Kickstarting the 2026 boat show season in style, the Cannes Yachting Festival opens the doors for its 49th edition this year, with a broad range of debuts, inspiration, and exclusive merchandise in store.
Building on the success of last year's show, the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival (also known as the Cannes Boat Show) again returns to the dual sites of Port Canto and Vieux Port, with the iconic La Croisette forming a pleasant connection between the two.
Scheduled to run from 8-13 September, there's a lot to get excited about for Cannes this year, with many hot new launches and models from international brands, plus some truly exceptional France yacht charters sprinkled around both ports and out in the bay.
Adding in some new elements and welcoming the anticipated return of popular favorites, let's take a closer look at what to expect around the pontoons of this year's offering.
Making full use of both marinas and the captivating Bay of Cannes, the Cannes Yachting Festival has a great array of world, regional, and show debuts to showcase this year, with 118 superyachts on the official attending fleet and a further 18 at anchor.
In 2025, there were over 100 debuts at the show, with marginally less scheduled for this year's event. Here are the numbers from the 2025 edition compared to today's fleet in Cannes.
| Superyachts In Show | Attending Charter Yachts | Average Length (M) | Average Age (Yrs) | Debuts | |
| Cannes 2025 | 120 | 35 | 34.34 | 5.16 | 104 |
| Cannes 2026 | 118 | 25 | 34.55 | 4.61 | 98 |
Year on year, we're seeing an almost on-par average length of the yachts, but with a slightly younger fleet.
Looking more specifically at the charter yachts in attendance, the 2026 collection has an average length of 32.86 meters and an average age of 6.76 years. Which again, looks very much in-line with the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival with luxury yacht charters having an average length of 33.64 meters and average age of 6.2 years.
Those who attended the 2025 show will have seen the unmistakable silhouette of 344ft (105m) sailing yacht charter BLACK PEARL who caused a huge amount of excitement as she dropped anchor.
Iconic sailing yacht charter BLACK PEARL made quite a statement in the Bay of Cannes in 2025.
For 2026, the Côte d'Azur is again hosting an impressive display of luxury yacht charters and superyachts in the bay, with many at anchor adjacent to Pointe Croisette and others off the Lérins Islands.
Among the most notable yachts to be spotted out in the Bay of Cannes are the beautiful classics CHRISTINA O and yacht rental SS DELPHINE with their distinctive yellow touches, superyacht charter GRACE, and the eye-catching sailing yacht charter THE LANGLEY.
Away from the buzz around the pontoons, the growing presence of superyachts in the bay adds an additional taste of luxury to the show, in an exclusive environment, with access to the superyacht charters being strictly at the discretion of their respective representatives.
The Cannes Yachting Festival reflects the sector's transformations andhow diverse boating enthusiasts' aspirations are, whether they reflect performance, comfort, design,and innovation, or are looking for new experiences at sea.
Back to the docks, and the attending fleet has a few treats in store if you're browsing for your next Mediterranean yacht charter. As the first show of the season, Cannes is the first opportunity many get to see brand-new charter yachts in person, with this year being no exception.
For seasoned charters ready to unveil their latest refits, the brokerage area of Port Canto hosts 164ft (49.85m) luxury yacht charter RENEGADE who completed her last refit in 2025, along with expedition charter PREFERENCE 19 who's fresh from the yard and also located in the brokerage section.
Stretching across Cannes' Vieux Port and Port Canto, the Festival brings together the world's finest yachts and sailing boats along the legendary Croisette.
Also newly out of their shipyards, Cannes is proud to present some world debuts this year, which are certain to draw significant attention around the pontoons, as they always do.
Among this year's collection of global premieres, visitors can expect to see luxury charter yacht AITANA, who is one of the latest Benetti yacht rentals to hit the market, yacht rental LADY SARAH, and the effortlessly stylish charter yacht BIKINI QUEEN.
In a boat show season that is seeing a refresh across the board, the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival is making movement around the show a little easier, with the relocated embarkation point for boat shuttles now located at the beach for seamless access to Vieux Port. This new placement also coincides with a new solarium on the beach.
For those who enjoy the space of a catamaran yacht charter, a dedicated zone for multihulls can be found at La Pantiero in Vieux Port in the form of the Power Cat Village, and the Jetée & Quai Max Laubeuf zones are hosting this year's ensemble of superyachts.
Also at the show, popular favorites like the Sailing Area, Toys Area, and Power Boat Marina are available at Port Canto alongside the brokerage yachts, with a host of ideas to make the most of yacht vacations in the South of France.
The Innovation Route returns with a lineup of 47 yachts, highlighting the most sustainable vessels and solutions at the show, concluding with the second edition of the Innovation Route Awards. The Palais des Festivals completes the show, playing host to a curated selection of exhibitors with everything you need to complete an indulgent yachting lifestyle package.
West Mediterranean yacht charters remain popular throughout the year thanks to the diverse appeal of their coastlines and way of life. From the renowned events such as the Cannes Yachting Festival to the captivating dive sites and notorious nightlife hotspots, there's something for every charter guest.
There are many yachts now calling their final availability for the present season, so now is the best time to enjoy the last drops of summer and experience the Med in person.
Start planning your escape today. Speak to a yacht charter broker.
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