Cannes Yachting Festival 2026
Vieux Port and Port Canto, 8 to 13 September 2026. Europe's largest in-water boat show
Frequently confused with the Cannes Film Festival, which is a different event in May run by a different organisation. This is the boat show.
Cannes Yachting Festival in numbers
Six days across two ports. Opening hours run 10:00 to 19:00 Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Friday, and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteExpected fleet for the 2026 edition, ranging from about 15 to 165 feet, split across the two ports.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteExpected exhibitor count for the 2026 edition, per the organiser.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteNew models shown publicly for the first time at the 2026 edition, per the organiser. This is the reason the trade attends.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteWhat is the Cannes Yachting Festival?
The Cannes Yachting Festival runs from 8 to 13 September 2026 and is the largest in-water boat show in Europe. It splits across two harbours: Vieux Port carries the new motor yachts, and Port Canto holds sailing yachts alongside brokerage and charter boats. Around 150 models are shown publicly for the first time here, which is why the industry treats it as the opening of the season rather than one show among several.
Who goes to the Cannes Yachting Festival?
Builders and their dealers, brokers, charter managers, marine suppliers, and buyers ranging from serious prospects to the merely curious. It is a genuinely public show rather than a trade-only one, so the crowd mixes professionals doing business with visitors walking the pontoons.
Cannes Yachting Festival tickets and prices
Tickets are sold through the official site and admit you to both ports, with a free shuttle running between them. Boarding a boat generally means an appointment with the builder or broker rather than simply queuing, and the larger yachts are viewable by arrangement only. Six days is more than most visitors need, two is usually enough to cover both harbours properly.
What to know before booking the Cannes Yachting Festival
The two-port split is the thing people underestimate. Vieux Port and Port Canto are about a 20-minute walk apart along the Croisette, and visitors who plan a single day frequently see only one of them. If sailing yachts or brokerage boats are the reason for the trip, Port Canto is the destination and Vieux Port is the detour, which is the opposite of what most first-timers assume.
Cannes Yachting Festival parties and side events
Builders and brokers host their own client dinners, launch parties and on-board receptions through the week, none of which appear on the public programme, and access runs through the exhibitor rather than the show. Grand Circle organises none of it.
How to get to Vieux Port and Port Canto
Nice Côte d'Azur is roughly 27 kilometres east, about 30 minutes by road outside peak traffic, with a direct train to Cannes station a short walk from Vieux Port. During the show, parking near either harbour is difficult and the shuttle between the two ports is faster than driving.
Where to stay for the Cannes Yachting Festival
The Croisette hotels put you between the two ports and charge accordingly during show week. Le Suquet, the old town above Vieux Port, is walkable and cheaper. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are a short train ride and are where much of the industry actually stays, particularly the crew and brokerage side.
Cannes Yachting Festival: frequently asked questions
When is the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026?
8 to 13 September 2026, across Vieux Port and Port Canto in Cannes. Opening hours are 10:00 to 19:00 Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Friday, and 10:00 to 18:00 on the closing Sunday.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteIs the Cannes Yachting Festival the same as the Cannes Film Festival?
No. They are separate events run by different organisations. The Yachting Festival is a boat show held in September, the Film Festival is a cinema event held in May. They share only the city and are regularly confused in listings.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteHow many boats are at the Cannes Yachting Festival?
Around 700 boats from roughly 15 to 165 feet are expected at the 2026 edition, shown by over 680 exhibitors, with about 150 world premieres. The fleet is split between Vieux Port and Port Canto.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteCan the public attend, or is it trade only?
It is open to the public, with tickets sold through the official site. Admission covers both harbours and a free shuttle runs between them. Boarding larger yachts usually requires an appointment with the builder or broker rather than simply queuing.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteWhat is the difference between Vieux Port and Port Canto?
Vieux Port holds the new motor yachts and the majority of the premieres. Port Canto carries sailing yachts along with brokerage and charter boats. They sit about a 20-minute walk apart on the Croisette, connected by a free shuttle.
Cannes Yachting Festival official siteHow many days do you need at the show?
Two is enough for most visitors to cover both harbours properly. The show runs six days largely for the trade, who use it for meetings and appointments rather than walking the pontoons, so a general visitor rarely needs the full run.
Grand Circle does not organise Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 and sells no tickets or hospitality for it. It is run by Cannes Yachting Festival. Dates and prices are set by the organiser and change without notice. This entry was last checked against its sources on 2026-09-10. If something here is wrong, tell us and it gets fixed rather than aged.