Every September, the world of yachting turns its eyes to the French Riviera for the Cannes Yachting Festival. Since its founding in 1977, the event has grown into Europe’s largest in-water boat show, drawing shipyards, luxury brands, charter companies, and passionate yacht lovers to the iconic ports of Cannes. In 2025, from 9–14 September, the festival once again transformed Vieux Port and Port Canto into a global stage where innovation, luxury, and lifestyle meet.
A Legacy of Elegance and Innovation
From its humble beginnings nearly five decades ago, the Cannes Yachting Festival has become a symbol of excellence and the art of living by the sea. In 2024, the show attracted nearly 55,000 visitors, 650 exhibitors, and over 700 boats ranging from 5 to 50 meters. This year’s edition continued that momentum, reaffirming Cannes as the world capital of yachting during its six-day run.
With distinct areas dedicated to superyachts, motorboats, multihulls, tenders, and sailing vessels, visitors can seamlessly explore everything from boutique sailing innovations to the latest in superyacht luxury. The event also serves as a powerful business hub, where the world’s leading shipyards unveil premieres and future-defining designs.
The Biggest Names in Yachting
Cannes consistently attracts the top players in the global yacht industry. In 2025, shipyards such as Azimut, Benetti, Princess, Sunseeker, Sanlorenzo, and Gulf Craft returned to showcase their latest models. Alongside them were boutique builders like Van der Valk, Bellini, and Ocean Development, each pushing the boundaries of style and sustainability.
Luxury charter operators also take part, offering attendees the opportunity to explore yachts available for South of France and Mediterranean charters. Cannes remains a key marketplace for professionals seeking to buy, charter, or partner in the yachting lifestyle sector.
Yacht Debuts & Highlights
2025 was a standout year for new launches and global debuts. Among the most anticipated:
Prestige M7
At just 58 feet, this multihull delivered 2,152 sq. ft. of living space and a loft-style interior that redefined compact yacht luxury.
390 MAREX – Marex Boats
Represents the latest innovation from Marex Boats, unveiled as a global launch at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Designed for versatility and comfort, this new motorboat is tailored for both day cruising and longer adventures.
Bellini Astor 58
Turning heads with bold green tones and sociable exterior layouts built for Mediterranean cruising.
70 FLY – THE ABSOLUTE WONDER
Making its global launch at the Cannes Yachting Festival, redefines what a modern flybridge yacht can be. A masterpiece of Italian design and engineering, it blends spacious luxury with cutting-edge performance.
Project Tahiti
Hargrave Superyachts Division In collaboration with Satura Studio in Rome, introduces Project Tahiti. A new series of 45m to 60m superyachts designed under the “Owner-Driven” philosophy. Built for Global cruising, each yacht combines long-range performance, proven classification standards, and Hargrave’s commitment to accountability and care.
Majesty 100 Terrace
Gulf Craft’s bold design featuring a private bow terrace directly accessible from the master suite.
Van der Valk “Lalabe“
LALABE is built on the proven hull design of the award-winning Lady Lene. Based on her trusted engineering, the owners chose a fast displacement hull with twin 1450 hp MAN engines, delivering a top speed of around 17 knots. Lady Lene’s spacious aft deck inspired the layout, while the rest of the yacht is fully bespoke. Key features include a beach club with chill-out area and sauna, a bridge deck saloon that opens on three sides, and smart balconies by the wheelhouse.
MODX 70
A futuristic sailing catamaran built almost entirely from renewable materials, designed for 100% renewable energy navigation.
Sanlorenzo SD 96
A striking 133-foot semi-displacement yacht with asymmetrical layouts and an earthy, tactile interior.
CLASS 44M – BENETTI
The Class 44M embodies the meaning of her name to the fullest. The overall holistic concept of her design focuses on crafting a harmonious feeling by uniting internal and external features smoothly. Her clean exterior lines are exalted by the use of transparent glass fashion plates, allowing for a luminous interior experience elevated by the light naturally pouring in.
Luxury charter yachts also made waves. Among them: BRAZIL, a 40m Heesen, and LAFAYETTE, a 35.5m motor yacht, both available for Mediterranean charter. 2025 also marked the Cannes debut of LADY AMANDA, a 30.48m yacht reintroduced after years of absence from the show circuit.
Attractions Beyond the Boats
The Cannes Yachting Festival is more than just an exhibition, it’s a complete luxury lifestyle experience.
- Concours d’Élégance – A glamorous parade of vintage yachts along the Bay of Cannes.
- Luxury Gallery – High-end shopping for watches, jewelry, design objects, and premium lifestyle brands.
- Tenders & Toys – The latest in watersports, tenders, and fun gadgets for the modern yacht owner.
- Innovation Route – A curated trail spotlighting eco-friendly technologies and sustainable designs, including the award-winning Vaan R5 sailing yacht made from recycled aluminum.
