From 18 to 24 January 2027, the 95th Monte-Carlo Rally opens the WRC season. Start and finish on Port Hercule, special stages in the Southern Alps: here is how to experience it from Monaco.
Every January, the Principality wakes up to the sound of engines. The Monte-Carlo Rally 2027 opens the FIA World Rally Championship season from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January, for its 95th edition. For one week, the roads of the Southern Alps become the playground of the finest crews on the planet, before a triumphant return to Port Hercule. From our windows, a few metres from the finish podium, we watch the same scene unfold every year: the crowd gathers from early morning, the flags come out, and Monaco lives to the rhythm of the most storied rally in the world. Here is everything you need to know to experience it from the inside.
Monte-Carlo Rally 2027: key facts
| Edition | 95th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo |
| Dates | Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January 2027 (subject to FIA calendar approval) |
| Championship | Opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) |
| Start and finish | Port Hercule, Monaco |
| Stage territory | Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Drome |
| Spectator access | Free in the marked public zones and in the Fan Zones |
| Organiser | Automobile Club de Monaco, 23 boulevard Albert 1er |
| From Port Palace | Podium and start ramp less than 5 minutes on foot |
Monte-Carlo Rally 2027: dates and essentials
The 95th Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo will run from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January 2027, subject to final approval of the calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. The event remains what it has always been: the opening round of the world championship, and probably the most unpredictable one.
The principle does not change from year to year. Crews tackle timed special stages on the mountain roads of the Southern Alps, across the Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes and Drome. Between stages, they reach the service park on open roads, in normal traffic.
What makes the reputation of the Monte is grip. On a single stage, a crew can find dry asphalt, damp sections, a patch of black ice in the shade of a corner, then a few centimetres of fresh snow five kilometres further on. Tyre choice and pace notes matter here as much as outright speed.
The detailed 2027 route, stage timings and spectator zones will be published by the Automobile Club de Monaco in the months before the event. In the meantime, the 2026 edition gives a very reliable picture of what awaits spectators.
A legend born in 1911
The Monte-Carlo Rally is one of the oldest motor racing competitions in the world. Its first edition, in 1911, had a very practical purpose: to promote Monaco as a winter tourist destination. Twenty-three competitors set off from different European cities to converge on the Principality. Henri Rougier took the win at the wheel of a Turcat-Mery 25 HP.
That format of multiple starting points, from Oslo, Glasgow, Athens or Lisbon, long defined the event. It has disappeared from the modern rally, but it lives on in the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, which still gathers crews leaving from several European capitals.
Who holds the record for Monte-Carlo Rally wins?
Sebastien Ogier tops the roll of honour with ten victories, nine of them in the WRC and one in the IRC. He is ahead of Sebastien Loeb, an eight-time winner in the Principality. Monegasque co-driver Daniel Elena sat alongside Sebastien Loeb for seven of those wins, one of the finest chapters in Monegasque motorsport.
The 94th edition, in January 2026, crowned a new name: Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. The Swedish driver and his British co-driver led from the second stage onwards and won by more than fifty seconds, at the end of an edition marked by rain, fog, snow, ice and mud. Oliver Solberg became the first Swede to win at Monte-Carlo since Ove Andersson in 1971.
Stay on Port Hercule, a few metres from the Monte-Carlo start ramp.
Check availabilityWhat route for the Monte-Carlo Rally 2027?
At this stage, the Automobile Club de Monaco has not yet revealed the itinerary of the 95th edition. The structural elements have been stable for several seasons, however: a ceremonial start in Monaco, a service park in the Alps, three to four days of competition and a finish on Port Hercule.
What the 2026 edition tells us
In 2026, the rally featured 17 special stages over 339.15 competitive kilometres, with 66 crews at the start. The service park was set up in Gap for the third consecutive year, in Sebastien Ogier's home town. The shakedown took place on Wednesday in the hills above Gap, and the ceremonial start was held on Thursday on Port Hercule, with the first car away at 2.30 pm.
