Cannes Yachting Festival 2025: a historic edition for Europe's no. 1 on-water boat show
by Cannes Yachting Festival 17 Sep 15:36 AEST
9-14 September 2025
Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 © Cannes Yachting Festival
The Cannes Yachting Festival is bigger, richer and more strategic than ever before. From 9 to 14 September 2025, the show once again confirmed its status as the beating heart of the international nautical industry, organising a record edition that welcomed 56,000 visitors, professionals, enthusiasts, curious onlookers, and experts, representing a slight increase.
With 711 boats on display (+1.5% compared to 2024), 677 exhibitors (+5.8%) and 147 world premieres (+22.5%), the show has reached another milestone this year, affirming its position as Europe's largest on-water boat show more than ever. In the iconic setting of the Bay of Cannes, between the Vieux Port and Port Canto, this 48th edition offered a complete range of sector-specific products and services - sailing boats, large yachts, motor boats, innovative equipment, premium services - designed for discovery, highlighting the specific features of each "universe" and offering a fluid and immersive tour experience.
"This 2025 edition will remain one of the most ambitious and accomplished. We had the pleasure of bringing together the best players in the world of sailing in an exceptional setting and highlighting the major transformations shaping the sector. The 56,000 qualified visitors we welcomed this year, the quality and richness of our offering, and the commitment of our exhibitors are the foundations of our success in serving the entire global nautical sector. Faced with the current economic and geopolitical challenges, the Cannes Yachting Festival continues to support the sector and extend the scope of its excellence. The exchanges I had with exhibitors at show reflect an encouraging economic situation and suggest a positive outlook. As previously announced, the 2025 edition is my last one at the helm, and it fills me with emotion and pride to be passing on the torch to Constance Brément, who I am sure will continue this dynamic and take the show to new horizons. - Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
Improved sectorisation for an optimised visitor experience
In a constantly evolving industry, the Cannes Yachting Festival continues to reinforce its support role for the yachting sector and a strategic platform for new launches, visibility and networking opportunities.
Year after year, its mission has remained unchanged: to offer the sector unique visibility in presenting its new products and to guarantee visitors a clear and immersive experience. By refining sectorisation at each annual festival, we have provided greater clarity for our visitors to discover our full range and move seamlessly between the different areas.
The Vieux Port, as always, hosted 358 new boats and motor yachts ranging from 12 to 45 metres, alongside more than 75 super yachts moored at the Dock and the Super Yachts Extension. Visitors were also able to see a selection of tenders exhibited at the entrance to the show, 24 innovative power catamarans featured in the Power Cat Village, as well as the latest innovations in terms of flybridges, open yachts, trawlers and tyres, not forgetting to mention a full range of OEMs and dedicated service companies.
At the other end of the Croisette, Port Canto matches the Vieux Port in terms of the number of boats exhibited, with 353 vessels on display across three separate sectors. The Sailing Area achieved a new record unveiling 128 new vessels over 10 metres in length, including around thirty world premieres. With 400 metres of quay for monohulls and 450 metres for multihulls, it is the world's largest fleet of large new sailing boats on display in the water. On land, the offering was complemented by a selection of equipment manufacturers, engine manufacturers, sailing companies and service companies - all essential for the development of the sailing industry.
Another major sector in Port Canto, the Power Boat Marina, inaugurated in 2024, is growing significantly. This area is dedicated to motorised vessels up to 13 metres, both rigid and semi-rigid. Over 180 boats were showcased on almost 3,000 m" of land and 450 metres of linear quay. A unique offering allowing visitors to find the best of the global market for sports and family dayboats in one place.
The Broker & Toys area, the ultimate sector in Port Canto, showcased 45 pre-owned sailing and motor yachts over 25 metres in length, presented by major international yacht brokers. This area hosted the show's largest vessels, including three large yachts longer than 50m! On land, visitors had the opportunity to discover a wide selection of the market's latest water toys and enjoy demonstrations every day at lunchtime.
