Shifting summer into high gear: France hits the road and magazines for the beach

This edition of Monocle on Saturday was first broadcast on 1 August 2026.

Hello, I'm Georgina Godwin, broadcasting to you live from Midori House in London.

This is Monocle on Saturday.

Coming up on today's programme, we'll have a look through the week's news and culture with international journalist and author Zahra Khan.

Zahra's a new voice to the station and I'm really looking forward to getting to know her and introducing her to you.

Then we're off to France, where much of the country is setting off on its summer vacation today.

We'll find out how wildfires and political unrest are affecting this year's holiday season.

And finally, Monocle's host of The Stack, Fernando Augusto Pacheco, gives us his recommendations for magazines to pack for the beach.

That's all ahead here on Monocle on Saturday.

First, though, the news.