Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 : Debuts & Highlights

By Rebecca Whitlocke

The Cannes Yachting Festival opens its 49th edition on 8 September and runs until 13 September, spread once again across Vieux Port and Port Canto. Around 700 boats will sit on the water, from five-metre tenders to 50-metre motor yachts, backed by more than 680 exhibitors from 130 countries, with over 56,000 visitors expected over the six days. Nearly 150 world premieres are pencilled in. This is the show where the season’s debuts get their first proper airing.

As the largest in-water boat show in Europe, Cannes Yachting Festival brings together a huge concentration of builders, brokers and buyers, sea trials on tap and a genuine cross-section of the market, representing everyone from day boats and interior suppliers to superyachts.

New Leadership

This year marks the first under festival director Constance Brément, who brings a background in sailing and luxury to the role. Her priorities are straightforward: strengthen the event’s international reach and sharpen the visitor experience while keeping what already works. Brément states: “For this new edition, our mission remains to provide an exceptional setting to highlight industry innovations and kick off the season. The quality of our offering, the commitment of our exhibitors, and the influx of qualified visitors from around the world form the bedrock of the festival’s success.”

Practically, that shows up in a rejigged layout. A redeveloped Jetée introduces a new in-water exhibition space alongside land-based engine manufacturers, and the largest yachts have moved to Quai Max Laubeuf.

Two Ports, Two Very Different Exhibition Zones

Cannes splits cleanly by segment, and knowing which harbour to send a client to matters.

Vieux Port stays the home of power, hosting motor yachts from 12 to 50 metres. On display visitors can discover superyachts, day boats, and RIBs.  The Pantiero zone will have the Power Cat Village (a dedicated berth for motor catamarans from 11 to over 28 metres) and technical, navigation and electrical equipment. For lifestyle and interior suppliers you can explore the Palais exhibition zone.

Port Canto, at the opposite end of the Croisette, covers sailing and brokerage yachts, tenders and toys.  You’ll find the world’s largest in-water fleet of large sailing yachts, around 120 to 128 boats between 10 and 33 metres, with the Yacht Brokerage Area, where pre-owned yachts from 25 metres upward go on display for sale and charter. Sea shuttles run every 15 minutes between the two ports.

The Innovation Route continues to run across both ports, spotlighting sustainable propulsion, materials and next-generation design – a theme that shows up repeatedly in this year’s debuts.

Spotlight on Cannes debuts

Princess Yachts will debut the Princess X90, the latest model in the award-winning X-Class series, positioned between the X80 and the flagship X95 Vista. One of the X90’s most distinctive features is its fold-down balconies on the port and starboard side of the cockpit, opening up a 180º view and increasing usable outdoor space.

I’m particularly looking forward to hearing more about Sanlorenzo’s SHE, the 25.5-metre Heritage model that leans on 1960s Italian navetta styling, designed with Zuccon International Project and Lissoni & Partners. Underneath the retro lines sits Sanlorenzo’s first application of Volvo Penta’s IPS Hybrid propulsion — twin 160kW electric motors capable of a silent seven-knot cruise and up to 11 knots under electric power alone. Five units had already sold, signalling an interesting dynamic between buyers looking for hybrid propulsion and heritage design.

Turkish yard Sirena Yachts’ new flagship, the 36-metre Sirena 118, is the yard’s largest GRP build to date and its first real step into the superyacht bracket. She features naval architecture by Germán Frers, interior design by Cor D. Rover, and exterior styling by Sirena’s in-house design team. The Sirena 118 is powered by twin MAN V12 engines producing 3,100 hp as standard, delivering a top speed of 16 knots and comfortable long-range cruising. An optional 3,800 hp package increases top speed to 21 knots. She launched at Sirena’s Yalova facility in July, ahead of commissioning and her Cannes debut.

Elsewhere on the pontoons, Azimut is bringing three new debuts. Don’t miss their largest-ever model, the Alberto Mancini-designed Grande 44M (with seven units already sold), the Magellano 27m and the hybrid-series Seadeck 9.

Industry Insights & Updates

Three trends stand out before Cannes opens its doors.  First, small businesses now build Cannes into their yearly plans without fail. Ticket prices are fair, the crowd spans the whole industry, and the show keeps its easy, open feel without the VIP gatekeeping you get at other events. Second, hybrid tech has gone from a talking point a few years back to a real feature, and not just on the big yachts – it now spans many size ranges. Third, several of this year’s big launches (Azimut, Numarine, Sanlorenzo) had sold hulls and begun work on more units well before the show even opened. That tells you how early buyers are committing, long before the show itself.

So if you’re asking what to focus on at Cannes Yachting Festival: don’t treat it as a browse. Treat it as the one place the whole industry shows up to compare notes, because deals are often already in motion or done before the gates open.

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. Elegance and innovation join forces here to deliver an experience unlike any other, bringing together an impressive collection of nautical technology, prestigious yachts and maritime suppliers. For several years, the Cannes Yachting Festival has been a proud supporter of the Société Nationale des Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM), the national sea rescue society.

For more information: https://www.cannesyachtingfestival.com/en-gb.html

Photo credits:  Antibes Yachting, Azimut, Sanlorenzo

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