The Cannes Film Festival is the most sought-after event of the year for yacht charters on the French Riviera. Every year, between May 13 and 24, the Croisette transforms into a global cinema stage — and Cannes Bay becomes an exceptional concentration of superyachts privatized for productions, studios, investment funds, and private individuals.
The question consistently arises in our quote requests: how much does it really cost? Not the basic rate displayed in the window — the total cost, including APA, port fees, provisions, and taxes. The one you sometimes discover too late in the process.
This article provides the real figures, without mincing words, with 2026 market data and our fleet’s rates. This is the information you would have liked to have before starting your search.
The Cannes Film Festival 2026 — Why Prices Skyrocket
The Most Demanded Week of the Year
Yacht charter during the Cannes Film Festival 2026 — from May 13 to 24 — represents the absolute annual peak in charter demand on the French Riviera, even surpassing July and August in terms of pricing pressure on the best-positioned units.
Three factors explain this overheating:
The concentration of buyers — Hollywood studios, investment funds, luxury brands, streaming platforms — all simultaneously seek a privatized VIP reception space during the same 12 days. The supply of available superyachts in Cannes Bay does not expand year after year.
The bay position — a yacht anchored off the Croisette during the Festival is irreplaceable. No hotel, no villa, no reception hall offers what only a superyacht deck provides: a direct view of the red carpet, total discretion, and a private space accessible only by tender.
Media visibility — for brands using their yacht as a communication tool during the Festival, the bay position has direct marketing value. It’s no longer just charter — it’s an investment in visibility.
Which Weeks Are the Most Expensive?
The first week of the Festival (May 13–17) and the last (May 20–24, Palme d’Or week) are the most in demand. The middle week generally offers a slight easing of rates—but remains significantly more expensive than the standard peak summer season.
The Base Rate — What You See First
The base rate for a yacht charter is the price for making the yacht and its crew available for the agreed period. This is the figure shown in brochures and in brokers’ initial replies. It is also the least representative figure of the true cost.
Here are the 2026 market ranges during the Cannes Film Festival, by category:
| Category | LOA | Festival week base rate |
|---|---|---|
| Compact motor yacht | 20-25 m | €35,000–€70,000 |
| Motor Yacht | 25-35 m | €70,000–€160,000 |
| Superyacht | 35-45 m | €130,000–€350,000 |
| Mega Yacht | 45-60 m | €300,000–€800,000 |
| Mega Yacht + | 60 m and above | €700,000–€2,000,000+ |
Our fleet rates during the 2026 Festival:
- ABELY (OCEA 33 m): €35,000 excl. VAT/week
- RAY (Numarine 32XP 2025): €120,000 excl. VAT/week
- ASCENSION (Couach 37 m): €125,000 excl. VAT/week
- ANNAMIA (Baglietto 43 m): €145,000 excl. VAT/week
The APA — The Item No One Explains to You
The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is the amount paid at the start of the charter to cover all variable onboard expenses. It generally represents 25 to 35% of the base rate—and this is where most clients discover the real bill.
What the APA Covers
Fuel—the largest APA item. A 35–40-metre superyacht consumes between 150 and 400 litres per hour depending on the engines and speed. During the Festival, cruising is limited—mainly short tender transfers—but the generator runs continuously. Allow €2,000 to €8,000 in fuel depending on LOA.
Berthing fees—Cannes is one of the most expensive ports in the Mediterranean during the Festival. A night alongside in the Vieux Port for a 35–40-metre superyacht costs between €800 and €2,500 during Festival week. Over 12 days, this item can reach €15,000 to €25,000.
Provisions—food, beverages, wines and spirits for all guests for the duration of the charter. During the Festival, with daily receptions and a demanding clientele, allow €500 to €1,500 per day depending on the desired level of service.
Taxes—VAT applicable depending on the yacht’s flag and the cruising area.
Miscellaneous expenses—laundry, tender mooring, satellite communications, customs fees.
