The Cannes Yachting Festival—also known as the Cannes Boat Show—is Europe’s leading in-water boat show. In its 49th edition, it takes place from September 8 to 13, 2026 across two iconic locations: the Vieux Port for motor yachts and superyachts, Port Canto for sailing yachts, brokerage, and water toys. Over 700 boats from 5 to 55 meters LOA, 55,000 visitors, 600 international exhibitors—this is the event that officially opens the global boat show season and marks the transition between the Mediterranean summer season and autumn.
For International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII, the Cannes Yachting Festival is a strategic appointment on two fronts: on the charter side, fleet yachts are available for charter during Festival week for clients who wish to combine visiting the show with a Mediterranean sailing experience. On the brokerage side, this is the time of year when potential buyers converge on Cannes with concrete acquisition projects—our team assists them in identifying off-market opportunities and bringing their projects to fruition.
The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 takes place from Tuesday, September 8 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, across Cannes’ two ports: the Vieux Port and Port Canto, connected by the Croisette.
The two sites:
Key figures from the 2025 edition:
Charters are typically booked from Monday, September 7 to Monday, September 14 to cover setup, the full Festival week, and departure.
The Cannes Yachting Festival attracts a unique clientele: serious yachting enthusiasts, often owners or prospective owners, who come to discover the latest innovations from shipyards, compare units, and meet industry professionals. Chartering a superyacht during this week allows you to combine visiting the show during the day with a Mediterranean sailing experience in the evening or on weekends.
It is also an opportunity to test different configurations on board—flybridge, beach deck, stabilizers at anchor, zero-speed stabilizers—before making a purchase decision. Our team regularly offers “brokerage discovery” charters during this week: a cruise on a unit similar to the one the client is considering acquiring, to validate their criteria before committing to a purchase process.
September is one of the best months for sailing on the French Riviera. The water is still 23-25°C, summer winds have calmed, and anchorage and port traffic begins to decrease after the August peak. The Îles de Lérins, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Antibes are accessible in excellent sailing conditions—destinations impossible to fully appreciate during high season.
During the Cannes Yachting Festival, the entire international yachting industry is concentrated along a few kilometers of the Croisette. Shipyard captains, naval architects, brokers, fleet managers, equipment suppliers—one week is enough to establish contacts that normally take years to build. Your yacht becomes a premium meeting space at the heart of this ecosystem.
Our fleet is available for charter with full crew during Cannes Yachting Festival week. Each unit is certified, equipped to the highest standards, and managed by STCW-certified crew. Chartering during the Festival allows you to:
The Cannes Yachting Festival is one of the two major global events for yacht acquisition projects (along with the Monaco Yacht Show in September). Our brokerage team assists buyers during the Festival:
Ideal format for groups of 6 to 10 people wishing to combine visiting the show with day cruises. Shallow draft for access to Îles de Lérins anchorages, spacious cockpit for end-of-day aperitifs in port.
Our AMELIA (20 m LOA, 10 guests, crew of 2, from €37,500/week) and PURE (27 m LOA, 6 guests, crew of 3, from €45,000/week) are available during this period.
The reference format for industry professionals and serious buyers during the Festival. Interior salon for business meetings, panoramic flybridge for evening cocktails, full crew with onboard chef.
Our units TINY WAVE (34 m LOA, 10 guests, crew of 6, €100,000/week), EOL B (34 m LOA, 9 guests, €84,000/week), and SILVER WAVE (45 m LOA, 12 guests, crew of 8, €140,000/week) are available upon request for this period.
For shipowners and industry leaders wishing to host their partners in the most exclusive setting during the Cannes Yachting Festival. Units available through our off-market network—contact our team for specific availability.
The Cannes Yachting Festival takes place in early September—at the end of high season. Rates are close to high season rates with slight upward pressure on units of 30 meters and above, highly sought after by the industry’s professional clientele.
| Category | LOA | Indicative Rate (Festival Week) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Yacht | 20-30 m | €25,000 – €60,000 |
| Superyacht | 30-40 m | €60,000 – €180,000 |
| Premium Superyacht | 40-45 m | €140,000 – €300,000 |
| Mega Yacht | 45 m+ | €250,000 – €700,000+ |
These rates exclude APA (25 to 35% of the base rate). Standard MYBA contract—50% deposit upon booking, balance 30 days before departure.
For detailed estimates, consult our Cannes yacht charter pricing page.
The Cannes Yachting Festival is part of a sequence of events covering the entire high-level nautical calendar:
Spring:
Summer: High charter season in the Mediterranean, Balearics, Sardinia
Autumn:
For clients wishing to combine the Cannes Yachting Festival (Sept. 8-13) and the Monaco Yacht Show (Sept. 23-26), a 10-day connecting cruise between the two events can be perfectly arranged on the same unit—sailing to Sardinia, the Îles d’Hyères, or Italy.
Contact International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII to receive a selection of yachts available during the Festival and a personalized APA quote within 48 hours. Our team is also available to assist you on the brokerage side during show week.
