Cannes is easy to look at as just another yacht show.

It is not.

For six days, many of the world’s leading yacht builders, brokers, equipment manufacturers, owners, captains and marine professionals will gather in one place.

New yachts will be launched. New technology will be introduced. Buyers will inspect vessels. Builders will test the market. And the wider industry will get a fairly clear view of where yacht design, ownership and onboard operations are heading next.

The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 takes place from 8 to 13 September, across Vieux Port and Port Canto.

More than 700 boats, approximately 680 exhibitors and close to 150 world premieres are expected.

But the numbers are only part of it.

What makes Cannes useful is the concentration of people, vessels and technology. You can see what builders are investing in, what buyers are showing interest in and which ideas are moving from concept drawings into actual production yachts.

Here is a quick snapshot of what to expect.

Essential Event Information

Dates

The festival runs from Tuesday 8 September to Sunday 13 September 2026.

Friday includes a late-night opening, with the show expected to remain open until 22:00.

Location

The event is divided between two main ports.

Vieux Port will focus mainly on new motor yachts, larger vessels, power catamarans, tenders, engines, marine equipment and technology.

Port Canto will contain the sailing yachts, brokerage yachts, smaller powerboats, dayboats and yacht toys.

Complimentary sea shuttles will operate between the two ports.

Expected Event Size

Organisers currently expect:

• More than 700 boats

• Approximately 680 exhibitors

• Nearly 150 world premieres

• Around 56,000 visitors

• Yachts ranging from small tenders to vessels of approximately 50 metres

The final yacht and exhibitor lists are still being updated.

Main Exhibition Areas

New Motor Yachts

Vieux Port will contain many of the festival’s major motor yacht launches and world premieres.

More than 350 motor yachts and boats between approximately 12 and 45 metres are expected.

Sailing Yachts

Port Canto will host around 120 new sailing yachts over 10 metres.

This will include monohulls, performance cruisers and sailing catamarans.

Brokerage Yachts

More than 45 pre-owned yachts above approximately 25 metres are expected in the brokerage area.

So Cannes is not only about new launches. It is also an active market for yachts already available for purchase.

Power Cat Village

More than 30 power catamarans are expected to be displayed together.

This section continues to grow, which says something about where the market is moving.

Owners and charter operators are increasingly looking at multihulls for their space, stability and operating efficiency.

Equipment and Technology

The Palais des Festivals will contain marine equipment, propulsion systems, navigation technology, digital platforms, designers, naval architects and specialist service providers.

For captains, engineers and technical professionals, this may be one of the most useful parts of the entire event.

Some of the Expected Yacht Highlights

The final vessel list may still change, but several significant launches have already been announced or reported.

Sirena 118

The 36-metre Sirena 118 is expected to make its world debut.

It will be the largest yacht Sirena has produced and marks the builder’s move further into the superyacht market.

Azimut Grande 44M

The Azimut Grande 44M is expected to be one of the largest and most prominent world premieres at Cannes.

Princess X90

Princess is expected to present the new X90.

The design continues the company’s focus on larger interior volume and expanded upper-deck living areas.

Pershing GTX90

The Pershing GTX90 is expected to make its world debut.

It combines Pershing’s performance background with more space and a stronger focus on exterior living.

Sunreef Ultima 88

The Sunreef Ultima 88 is expected to be one of the main power-catamaran launches.

It combines the space of a multihull with a lower and more streamlined motor yacht profile.

Pearl 73

The Pearl 73 is expected to include two master cabins, fold-down side balconies and an interior by Kelly Hoppen.

Prestige M8 Evo

The Prestige M8 Evo will add another important model to the growing power-catamaran section.

Saxdor 460 GTS

Saxdor is preparing to launch the 460 GTS.

The model has already generated interest through the builder’s early promotional campaign.

Pioneer PY60

The Pioneer PY60 solar-electric catamaran is also expected to make its world debut.

This will be one of the more interesting vessels for anyone following alternative propulsion, energy efficiency and lower-emission yacht technology.

What Is Changing in 2026?

New Festival Leadership

Constance Brément has taken over as festival director following the departure of long-standing director Sylvie Ernoult.

Brément previously worked within Groupe Beneteau, so she understands the event from the exhibitor and shipyard side as well as the organiser’s side.

Greater Focus on Innovation

The Innovation Route Awards return for a second year.

The programme will highlight new vessels, equipment, navigation systems, sustainability initiatives and technical developments across the show.

Continued Vieux Port Redevelopment

Redevelopment work around Vieux Port continues to affect the event layout.

Visitors who have attended before should not assume that builders and exhibitors will be in the same locations.

Improved Visitor Navigation

The organisers are introducing revised signage, more structured routes and additional premium services.

That matters.

Cannes is a large event spread across two ports, and poor planning can easily turn a productive day into several hours of walking, waiting and travelling between appointments.

Ticket Price Indications

Standard One-Day Ticket

Approximately €40.

Two-Day Ticket

Approximately €65.

Professional Ticket

Approximately €60.

The professional ticket is generally valid from Tuesday to Friday and includes access to the professional Business Centres.

Comfort Ticket

Approximately €120.

Silver VIP Ticket

Approximately €250 for one day.

Gold VIP Packages

Starting from approximately €660, depending on the number of days and visitors included.

Prices and ticket conditions may still change, so attendees should confirm the details before booking.

What Captains and Professionals Should Know

Book Yacht Visits Before the Event

A festival ticket does not guarantee access to every yacht.

Builders and brokers may restrict boarding based on appointments, buyer qualification, visitor numbers or owner instructions.

Group Meetings by Port

Vieux Port and Port Canto are separate locations.

Try to arrange meetings in blocks rather than travelling backwards and forwards throughout the day.

More movement does not mean more progress.

Do Not Ignore the Equipment Areas

It is easy to spend the entire event looking at yachts.

But the most useful information for captains and technical professionals may come from the propulsion, navigation, energy, communications and marine technology companies.

Expect a Commercial Event

Cannes may look like a public yacht show.

But much of the real activity happens through private meetings, buyer appointments, product demonstrations and commercial discussions.

Arrange Important Meetings Early

Shipyard representatives, brokers and senior executives often have tightly controlled schedules during the festival.

The people worth meeting are usually the people with the least free time.

My Take

What I like about Cannes is that it gives you a fairly clear snapshot of the industry.

Not the industry as it describes itself in a brochure.

The industry as it is actually investing, building and selling.

You can see which yacht categories are growing. You can see where builders are placing their money. And you can see which technologies are becoming real enough to install on working vessels.

The continued growth of power catamarans is worth watching.

So is the stronger focus on energy efficiency, alternative propulsion and onboard technology.

Not every new launch will change the market.

But when you put the yachts, the builders, the technology and the people behind them together in one place, patterns begin to emerge.

And that is where Cannes becomes more than a yacht show.

It becomes a snapshot of what the industry believes comes next.

That's it for now.

Glen Smale
Co-founder | Oceaneria