APA Breakdown Example — 37 m Superyacht, 12 Festival Days
Let us take the example of ASCENSION, our 37-metre Couach 3700 Fly available at €125,000/week during the Festival:
| APA item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Fuel (generator + short cruising) | €6,000 |
| Berthing fees (12 nights, Vieux Port Cannes) | €18,000 |
| Provisions (12 people, 12 days, premium standard) | €14,400 |
| Taxes and miscellaneous fees | €4,000 |
| Estimated total APA | €42,400 |
Total cost for ASCENSION for 12 Festival days:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base rate (week × 1.7) | €212,500 excl. VAT |
| Estimated APA | €42,400 |
| VAT (depending on flag) | Variable |
| Estimated total excl. VAT | ~€255,000 |
Port Fees in Cannes — The Surprise Cost
Port fees during the Cannes Film Festival are consistently underestimated. Here are the 2026 reference rates for the Vieux Port de Cannes:
| LOA | Standard nightly rate | Festival nightly rate (+40%) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-25 m | €200 – €400 | €280 – €560 |
| 25-35 m | €400 – €800 | €560 – €1,120 |
| 35-45 m | €800 – €1,800 | €1,120 – €2,520 |
| 45-60 m | €1,800 – €4,000 | €2,520 – €5,600 |
Practical advice: for superyachts over 35 meters, anchoring in Cannes Bay is often more economical and comfortable than mooring at the quay — with a quality tender for transfers to shore. Our team systematically optimizes this choice in every APA quote.
For a complete view of rates by season, consult our Cannes yacht rental prices page
What You Get in Return
The Five-Star Hotel — Expensive but Not Comparable
Cannes’ luxury hotels during the Festival — Martinez, Majestic, Carlton — display rates from €1,500 to €8,000 per night for a standard suite. For a group of 10 people over 12 days, the hotel bill easily exceeds €200,000 — without a private reception space, without confidentiality, without direct access to the sea.
The Private Reception Space
A superyacht during the Festival is the only entirely private space at the event. Confidential meetings, co-production lunches, private screenings, signing dinners — everything takes place in a setting that only a yacht allows. This is why Hollywood studios and streaming platforms are the first to book units from our available fleet as early as January.
What Budget to Plan According to Your Usage
Private Use — Family or Group of Friends
You are looking to experience the Festival in the best conditions without being a professional participant. The goal is quality of life — red carpet access from the tender, dinners on board, outings in the bay.
Recommended budget: €80,000 to €180,000 all-inclusive for a 25-35 meter motor yacht. Our ABELY (OCEA 33 m, €35,000/week) or our RAY (Numarine 32XP 2025, €120,000/week) are ideal formats for this use.
Corporate Use — Receptions and Business Meetings
You are hosting partners, clients, or teams during the Festival. The yacht serves as a representation tool.
Recommended budget: €150,000 to €350,000 all-inclusive for a 35-45 meter superyacht. The ASCENSION (Couach 37 m, €125,000/week) or the ANNAMIA (Baglietto 43 m, €145,000/week) perfectly suit this configuration.
Production / Studio Use
You are looking for an operational headquarters for the entire duration of the Festival — filming, interviews, receptions, press conferences on board.
Recommended budget: €300,000 to €800,000+ all-inclusive for a superyacht of 45 meters and above, positioned at the quay in the Vieux Port or in the bay facing the Croisette. Contact our team for off-market opportunities in this category.
Mistakes to Avoid
Booking too late — the best units for the Cannes Film Festival are reserved as early as January-February. By March, 35-45 meter superyachts in ideal positions are often already taken.
Underestimating the APA — the most common mistake. A quote without a detailed APA estimate is an incomplete quote. Always demand a line-by-line breakdown before signing.
Neglecting port fees — particularly critical during the Festival. The Vieux Port de Cannes is saturated — quality berths are reserved in advance and at increased rates.
Choosing based solely on the displayed price — two yachts with the same base rate can have very different total costs depending on fuel consumption, negotiated port fees, and the crew’s service level.
How We Work
At International Yachts Charter and Brokerage, every Cannes Film Festival quote includes a detailed line-by-line APA estimate, a recommendation on position (quay vs. anchorage), and coordination of shore-based bookings. Our rates reflect the actual 2026 market, with no hidden markups. Standard MYBA contract — APA regularization based on receipts at the end of the charter.