With further improvements in capacity and efficiency this year, the sea shuttle service has ensured a seamless connection between the two ports, with three boarding points at the Vieux Port and two at Port Canto, for departures every 15 minutes at a maximum. This improvement was widely praised by visitors.
The innovation route and its awards: nautical transformation in the spotlight
The show is also a reflection of an industry in full transformation. Aware of environmental issues, nautical players are committed to more sustainable practices. These advances have been highlighted through the Innovation Route, launched in 2024, a route dedicated to eco-performing and ingenious solutions. For 2025, 42 projects were selected from 120 applications received by a jury of experts that included Guillaume Arnaud des Lyons, Thierry Berest, Jean-Christophe Guillaumin, Geoffroy Langlade, Elena Patriarca and Craig Ritchie.
The selected projects demonstrated a new generation of hybrid boats, and boats and equipment with more eco-friendly design and use.
The 2025 winners:
- Improved navigation experience: Watchkeeper - SEA.AI
- Sustainable and responsible technologies: Modx 70 - MODX Catamarans
- Propulsion systems or alternative energies: M.10 - MILIKAN BOATS
- Processes or products with low environmental impact: Vaan R5 - VAAN YACHTS
- Special Jury Prize: B.Yond 37M - BENETTI YACHTS"
"Innovation in sailing is no longer a promise, it is a concrete reality. The winners embody this ongoing revolution. I would like to warmly thank the members of the jury for their expertise and commitment to this demanding selection." - Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
The Festival's opening day inauguration
The Cannes Yachting Festival 2025 was officially opened in the presence of institutional representatives and major players in the nautical sector. This 48th edition was officially opened by Ana-Paula Martins De Oliveira, Deputy Mayor of Cannes, and Jean-Paul Chapeleau, President of the Fédération des Industries Nautiques, alongside Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the show, and Constance Brément, Deputy Director. Michel Filzi, CEO of RX France, and Filippo Réan, Managing Director of RX France, as well as many Cannes officials and French professionals in the marine industry were also in attendance.
The delegation walked through the Vieux Port, starting their visit at the new entrance located between the Croisette promenade and the sea, directly opposite the Palais des Festivals.
A female duo at the helm
This year, the Cannes Yachting Festival welcomed Constance Brément as Deputy Director, alongside Sylvie Ernoult. With extensive experience in yachting, luxury and industry, she joined the show to help shape its strategy and expand its international reach. After the 2025 edition concludes, Constance Brément will take over management of the festival.
"Joining the Cannes Yachting Festival and its teams has been a fantastic opportunity. I look forward to contributing to the show's development and continuing to provide an innovative and memorable experience for exhibitors and visitors, " emphasises Constance Brément.
Loyal partners
This edition was also marked by the exceptional partnerships that contribute each year to making the Cannes Yachting Festival a prestigious and friendly event.
The VIP Clubs of the Vieux Port and Port Canto were elegantly furnished by Roche Bobois, ambassador of high-end French furniture. Guests benefited from an official transport service provided by Mercedes ByMyCar, and were given the opportunity to discover the exceptional "cuvées" of the Louis Roederer Champagne House.
Together with these prestigious partners, several leading technical players have once again contributed their unique know-how. The organisation's boats were supplied by Yamaha and provided by Pantaenius; Focus Motor Yachts provided VIP sea shuttles connecting the two ports; MG Energy presented its state-of-the-art battery solutions; Match Event installed LED screens at the show's entrances; and Mercury Marine equipped the motors for the crossings to facilitate the opening and closing of the event.
Key figures in 2025:
- 711 boats from 5 to 50 m
- 677 exhibitors
- 538 new motor boats
- 128 new yachts
- 180 vessels up to 13 m long in the Power Boat Marina
- 88 catamarans (65 sailing and 23 power)
- 181 world premieres (147 boats and 34 equipment)
- 45 used yachts
- 100,000 m2 exhibition space
- 56,000 visitors
- 680 journalists from almost 40 countries