has been one of the Principality’s most coveted invitations since 1954, drawing royalty, Hollywood legends, and fashion icons to the Salle des Étoiles each March.
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The Crown Prince and Princess of Monaco at the Rose Ball in 1976.
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Princess Caroline, with her first husband Philippe Junot, at the 1979 Rose Ball.
Here’s what to know about the Rose Ball.
The history of the Rose Ball
The ball was first established in 1954 by Henry Astric, the artistic director of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer at the time. A decade later, the ball took on a philanthropic dimension thanks to Princess Grace of Monaco. To this day, the event directs all proceeds toward the nonprofit bearing her name, the Princess Grace Foundation, benefiting humanitarian programs for children in need, such as equipping pediatric units in French hospitals. Following Princess Grace’s death in 1982, her daughter Princess Caroline of Hanover assumed chairmanship of the foundation, a role she maintains today alongside her brother Prince Albert, who serves as vice chairman.
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Princess Grace with Cary Grant at the Rose Ball in 1977.
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Princess Grace and Prince Rainier at the Rose Ball in 1981.
The ball has been held at the Salle des Étoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo since the venue’s inauguration in 1974 by the American-French entertainer Josephine Baker. Organized annually by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer—the company oversees the Monte Carlo Casino, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo—the opulent ballroom is known for its crystal chandeliers and a retractable roof that opens to the Mediterranean sky on clear evenings.
One detail has never changed: 25,000 roses adorn the room each year, honoring both the ball’s name and Princess Grace’s favorite flower.
Who attends the Rose Ball?
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Prince Rainier, Princess Caroline, and Prince Albert in 1994.
The Grimaldi family continues to be at the center of it all. Princess Caroline traditionally opens the ball alongside Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, and the family’s younger generation—including Charlotte Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo, Tatiana Santo Domingo and Andrea Casiraghi, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover—are also regular attendees.
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Italian actress Sophia Loren seen at the Rose Ball in 1977.
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Singer (and now France’s former First Lady) Carla Bruni seen chatting with Prince Albert at the 1997 Rose Ball.
Beyond the royal family, the Rose Ball has always attracted a cross-section of international society. Early editions drew legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age such as Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, and Cary Grant, as well as fashion visionary Hubert de Givenchy. More recently, film industry legends like Pedro Almodóvar and Isabella Rossellini as well as supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen have been on the guest list.
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Claudia Schiffer seen at the 1995 Rose Ball.
However, the party is technically open to anyone; this year, tickets cost €1,800 ($2,120) per person.
What happens during the Rose Ball?
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Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at the 2010 Rose Ball, a few months before their engagement.
The evening still follows a program established in its earliest years. Once the Grimaldi family makes their entrance, the night opens with a waltz, a tradition dating to the ball’s founding. Guests are then seated for a raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. From there, the stage takes over.
Once dinner ends, or even slightly before it, guests will take to the dance floor. But as Christian Louboutin told Tatler last year, “The first to start will be one of the Princely family: it’s a tradition.”
Is there a dress code?
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Karl Lagerfeld attends the 2014 Rose Ball.
Outside of the Grimaldis, the most important name of the night is the Rose Ball’s creative director. In the last few decades, the production has become a spectacle that continuously impresses and get grander year-after-year. That’s thanks in part to Karl Lagerfeld, who oversaw the Rose Ball from 1999 until his death in 2019. Each iteration of the Rose Ball has had a new theme since 1977.
Evoking shades of his fabulous runway shows, the legendary Chanel designer oversaw editions themed around Cuba, Manhattan, and the Swinging ‘60s in London, among others. His final contribution, in 2019, looked back to the sun-drenched glamour of the 1950s French Riviera, filling the Salle des Étoiles with pastel shades and illustrated Mediterranean scenery.
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Christian Louboutin (center) with the royals in 2025.
Christian Louboutin inherited the role beginning with the 2022 edition, the ball having been suspended during the pandemic, and has brought his own brand of exuberant theatricality to the proceedings. His 2025 edition, themed “The Sunset Ball,” transformed the venue into a Caribbean escape complete with reggaeton performers and tropical décor. Though the black tie dress code reliably puts Chanel, Dior, and Saint Laurent on full display, many guests interpret the annual theme creatively within the realm of high fashion, not unlike the red carpet at the Met Gala.
What to know about the 2026 Rose Ball:
This year marks the ball’s 70th edition, and Louboutin is looking into the future. The “Galaxy Rose Ball” will transform Sporting Monte-Carlo into a monochrome space shuttle, with the Salle des Étoiles fitted with portholes that shift color as guests travel through the planets over the course of the evening. Immersive laser shows and elaborate sound and light effects complete the setting.
Seven acts are slated to perform, including Paris’s famous cabaret group from the Crazy Horse, Berlin-based stilt performers Dulce Compania, and Leee John and his British funk band Imagination. In previous years, that same stage has hosted the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Concert Philharmonic, dancers from the Paris Opera, and pop performers such as Rita Ora, Lily Allen, and Mark Ronson.
But even with all the glitz and glamour, the Rose Ball is first and foremost, and always will be, a charity event. “There is a big part of Monaco that is dedicated to really helping,” Louboutin told Harper’s Bazaar in 2025. “And I think that it was Princess Grace that started all those things and in a very, very good way.”
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.