The Cannes International Film Festival is the most widely covered cultural event in the world. Every year in May, La Croisette becomes, for ten days, the focal point of the global film industry—producers, directors, distributors, investors, celebrities—in an atmosphere of unique glamour and excitement. Chartering a yacht during the Cannes Film Festival means securing the only truly private space at this event: a superyacht moored opposite La Croisette, away from the bustle onshore, with a level of service and confidentiality that nothing else can match.
International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII selects each year the finest yachts available during Festival week. The best-positioned yachts in Cannes’ Vieux Port are booked months in advance—availability for May 2026 is already limited.
The 2026 Cannes International Film Festival runs from May 13 to 24, 2026. The opening ceremony takes place on the evening of Wednesday, May 13, and the Palme d’Or is awarded on Saturday, May 24.
Key dates for charters:
Yachts are generally booked for the full Festival week, from Monday, May 11 to Monday, May 25—or longer for clients who wish to continue with a cruise along the French Riviera or to the Balearic Islands.
During the Festival, every square metre of Cannes is saturated. Hotels are fully booked months in advance, restaurants turn people away, and event venues are occupied from 8 a.m. to midnight. Your yacht, by contrast, is a 100% private space, available at any time, with your dedicated crew.
From the deck of a 35 to 45-metre LOA superyacht moored in the Vieux Port or opposite La Croisette, you have a unique setting for hosting: late-afternoon producer cocktails, co-production dinners with an onboard chef, confidential meetings in the interior salon, private parties on the flybridge. Everything is possible, without the logistical constraints and crowding of onshore venues.
The Cannes Film Festival is the world’s most important film market. The 12,000 accredited professionals who converge there each year are precisely the clientele a yacht charter serves best: decision-makers accustomed to excellence, seeking meeting and working spaces that match their standards.
A corporate yacht charter during the Festival allows you to organise:
In an environment as heavily covered as the Cannes Film Festival, discretion is a rare asset. Your yacht provides a private perimeter—access controlled by your crew, meetings out of sight, confidential conversations. No paparazzi, no journalists, no indiscreet table neighbours.
An ideal format for groups of 8 to 12 people who want a private space during the Festival without the constraints of managing a large crew. Spacious aft cockpit, air-conditioned interior salon, 2 to 3 en-suite cabins for overnight stays. Our AMELIA (20 m LOA, 10 guests, crew of 2, from €37,500/week) is perfectly suited to this format.
The benchmark format for corporate events during the Festival. Panoramic flybridge with views over La Croisette, large outdoor deck for receptions, interior salon with meeting capacity, 4 to 5 en-suite cabins for overnight stays, full crew of 5 to 8. Our TINY WAVE (34 m LOA, 10 guests, crew of 6, €100,000/week) and PANAM (40 m LOA, 12 guests, crew of 8, €220,000/week) are the most in demand during this period.
For studios, major distribution groups, or investors who wish to make a statement at the Festival with an absolutely prestigious yacht. Spa, onboard cinema, beach club, crew of 10+ members. Our SILVER WAVE (45 m LOA, 12 guests, crew of 8, from €140,000/week) is available during this period subject to availability—please confirm promptly.
This is the reference location during the Festival. Yachts moored in the Vieux Port enjoy a direct view of the Palais des Festivals, La Croisette, and the event’s buzz. Proximity to the Carlton, Martinez, and Majestic hotels—HQs for studios and distributors—allows quick trips on foot or by tender.
Berths opposite the Palais des Festivals are the most sought-after—they are typically booked in January for the May Festival. Our team has relationships with the port authorities and negotiates priority access to the most strategic positions for our clients.
For yachts with a deep draft (over 3.5 m) or LOA exceeding 40 metres, Port Canto is the natural alternative to the Vieux Port. Located 10 minutes by car from La Croisette, it accommodates superyachts and mega yachts under optimal technical conditions. Transfers by chauffeured car or by tender as required.
The Cannes Film Festival is the highest-priced period of the year in the Cannes yacht charter market. Demand structurally exceeds the available supply in the Vieux Port, particularly for strategic berths opposite La Croisette.
| Category | LOA | Festival weekly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Yacht | 20-30 m | €35,000 – €80,000 |
| Superyacht | 30-40 m | €80,000 – €250,000 |
| Premium superyacht | 40-45 m | €200,000 – €400,000 |
| Mega Yacht | 45 m+ | €350,000 – €1,000,000+ |
These rates are exclusive of operating expenses—the APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) represents 25% to 35% of the base rate and covers fuel, port fees, provisions, and taxes. Our team provides a detailed APA estimate with every quote.
All our charters are issued under an MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) contract—50% deposit upon booking, balance due 30 days before departure.
Our team does not limit itself to providing the yacht. For clients wishing to host corporate events onboard during the Festival, we coordinate the entire set-up:
The crews selected by IYCB XXIII for the Cannes Film Festival are fluent in at least French and English. Given the international scope of the event—Americans, British, Koreans, Japanese, Indians—crews with additional language skills are available on request.
Number of guests, intended use (accommodation / corporate events / parties), overall budget, desired charter duration, specific requirements (crew language, gastronomy, additional services). The more precise these elements are, the more relevant our selection will be.
Our team will submit a selection of 3 to 5 yachts suited to your profile, with full technical specifications (LOA, draft, cabins, crew, equipment), photo galleries, and a detailed APA estimate for each option.
Sign the MYBA contract and pay the deposit (50% of the base rate). The best yachts go quickly—especially for Vieux Port berths. Any booking confirmed after April 1, 2026 will face very limited availability.
2 to 3 weeks before the Festival, our team organises a full briefing with the captain: itinerary, onboard event schedule, menus, guest logistics, emergency contacts. Everything is planned in advance to ensure the day itself is perfect.
The 2026 Cannes International Film Festival runs from May 13 to 24, 2026. The opening ceremony takes place on Wednesday, May 13, and the Palme d’Or is awarded on Saturday, May 24. Charters generally cover the week from May 11 to 25.
No. Chartering the yacht does not require any accreditation—your yacht is a private space independent of the Festival organisation. However, access to official screenings, Palais parties, and professional events at the Marché du Film requires specific accreditations. Our team can advise you on the professional accreditation process.
The red-carpet steps take place on the red carpet at the entrance to the Palais des Festivals. From a yacht moored in the Vieux Port, you will enjoy views of the overall atmosphere on La Croisette and around the Palais. A direct view of the red carpet requires a specific, highly sought-after berth—our team will advise you on the best available positions.
For cocktail receptions of 15 to 20 guests: an LOA of 30 to 35 metres with a large outdoor deck is sufficient. For receptions of 25 to 30 guests with a seated dinner: plan for a minimum LOA of 38 to 45 metres, with a flybridge and a configured main deck. Our team validates each yacht’s hosting capacity according to your event format.
Yes, significantly. Rates during the Cannes Film Festival are generally 2 to 3 times higher than standard cruising rates in May. Demand structurally exceeds the available supply in the Vieux Port—this is the highest-priced period of the year in Cannes.
Absolutely. Many clients follow the Festival with a cruise along the French Riviera, to Saint-Tropez, Monaco, or towards the Balearic Islands. We manage the entire transition.
Yes, the mega yachts in our selection are equipped with home cinema systems for indoor screenings. For outdoor screenings on deck, a specific installation can be arranged on request. Our team assesses feasibility based on the selected yacht.
May 3–24, 2026. 47 days. Availability is closing.
Contact International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII now to receive a selection of available yachts and a personalised APA quote within 48 hours.
