Herculis EBS

The night when all the stars are out in Monaco for the Herculis EBS

The Herculis EBS 2025 is a major event in world athletics.  The elite competition, organised by the Monegasque Athletics Federation with the support of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, will thrill spectators at the Stade Louis II on Friday 11 July 2025.

The Monegasque round of the Wanda Diamond League is a crucial one, coming just two months ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.

The event has an impressive record, having been named the world’s best meeting no fewer than seven times and seen nine world records set, making it an essential fixture on the 2025 athletics calendar.

Swedish pole-vaulting prodigy Mondo Duplantis will be honouring the Herculis EBS 2025 with his presence. Coming off the back of an outstanding season in 2024 that saw him set  three new world records, culminating with a performance of 6m26 in Chorzów and claim Olympic gold in Paris, the champion will be aiming for another exceptional display in Monaco. The meeting record of 6m02, set by Piotr Lisek back in 2019, could well be toppled by the virtuoso from Scandinavia.

The meeting is part of the expanded 16th Wanda Diamond League, a prestigious tour that includes 15 rounds taking in 13 different nations between April and September. Monaco is the tenth.

How it all began…

The origins of the Herculis EBS go back to the mid-1980s, and its destiny is closely intertwined with the construction of the Stade Louis II.

It was in 1984 that the Monaco Athletics Federation (FMA) was created. In its early days, Prince Albert II, then hereditary Prince, was also the President of the Federation.  The same year, it was officially affiliated with the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations, now World Athletics). Until then athletics in the Principality was restricted to one club, AS Monaco, associated with France and with no national identity of its own.

In May 1985, just months after its official opening by Prince Rainier III, the Stade Louis II hosted the very first FMA event, a two-day match between Germany, France, the USA, and Italy. The following year, another match was organised involving France, Poland, and Italy.

While these matches were a success for the FMA, there were issues. Spectators wanted to see the biggest stars competing, but they were reluctant to take part.

After many meetings, a decision was taken:
there would be no more matches, but one major meeting. The Herculis was born!

The legend…

In September 1987, around 80 athletes of all nationalities answered the Principality's call. The programme included traditional events (100 metres, 110 metre hurdles, pole vault, etc) and the "World One-Hour Challenge". In association with the sports daily L’Equipe, the FMA organised a race in which the athletes covered the longest distance possible over one hour, with a world record there to be set.  The format was never repeated in the Principality.

It was in 1989 that the meeting really took off, hosting the world final of the Grand Prix IAAF Mobil, bringing together the world's top athletes.
Some 18,000 spectators, 350 journalists and 30 national TV channels came to watch, and the legend was forged.

Since its creation 36 years ago, the Monegasque world athletics meeting has gone from strength to strength, attracting elite athletes and big crowds. Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, Marie-José Pérec, to name but a few, have all made their mark on the track at the Louis-II.

The Herculis has been voted the world's best meeting seven times (1998, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2020), and has been a member of the prestigious elite Diamond League since 2010. It has seen countless world records set…

On your marks! Set? Come and experience the thrill of top-class athletics in Monaco!

For the latest news and to book tickets, visit the official Herculis EBS website.