Following the catastrophic New Year’s Day fire at Le Constellation in the Swiss resort town of Crans-Montana - which claimed 41 lives after indoor pyrotechnics ignited ceiling insulation - the Princely Government of Monaco has announced a strict, nationwide ban on open flames across all public establishments.
The regulatory overhaul, scheduled for official publication in the Journal de Monaco on July 31, 2026, imposes a blanket ban on the introduction or use of naked flames - including candles, sparklers, and decorative pyrotechnic fountains - in dance halls, gaming venues, restaurants, and drinking establishments, regardless of occupant capacity.
The legislative change follows months of heightened surveillance by Monaco’s Technical Commission for Hygiene, Safety, and Environmental Protection. Since the start of the year, authorities have conducted unannounced operational inspections of local nightlife venues to audit emergency exits, alarm responsiveness, material flammability, and pyrotechnic risks. Exemptions to the new rule will be strictly limited, granted only on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Forward Studies, Urban Planning and Mobility following a rigorous technical review.
Photo Credits: Gouvernement Princier de Monaco Instagram