CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL 2026: 6 DAYS OF WONDER, INSPIRATION AND EXPERIENCE
From 8 to 13 September 2026, the Cannes Yachting Festival once again transformed the Vieux Port and Port Canto into an international showcase for the very best of the boating and yachting industry.
Bringing together 660 exhibitors and 700 boats ranging from 5 to 55 metres including nearly 150 world premieres, the 49th edition welcomed approximately 56,000 visitors from around the world. The event reaffirmed its position as Europe’s largest in-water boat show and one of the key international gatherings for the global yachting industry.
A New Chapter Under the Leadership of Constance Brément the 2026 edition marked Constance Brément’s inaugural year as Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival. Her ambition was clear to preserve the identity and heritage that have defined the Festival while continuing to strengthen the quality of the visitor experience, expand its international reach and reinforce its position as a showcase for the transformation of the boating sector.
The edition also placed particular emphasis on the evolving ways in which owners, enthusiasts and travellers experience the sea, reflecting a wider movement towards innovation, sustainability, comfort and more considered forms of yachting.
“This inaugural edition as Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival will remain a deeply memorable moment for me. Once again this year, in the heart of Cannes’ two iconic ports, we brought together an exceptionally rich showcase, committed exhibitors and the partners who make such a dynamic and globally focused event possible.
Their trust, combined with the remarkable commitment of our teams, has enabled the show to deliver fully on its promise: to kick off the international boating season, highlight the major changes in the sector and foster connections between professionals, enthusiasts and visitors.” Constance Brément, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
The Finest in Yachting Across Two Iconic Ports spanning approximately 100,000 m² of net exhibition space, the Cannes Yachting Festival offered an exceptional overview of contemporary yachting.
Sailing yachts and motor yachts, monohulls and multihulls, new models and pre-owned yachts were represented alongside dayboats, equipment, engines, marine destinations, water toys and specialist services.
Together, these different sectors created a comprehensive yachting environment in which visitors could discover the latest vessels, technologies and experiences while exploring new ways to enjoy life on the water.
Vieux Port: The Showcase for Motor Yachting dedicated primarily to motor yachting, the Vieux Port hosted a prestigious selection of new boats ranging from 12 to 50 metres.
From the Jetée and Quai Max Laubeuf to Quai Saint-Pierre, the Pantiero and the Palais des Festivals, visitors discovered the latest creations from leading international shipyards alongside innovations from engine manufacturers, equipment suppliers, designers, marinas and specialist service providers.
At the heart of the port, the Power Cat Village brought together approximately 30 motor catamarans, including some of the most innovative models currently available.
At Port Canto, the Festival presented several distinctive areas covering different segments of the market. The Sailing Area showcased 120 new sailing yachts over 10 metres, encompassing both monohulls and multihulls.
The Power Boat Marina gathered approximately 180 motorboats up to 13 metres, including dayboats and rigid inflatable boats, while the Yacht Brokerage Area presented nearly 45 pre-owned yachts measuring more than 25 metres.
Completing the Port Canto experience, the Toys Area showcased the latest innovations in nautical leisure, highlighting new and exciting ways to experience life on the water.
Across the Festival, a total of 95 catamarans, 51 sailing and 44 power models demonstrated the growing importance of multihulls and the increasingly diverse range of experiences sought by today’s yacht owners and boating enthusiasts.
Sustainability, Slow Yachting and Alternative Propulsion one of the defining themes of the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival was the significant transformation taking place across the boating industry.
Rather than relying on a single solution, the sector’s transition towards more sustainable boating is increasingly being driven by a combination of complementary technologies and practices.
Throughout the show, visitors encountered developments in hybrid propulsion, solar energy, recyclable batteries, hydrogeneration, recycled materials, optimised manufacturing processes and lower-impact coatings.
The Festival also highlighted the growing influence of “slow yachting” an approach centred on comfort, silence, self-sufficiency and high-quality destinations and stopovers.
Increasingly, yachts are being designed not simply as vessels for transportation or recreation, but as genuine living spaces that enable owners and guests to spend longer periods at sea while enjoying greater comfort and autonomy.
At the same time, destinations and marina networks are placing greater emphasis on carefully considered itineraries, regional exploration and the complete onboard and shoreside experience.
Over six days, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, naval architects, designers, brokers, skippers and boaters exchanged knowledge and perspectives within a setting where innovation, craftsmanship, elegance and the art of living came together.
Innovation Route Awards Celebrate the Future of Sustainable Yachting originally launched in 2024, the Innovation Route continued its mission in 2026 to identify and promote solutions capable of supporting meaningful transformation across the boating industry.
From 120 applications, a total of 47 projects were selected by a panel comprising industry professionals and specialist journalists: Guillaume Arnauld des Lions, Thierry Berest, Rachel Goult, Jean-Christophe Guillaumin, Geoffroy Langlade and Elena Patriarca.
The selected innovations were identified through dedicated signage throughout the Vieux Port and Port Canto and supported through enhanced visibility across the Festival’s digital platforms, catalogue, press relations activities and TV studio.
