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Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: The Biggest Yacht Debuts and Highlights
The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 once again turned the French Riviera into the centre of the global yachting industry. Held from 8 to 13 September, the prestigious event brought together hundreds of yachts, shipyards, designers, brokers and marine technology companies, offering visitors an impressive look at the future of luxury yachting.
With more than 710 boats and yachts on display and over 680 exhibitors, this year's Cannes Yachting Festival delivered an extensive line-up of world premieres, new yacht models, superyachts and brokerage vessels.
From the latest motor yachts and luxury catamarans to hybrid technology and innovative design solutions, Cannes 2026 provided a clear picture of where the yacht market is heading.
Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 in numbers
The scale of this year's event once again confirmed the importance of Cannes as one of Europe's leading yacht shows.
The 2026 edition featured:
More than 710 yachts and boats
Over 680 exhibitors
Almost 150 world premieres
More than 56,000 visitors
A strong selection of new and brokerage superyachts
The exhibition was spread across the two traditional Cannes locations: Vieux Port and Port Canto.
Vieux Port focused primarily on motor yachts, including some of the most important premieres of the show. Port Canto hosted sailing yachts, multihulls, smaller craft and a significant selection of brokerage yachts.
The biggest yacht premieres at Cannes 2026
One of the main reasons to visit the Cannes Yachting Festival is the number of new yachts making their public debut. This year was no exception, with several highly anticipated models presented to the international market for the first time.
Among the most talked-about premieres were the Azimut Grande 44M, Sirena 118, Princess X90, Sunreef Ultima 88 and Sanlorenzo SHE.
Azimut Grande 44M
One of the undisputed highlights of Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 was the debut of the Azimut Grande 44M.
At 43.85 metres, it is the largest yacht ever built by Azimut. Designed by Alberto Mancini, the four-deck yacht combines contemporary Italian styling with advanced efficiency-focused technology.
The Grande 44M features a mild-hybrid propulsion system and a carbon-fibre Hull Vane designed to improve efficiency and performance.
The interest in the model was already strong before its official debut, with several units reportedly sold ahead of the launch of the first yacht.
Sirena 118 makes its Cannes debut
Another major premiere was the Sirena 118, the new flagship from Sirena Yachts.
Measuring 36 metres, the yacht combines generous interior volume with a fast-displacement hull developed with naval architect Germán Frers.
The layout can accommodate up to six guest cabins, while the owner's suite offers a high level of privacy and space.
The Sirena 118 reflects one of the strongest trends visible at Cannes this year: owners are increasingly looking for yachts that combine long-range capability, comfort and efficient performance with the space normally associated with much larger superyachts.
Princess X90: British design meets contemporary luxury
The British shipyard Princess Yachts presented the Princess X90 at Cannes 2026.
At 26.77 metres, the new model sits between the X80 and X95 in the Princess range and focuses heavily on outdoor living and flexible spaces.
The yacht features a large flybridge, a skylounge and expansive exterior areas, while the owner's suite is positioned on the main deck.
The X90 demonstrates how modern yacht design is increasingly centred around creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sunreef Ultima 88: a Polish highlight in Cannes
For the Polish yachting industry, one of the most interesting premieres at Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 was the Sunreef Ultima 88.
The 26.8-metre power catamaran represents Sunreef Yachts' approach to combining high performance with the generous living spaces traditionally associated with multihulls.
The Ultima 88 can reach speeds of around 26 knots and features innovative folding side platforms together with a hydraulic aft platform, creating a large and versatile waterside area.
The yacht is also part of a broader trend that has been increasingly visible across the luxury yacht market: power catamarans are becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to conventional motor yachts.
Their stability, volume, efficiency and spacious layouts are particularly appealing to owners planning longer periods on board.
Sanlorenzo SHE brings heritage into the future
The Sanlorenzo SHE was another standout debut at Cannes.
The 25.5-metre yacht is the first model in Sanlorenzo's new Heritage series and combines a retro-inspired exterior with modern technology.
Drawing inspiration from classic Italian yachts of the 1960s, SHE demonstrates how contemporary yacht design is increasingly looking to the past for inspiration.
At the same time, the yacht incorporates modern propulsion technology, including a hybrid system based on Volvo Penta IPS.
The result is a yacht that combines classic Italian design, modern performance and a more efficiency-conscious approach.
More premieres from the world's leading shipyards
The Cannes 2026 yacht line-up extended well beyond the headline premieres.
Visitors could also discover new models from brands including Numarine, Pershing, Sunseeker, Azimut and Custom Line, demonstrating the depth and diversity of the current yacht market.
Among the models attracting attention were the Numarine 40MXP, Pershing GTX90, Sunseeker Manhattan 94, Azimut Seadeck 9 and Custom Line Navetta 35.
Together, these launches highlight several key trends shaping the next generation of luxury yachts: larger outdoor spaces, improved efficiency, flexible layouts, hybrid propulsion and a stronger focus on the overall onboard experience.
Brokerage yachts remain an important part of Cannes
While new yacht premieres attract much of the attention, brokerage yachts remain an essential part of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
The 2026 show featured dozens of pre-owned superyachts available for sale, giving potential buyers the opportunity to compare new-build projects with yachts that are already on the water.
According to YachtBuyer, 62 superyachts were presented for sale at the show, with a combined asking value of approximately $640 million.
Among the notable brokerage yachts were vessels such as the 50-metre Rossinavi Flying Dagger III, 49.85-metre Renegade, 46.4-metre CRN Alaska and 46-metre Sanlorenzo Pick Up.
For buyers, this makes Cannes particularly valuable: in a single location, they can explore everything from a brand-new yacht currently under construction to a fully operational superyacht ready for its next owner.
Sustainability and innovation take centre stage
Another important theme at Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 was the continued development of more efficient and sustainable marine technology.
The show's Innovation Route showcased selected boats, technologies, products and initiatives focused on areas including efficiency, sustainability, navigation and onboard technology.
Hybrid propulsion was particularly visible across the show, while shipyards and technology companies are increasingly looking at ways to reduce fuel consumption without compromising the performance and comfort expected from a luxury yacht.
Sustainability is therefore becoming less of a standalone concept and more of an integral part of yacht design — from propulsion and hull efficiency to energy management and materials.
What Cannes 2026 tells us about the future of yachting
If there was one clear message from Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, it is that the luxury yacht market continues to evolve rapidly.
Size remains important, but it is no longer the only measure of a yacht's appeal. Owners are increasingly looking for efficiency, flexibility, privacy, outdoor living and a closer connection with the sea.
The growing presence of power catamarans, hybrid propulsion systems and highly flexible layouts reflects these changing expectations.
At the same time, traditional yacht design is far from disappearing. The success of models such as the Sanlorenzo SHE shows that timeless styling can coexist with modern technology.
Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: a strong outlook for the yacht market
The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 once again demonstrated why Cannes remains one of the most important yacht shows in Europe.
With hundreds of yachts on display, almost 150 world premieres and a strong brokerage presence, the event offered an excellent snapshot of the current luxury yacht market.
From the 44-metre Azimut Grande 44M and Sirena 118, to the Princess X90, Sunreef Ultima 88 and Sanlorenzo SHE, the latest launches showed a clear focus on innovation, efficiency and onboard lifestyle.
For yacht enthusiasts, owners and potential buyers, Cannes remains one of the best places to see the latest yachts, meet leading shipyards and brokers, and discover the trends that will shape the future of luxury yachting.
And judging by this year's premieres, the next chapter of the yachting industry is going to be anything but boring.
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