Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: 700 boats and a boating industry in transition

From 8 to 13 September 2026, the Cannes Yachting Festival brought boat launches, industry meetings and innovation to the Vieux Port and Port Canto. Riviera Royal Media covered the event, including an interview focused on the Simbad 55. This was the festival’s 49th edition. [1][5][8]

Six days across two ports

Opening hours were 10 am to 7 pm on Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday, with a late opening until 10 pm on Friday 11 September. The show closed at 6 pm on Sunday 13 September. Free sea shuttles connected the ports, with departures advertised every fifteen minutes from 10 am. [1]

The closing report published by the Fédération des Industries Nautiques on 23 September records 680 exhibitors, 700 boats measuring 5–55 metres, nearly 150 world premieres and 100,000 m² of net exhibition space. It lists 56,000 visitors and 720 journalists from 45 countries. There were 360 boats at the Vieux Port and 340 at Port Canto, including 120 new sailing boats, 95 catamarans — 51 sailing and 44 motor — and nearly 45 pre-owned yachts. [2]

Exhibitors are participating businesses; boats are the vessels displayed. These figures are not a count of stands.

The homepage shows 56,600 visitors, against the dated closing report’s 56,000, which we use here. [2][3]

Different boats, different ways to use the sea

Motor yachts dominated the Vieux Port. Large vessels lined the Jetée; dayboats, open boats and flybridge models featured on Quai Saint-Pierre. The Pantiero included the Power Cat Village. Inside the Palais des Festivals, equipment, interior fittings, destinations and marine services complemented the boats afloat. [4]

Port Canto brought together sailing boats, the Power Boat Marina, brokerage and water toys. Visitors could board boats and, on selected models, take sea trials. This allowed them to compare boats in their operating environment rather than through photographs and specifications alone. [5]

Our interpretation is that this variety challenges a narrow view of Cannes as a show exclusively for superyachts. Day boating, extended cruising and buying a pre-owned yacht involve different priorities. Size and prestige cannot provide a complete basis for comparison.

Innovation beyond the yacht itself

The Innovation Route guided visitors towards innovative and sustainable solutions identified on exhibitors’ stands. Its awards covered navigation equipment, sustainable products, innovative boats and corporate social responsibility. [6]

The 2026 winners were BlueNav’s Smart Mooring, Suzuki Edge ECoat, the Excess 11 and D-Marin’s Biohuts. Azimut’s Grande 44M received the Special Jury Award. The festival announced the results during the exhibitors’ cocktail reception. [7]

In Riviera Royal Media’s analysis, the selection suggests that innovation increasingly concerns ease of use and the surrounding marina environment. An award recognises a jury’s assessment; it does not independently establish a product’s full environmental footprint. Sustainability claims require scrutiny of actual consumption, operating conditions, maintenance and useful life.

Our interview focused on the Simbad 55

As part of Riviera Royal Media’s festival coverage, Tetiana Stadniuk conducted an interview focused on the Simbad 55. The builder announced the Legend version’s display at Port Canto, Sail 144, Quai Roseraie. [8]

Odyssea’s listing for Legend 1 gives a length of 17.59 metres and a beam of 8.92 metres. Naval architecture is by Pierre Delion, design by Franck Darnet. Equipment includes carbon rigging, 3,150 W of solar panels, an 800 Ah lithium battery bank and twin 150 hp Yanmar diesels. These are published specifications, not our independent test results. [9]

A generator also remains onboard: solar equipment does not make this an entirely electric boat. [9]

This raises an editorial question: how can comfort, autonomy and straightforward operation be reconciled? Our interview forms part of our engagement with the people behind the boats; the technical information here comes from the cited documents. A manufacturer’s promises deserve examination under clearly defined operating conditions.

Our conclusions

The Cannes Yachting Festival provides a setting in which very different boating projects can be compared. Its journalistic value lies in bringing announcements into contact with boats, equipment and industry representatives. Attendance measures the show’s reach; it does not establish the value of sales or the economic health of the entire industry.

Riviera Royal Media covered the Cannes Yachting Festival through on-location content, including its interview focused on the Simbad 55. Our conclusion is that the industry must make its promises of comfort, ease of use and responsibility verifiable in practice. The relationship between presentation and actual use deserves sustained journalistic attention.