Visitor Experience
The show is carefully split between two iconic marinas:
Vieux Port
The beating heart of Cannes, home to superyachts, charter operators, and the Luxury Gallery.
Port Canto
Dedicated to sailing yachts, smaller motorboats, and the cutting-edge Tenders & Toys zone.
Opening times in 2025 ran from 10 AM–7 PM most days, with a special late-night opening until 10 PM on Friday allowing for champagne receptions and evening yacht tours under the Riviera stars.
Cannes to Dubai: A Global Yachting Connection
While Cannes marks the start of the European yachting season, the focus now turns to the next major global stage: the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS), taking place 8–12 April 2026 at Dubai Harbour. Recently awarded “Best Boat Show in Asia Pacific” at the Yacht Style Awards, DIBS continues to attract the world’s leading brands, many of which also exhibit in Cannes.
Here’s why you won’t want to miss Dubai 2026.
- The Middle East’s premier luxury yachting and marine lifestyle showcase.
- Over 200 boats and watercraft, from world-class superyachts to innovative water toys.
- 32,000+ global visitors, including yacht buyers, investors, and high-net-worth individuals, supported by a bespoke concierge meeting programme.
- The UAE is a home to 42 marinas and 7,100+ berths catering to a rapidly expanding yachting community.
- The UAE’s HNWI population has topped 250,000 and continues to grow year on year.
- A $25.5 billion maritime industry contributing around 7% to national GDP.
- Dubai holds the second-highest fleet-to-billionaire ratio worldwide.
- Geographic Pivot & Market Access
For many brands, exhibiting in Dubai is a strategic entry into rapidly growing markets. The yacht culture across the Gulf is expanding fast: marinas, water-based tourism, luxury coastal residential developments are all on the rise. Dubai International Boat Show offers access not just to local customers but to the high-net-worth individuals, investors, and brokers from across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond. - Prestige & Recognition
Already honored as the Best Boat Show in Asia Pacific at the Yacht Style Awards, Dubai 2026 isn’t just bigger—it’s being recognized for its quality, organization, and influence. Booth locations are being snapped up quickly; the incentives for early exhibitors are designed to attract premium brands and ensure the show feels curated, not overcrowded. - Product Trends That Translate Well in the Region
What’s trending in Cannes often sets the tone for what will appear in Dubai. But in Dubai, certain demands amplify:- Climate-Resilient Engineering. Boats and materials that cope well with heat, sun exposure, and humidity (e.g. UV-resistant finishes, passive cooling, efficient A/C systems).
- Luxury Amenities – entertainment decks, water-toys, onboard wellness (spas, gyms), tending to be more in demand here.
- Sustainable Tech – solar panels, hybrid propulsion, waste management (especially with environmental regulations tightening). The global trend toward greener yachting is very present in Dubai too.
- New Exhibitor Benefits & Incentives
If you’re considering entering or expanding in the MENA market, the show is offering exciting exhibitor benefits (reduced booth fees for early signup, premium placements, hospitality perks, cross-promotion opportunities). These mean more visibility for less cost—and higher ROI.
For companies seeking to expand into the MENA luxury marine market, the momentum of Cannes flows naturally into Dubai. Exhibitors like Benetti, Sunseeker, and Gulf Craft often showcase their yachts across both shows, ensuring maximum exposure to international buyers.
Tips for Making Dubai 2026 Part of Your Business Strategy
- Book Early: Premium booth locations go fast. Early exhibitors get better spots and often get discounted rates.
- Tailor Your Display: Recognize that attendees might expect climate comfort (shade, misting stations), more interactive displays (live demos, walk-throughs), and informative product specs (for heat resistance, solar-integration, etc.).
- Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local yacht clubs, marina operators, or concierge services. Invitations and VIP previews can make a big difference in drawing serious buyers.
- Marketing Lead-Up: Use your presence at Cannes as content—photographs, interviews, and previews of what you’ll bring to Dubai. Build anticipation in blog posts, social media, email newsletters.
- Follow-Up Strategy: After the show, you want a strong follow-up plan. The leads you gather must be nurtured (emails, catalogues, video walk-throughs), especially for long-delivery high-ticket items like yachts and accessories.
As OceanShaker, we see this connection as an opportunity: to celebrate the innovation and beauty of Cannes while building excitement for the luxury, lifestyle, and investment opportunities awaiting at Dubai International Boat Show 2026.
The Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 once again lived up to its reputation as a showcase of yachting excellence, setting the tone for the new season with glamorous debuts, eco-conscious innovations, and unforgettable experiences. From legendary shipyards to boutique builders, from superyachts to futuristic catamarans, the festival reminded the world why Cannes is at the heart of the global yachting calendar.
And as the industry looks ahead, the spotlight shifts eastwards: to Dubai International Boat Show 2026, where the pulse of innovation and luxury will once again beat at full strength.
Photo: cannesyachtingfestival.com