Together, they offered visitors a practical overview of some of the industry’s most important areas of development, including electrification, energy efficiency, safety, onboard intelligence, advanced materials and marine biodiversity restoration.
The winners of the second edition of the Innovation Route Awards were announced on 8 September during the Exhibitors’ Cocktail Reception:
- Best Equipment Enhancing the Boating Experience: Smart Mooring — BlueNav
- Best Sustainable Product: Suzuki Edge ECoat — Suzuki Marine
- Best Innovative Boat: Excess 11 — Excess Catamarans
- Best CSR Initiative: Biohut® – Marine Biodiversity Restoration Initiative — D-Marin
- Special Jury Prize: Grande 44M — Azimut Yachts
The five winners received the official 2026 Innovation Route Awards trophies, bespoke works of art created by France Hélice.
A New International Event at the Heart of the Festival for the first time, the Cannes Yachting Festival hosted the unveiling of the 31 finalists for the Best of Boats Award 2026, one of the leading international awards dedicated to motorboats.
Held on 9 September at the Port Canto VIP Club, the ceremony brought together international shipyards, journalists and marine industry professionals.
The finalists represented seven categories, reflecting the diversity of today’s motorboat market and the evolving expectations of owners and enthusiasts.
The addition of this international event further reinforced the Cannes Yachting Festival’s position as the opening highlight of the international boating season and an important platform for presenting the vessels, technologies and ideas shaping the industry’s future.
An Official Inauguration in the Heart of Cannes the official opening of the 49th edition brought together elected representatives, marine industry figures and institutional leaders, demonstrating the close relationship between the Festival, the city of Cannes and the wider French and international boating industry.
The Festival was officially opened by:
Nicolas Gorjux, First Deputy Mayor of Cannes and President of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes;
Jean-Michel Arnaud, Deputy Mayor of Cannes responsible for the sea, ports, coastline, port facilities, beach facilities and maritime services, and Vice-President of the Cannes Lérins Agglomeration;
Jean-Paul Chapeleau, President of the French Marine Industry Federation (FIN);
Michel Filzi and his successor Filippo Rean, representing RX France; and
Constance Brément, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
Several Cannes municipal councillors were also present.
The strong institutional presence reflected the Cannes Yachting Festival’s deep local roots as well as its important contribution to the international profile of Cannes and the Côte d’Azur.
Partners Creating an Exceptional Festival Experience the success of the 2026 edition was also supported by an extensive network of partners whose expertise contributed to the quality of the welcome, the smooth operation of the event and the overall experience offered to exhibitors and visitors.
Roche Bobois brought a distinctive and vibrant identity to the Vieux Port VIP Club, showcasing one of its iconic outdoor collections within the space.
Range Rover provided guest transfers from Nice Airport, while Maison de Champagne Louis Roederer accompanied special Festival moments across the two VIP Clubs, as well as at the Panoramique and Skippers restaurants.
Partners from across the marine industry also played an important operational role.
Marinepool, the Festival’s official clothing partner, provided its expertise in outfitting the event teams.
Aboard the Focus Motor Yachts fleet, VIP guests enjoyed premium transfers between the Vieux Port and Port Canto, crossing the Bay of Cannes while remaining at the centre of the Festival experience.
Boats provided by Yamaha enabled the marine team to welcome and guide exhibiting vessels as they approached the ports, while Mercury supported the crossings throughout the Festival’s maritime programme.
Pantaenius, the European yacht insurance specialist, insured the vessels used by the on-water operations team as well as the Festival’s transit infrastructure.
Further support came from Deo Juvante Yachts, which partnered with the Festival’s press relations teams; Edelweiss Service International, which supported the Captains’ Programme; and Ultra Marine which brought the Vieux Port Solarium to life.
Together, these partnerships contributed to creating the premium, international experience for which the Cannes Yachting Festival is recognised.
Looking Ahead to the 50th Anniversary following a successful 49th edition, attention now turns to a significant milestone in the history of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
In 2027, the Festival will celebrate 50 years of nautical history, passion and innovation.
Scheduled to take place from 7 to 12 September 2027, the anniversary edition will once again bring together the international yachting community across the Vieux Port and Port Canto.
Since its creation in 1977, the Cannes Yachting Festival has evolved alongside the global boating industry, providing a stage for new yachts, technological breakthroughs, craftsmanship and changing approaches to life at sea.
Its 50th anniversary will therefore represent more than a celebration of the Festival itself. It will offer an opportunity to look back at five decades of development while turning towards the technologies, designs, experiences and ideas that will define the next generation of yachting.
With leading shipyards, designers, equipment manufacturers, brokers, service providers, industry professionals and enthusiasts expected to return to Cannes, the 2027 Cannes Yachting Festival is set to mark a major chapter in the history of one of the international yachting calendar’s most established events.
Cannes Yachting Festival 2027
50th Anniversary Edition
7–12 September 2027
Vieux Port & Port Canto, Cannes, France
