An Inside Look at Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 with Luxury News Online

By Rebecca Whitlocke

The 48th edition of Cannes Yachting Festival will take place 9-14 September at Vieux Port and Port Canto. Recognised as Europe’s largest in-water boat show, with around 650 exhibitors, over 700 boats from 5 to 50 metres long and over 665 journalists from 5 continents, the show will make the city of Cannes the capital of yachting during the six days it is open.

To note is the Sailing Area at Port Canto, that will feature 128 new sailing vessels over 10 metres in length, with around thirty being world premieres. The Sailing Area provides more than 400 metres of quay space for monohull boats and more than 450 metres for multihull boats, showcasing the number one fleet in the world for large sailing yachts.

Other highlights include global superyacht and manufacturing premieres, a dedicated VIP programme, the “Innovation Route” to highlight eco-efficient solutions and the Palais des Festival exhibition zone where brands specialising in yachting and its lifestyle are present.

Sanlorenzo will reveal a number of debuts in Cannes, including their 36.6-metre SX120, the latest evolution of the brand’s SX family. Two of the standout features are the installation of Volvo Penta’s new IPS Professional Platform that delivers the performance of larger engines with a smaller footprint, and a 40-square metre beach club that can expand to 70-square metres once the fold-down terraces are opened, with a central pool that can be concealed by a lift-and-slide mechanism.

Outer Reef Yachts is returning once again with a dominant presence – this year marked by the worldwide debut of the Netherlands-built Outer Reef 780 Adventure. Visitors will be among the first to step aboard this 24-metre steel-hulled explorer and experience firsthand her high-volume design, superior build quality, and exceptional stability.

The 780 Adventure model series offers a a range of exterior hull colour choices, a customisable four or five-stateroom layout, advanced stabilisation systems, and true ocean-crossing capabilities. Her fast displacement hull form, increased fuel range, and commercial-grade construction make her ideal for exploring the world’s cruising regions from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and beyond.

The 23.98-metre A80new from Arcadia Yachts, the shipyard’s first Raised Pilot House (RPH) model, will make its world debut with vast exterior and interior spaces across three decks. The RPH layout ensures a clear separation between technical areas and the owner’s quarters, enhancing privacy and onboard circulation. Highlights include the beach area with extendable side wings and hydraulic swim platform, the 80-square-metre upper deck and a master suite on the main deck flooded with natural light thanks to large windows.

Boat builders and equipment manufacturers are taking a vast number of initiatives not only to reduce their environmental footprint, but also to meet growing expectations in terms of comfort, connectivity, ease of use and the enjoyment of navigating. Electric or hybrid propulsion systems, bio-based composite materials, energy optimisation solutions or intelligent onboard systems will all be key talking points during Cannes Yachting Festival.

The Innovation Route includes new exhibitors and sees the launch of the Innovation Route Awards based on specific categories. “Through the Innovation Route, we have brought in six experts and organised categories to look at and highlight exhibitors who are firmly committed to decarbonising the sector with proven solutions – electric propulsion, bio-based materials, intelligent systems, etc – that reflect sustainable transformation of the industry, but also new technologies that will improve the recreational boat user experience,” explains Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.

Photo credits:  Main image © KELAGOPIAN – CYF 2024 / Sanlorenzo / Outer Reef Yachts / Arcadia Yachts

About Cannes Yachting Festival

Founded in 1977, the Cannes Yachting Festival is a true celebration of excellence and the art of living for professionals and all those who love the sea around the world. Elegance and innovation join forces here to deliver an experience unlike any other, bringing together an impressive collection of prestigious yachts, innovative motorboats, sailing boats and multihulls with distinct design. At the Festival, leading boat builders and equipment manufacturers launch their latest technological advances and innovations that are shaping the future of yachting.

For more information and to get tickets, visit www.cannesyachtingfestival.com

Rebecca Whitlocke is a regular writer for Luxury News Online covering yachting and luxury news and events.