How the 2026 edition unfolded, as a benchmark
| Day | Highlight | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Shakedown | In the hills above Gap |
| Thursday | Ceremonial start | Port Hercule, first car at 2.30 pm |
| Thursday | 3 stages, two of them at night | Toudon, Seyne-les-Alpes, Claret |
| Friday | 6 stages | 128.88 competitive km, Drome and Hautes-Alpes |
| Saturday | La Breole / Bellaffaire | 29.93 km, the longest stage, run twice |
| Saturday evening | Super special stage | 2.69 km on the Monaco circuit, 6.35 pm |
| Sunday | Alpes-Maritimes loop | Col de Braus and La Bollene-Vesubie / Moulinet |
| Sunday | Power Stage then podium | Prize giving on Port Hercule |
2026 edition: 17 stages, 339.15 competitive km, 66 crews, service park in Gap. The 2027 route will be announced by the Automobile Club de Monaco.
Sunday, the day closest to Monaco, remains the favourite of spectators based in the Principality. In 2026 it featured a loop of two stages run twice in the Alpes-Maritimes, including the return of Col de Braus / La Cabanette, absent since 2006, and the unmissable La Bollene-Vesubie / Moulinet.
Col de Turini, where the Monte is decided
At 1,607 metres, the Col de Turini links Lantosque to Moulinet and Sospel. Its narrow road, tight hairpins and exposure make it the place where the rally most often swings one way or the other. This is where the legend of the Night of the Long Knives was born, back when the stage was run after dark, in the beam of auxiliary lights and through the spectators' flares.
Turini is not on the route every single year, but it comes back very regularly. From Monaco, allow around fifty kilometres and about an hour and fifteen minutes by road via Sospel and Moulinet, longer if snow requires winter equipment.
♦ The concierge's tip
For the Sunday loop, forget Col de Turini unless you are ready to leave before dawn. Col de Braus is far more accessible from Monaco, around 35 kilometres via Sospel, and its spectator zones are less crowded. Our guests drive up at first light, watch the first run, then come back down for lunch in Monaco before heading to the quay for the finish.
Where to watch the Monte-Carlo Rally from Monaco?
This is the decisive advantage of staying in the Principality: several highlights of the rally take place in Monaco itself, with no mountain driving required.
The ceremonial start on Port Hercule
The rally officially sets off from Port Hercule, in the early afternoon. The cars cross the ramp one by one in front of several thousand people. Access is free, but the front rows fill up well before the announced time. The ceremony is also streamed live on the official channels of the Automobile Club de Monaco.
The super special stage on the Monaco circuit
For the past few editions, Saturday evening has ended with a super special stage run on part of the Grand Prix circuit. In 2026, that SSS13 measured 2.69 km and started at 6.35 pm. Watching Rally1 cars attack the harbour barriers after dark, on the Formula 1 layout, is an experience you will not find anywhere else in the championship.
The Fan Zone on Quai Antoine 1er
During the event, a free Fan Zone is set up on Quai Antoine 1er, a few minutes' walk from the hotel. It offers simulators, an exhibition of rally cars, giant screens to follow the stages live, catering areas and the official shop. Autograph sessions with the drivers are usually scheduled there before the start. A second Fan Zone opens in Gap, close to the service park.
The finish podium
Late on Sunday afternoon, the prize giving is held on the Port Hercule podium. It is the most intense moment of the week: crews arrive straight from the Alpes-Maritimes, often in cars visibly marked by four days of competition, and the quay fills with a knowledgeable crowd.
Port Palace Monaco
The rally passes beneath your windows
Our rooms and suites look straight out over Port Hercule, where the start ramp and the finish podium are set up. Book early: the third week of January is in high demand.
Book your stayHow to watch the stages in the hinterland?
Following a stage in the mountains takes some planning, but the experience is worth the trip. Here is the method we recommend to our guests.
Spectator zones are free
Access to the special stages is open and free of charge. The Automobile Club de Monaco sets up public zones marked with green netting or green tape, positioned at least 1.50 metres above road level and outside the competitors' line. These are the only authorised viewing points.
Outside these zones, spectators may not enter the stage or move along the road and verges from thirty minutes before the first competitor is due, and until the end of the stage. Detailed maps of each stage, with access routes and road closure and reopening times, are published on the organiser's website ahead of the event.
Set off early, very early
Access roads to the stages close several hours before the cars come through. In 2026, some closures started at 5.30 am for a stage run at 8.31 am. The rule is simple: if you want to see the first pass, you need to be in position the previous evening or before dawn.
☉ Good to know
Spectator zones are marked with green netting or green tape. They sit at least 1.50 metres above road level and outside the racing line. Outside these areas, access to the stages is forbidden from thirty minutes before the first competitor is due. Official maps, road closure times and safety instructions are published by the organiser before each edition.
Plan for the mountains in January
On the coast, January stays mild. At 1,500 metres it is another story. Waterproof boots, several layers, gloves, a hat and a head torch for the night stages are essential. As for the car, French mountain regulations require winter equipment on many roads in the Alpes-Maritimes between 1 November and 31 March: winter tyres or chains on board. Our guests usually hand these days over to their concierge, who can arrange a suitable vehicle and a driver who knows the back roads.
Also check road conditions before setting off. Each department concerned publishes a live traffic service, and the Principality has its own real-time traffic tool.
The Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, January's other appointment
Nine days after the WRC finish, the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique takes over, from 27 January to 3 February 2027. It gathers cars that took part in the rally between 1911 and 1983, entered by amateur crews on a regularity route.
Its great appeal: the return of multiple starting cities across Europe, with concentration runs converging on the Principality. For lovers of beautiful machinery, it is often the more moving of the two events. Lancia Fulvias, Porsche 911s, Alpine A110s and Ford Escorts arrive on Port Hercule in an atmosphere closer to a club meeting than a competition.
Combining both appointments means either a long stay or two separate visits. Enthusiasts sometimes add a day to visit the Prince's car collection in Fontvieille.
What to do in Monaco during the rally?
January is a quiet season in the Principality, and that is precisely what makes it enjoyable. Museums and gardens are accessible without queues, restaurants are easier to book, and the winter light over the harbour is remarkable.
- The Casino de Monte-Carlo and its Belle Epoque rooms, ten minutes on foot
- The Rock, the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum, almost deserted out of season
- La Turbie and its Trophy of Augustus, on the road to Col de Braus
- The old village of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, twenty minutes by car
- The bars and rooftops of the Principality, to relive the day's action
Our guide to Monaco's must-sees details the visits that work best in winter.
Staying in Monaco during the Monte-Carlo Rally
Port Palace holds a rare position during that week: the hotel looks directly onto Port Hercule, where both the ceremonial start and the finish podium are staged. Our rooms and suites overlooking the harbour let you follow the buzz on the quay from your balcony, then walk down and join the crowd in two minutes.
Monaco station is five minutes away on foot, which makes arriving easy for those who would rather leave the car behind. Our guide to reaching Monaco covers the options from Nice airport, thirty minutes away by road. For spectators arriving by car, parking in the Principality takes some planning during major events, and our valet service remains the simplest solution.
Our guests benefit from a concierge service to organise their days in the mountains: a vehicle suited to winter conditions, a driver, departure times matched to road closures, packed lunches for the morning stages. Back at the hotel, the La Mome restaurant, on the sixth floor, looks straight down over the harbour and the podium.
Frequently asked questions about the Monte-Carlo Rally 2027
When is the Monte-Carlo Rally 2027?
The 95th edition will take place from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 January 2027, subject to approval of the calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. It opens the FIA World Rally Championship season.
Do you need a ticket to watch the Monte-Carlo Rally?
No. Access to the spectator zones on the special stages is free, as is the ceremonial start on Port Hercule and the Fan Zones in Monaco and Gap. Only certain hospitality packages offered by the organiser are chargeable.
Where does the Monte-Carlo Rally take place?
The stages are run in the Southern Alps, mainly in the Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes and Drome. The start and finish are in Monaco, on Port Hercule, and a super special stage is run in the Principality itself.
Is Col de Turini on the route every year?
Not systematically, but it returns very regularly, usually on the final day. The La Bollene-Vesubie / Moulinet stage, which crosses it, featured in the 2026 route.
Where is the best place to watch the rally without a car?
Monaco. The ceremonial start, the Saturday evening super special, the Quai Antoine 1er Fan Zone and the finish podium all take place in the Principality, within walking distance of Port Hercule.
Who won the Monte-Carlo Rally 2026?
Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, by more than fifty seconds. Oliver Solberg is the first Swedish driver to win at Monte-Carlo since Ove Andersson in 1971.
Planning your Monte-Carlo week
The Monte-Carlo Rally 2027 is unusual in that it is lived at two speeds: the buzz of the quay at the start and the finish, and the silence of snow-covered passes between two runs. Both are worth the trip, and one does not go without the other.
The best rooms overlooking the podium go early for the third week of January. If you plan to follow the 95th edition, it is worth locking in your dates now.
Official information and the detailed route are available on the Automobile Club de Monaco website and on the Monaco Tourist Office portal.
