Cannes Yachting Festival 2022

If you like yachts, you’ll love the Cannes boat show, where each year hundreds of yachts, from three-metre tenders to 50 metre superyachts, come to wow the crowds across two of the elegant French city’s ports – the Vieux Port and the Port Pierre Canto.

Held each year since 1977, the annual Cannes Yachting Festival (formerly the Cannes Boat Show) has long been the belle of the bay, considered by many to be the crème de la crème of in-water yacht shows.

Its September schedule means it kickstarts the new boating season, with many yachts holding their official launches here each year. Last year the show matched the visitor numbers for 2019 of 54,400 – its highest yet – with 620 boats on display, of which 140 were world reviews, and organisers of this year’s Cannes yacht show are keen to build on that success.

The Cannes Yachting Festival 2022 will take place from 6-11 September 2022, so it’s time to get your style on, prepare to be dazzled by the best new yachts in show, and get ready to mingle with the who’s who of the yachting world.

Best yachts at the Cannes Boat Show

It wouldn’t be the Cannes yacht show without some new launches and this year doesn’t disappoint.

British builder Fairline will be holding the world debuts of two of its yachts at the show: the Squadron 68 and the Phantom 65 sports bridge.

The Squadron 68 is a thoroughly modern yacht, packed with the latest technologies, and equipped with an elevated flybridge, which is ideal for family adventures.

The Phantom 65, meanwhile, is inspired by the builder’s Targa 65 yacht, and combines relaxing interiors with the excitement of a top speed of 35 knots.

Other yachts that will debut at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival include two new models from Azimut: the Grande 26M and the Grande 36M. The former will be showing off her sea-view terrace, made possible by an extended cockpit, while the larger of the pair comes with the yard’s first-ever walkaround upper deck.

The two yachts are likely to appeal to those looking to take a greener approach to yachting, with improved fuel efficiency thanks to their lightweight carbon fibre and vinyl ester resin build.

Joining these new launches will be lots of brokerage yachts, plus some of the best charter yachts on the market.

And don’t forget, more new launches will be announced as the boat show approaches, so check the Cannes Yachting Festival website for updates.

Highlights of the Cannes Yacht Show

Cannes Vieux Port is one of the oldest ports along the Cote d’Azur, flanked by trendy restaurants, it’s long been a magnet for Cannes’ wealthy and fashionable visitors, even outside of boat show season.

The port is the main hub of the Cannes Yachting Festival, where all the gleaming motor yachts will be on show and is just a short stroll from the beach and the famous La Croisette – one of the chicest promenades on the planet, where celebrities are often seen sauntering along admiring views of the Mediterranean Sea and striking their best pose between premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.

Today La Croisette is overlooked by some of the city’s most iconic hotels and adorned with high-end boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and shaded gardens.

At the other end of La Croisette is Port Pierre Canto, where the second half of the show is held.

At last year’s show there were more than 100 sailing yachts to view in port Pierre Canto, ranging from 10 to 35 metres, with 20 global launches, so it’s an area well worth visiting.

This second port has also been home to large brokerage yachts at the show for the past 15 years and offers a chance to meet crews, brokers, and builders, all of whom can help find the right yacht for you. This is also the place to be for water sports fans as there’s more space around the port for displays, and you may even get the chance to have a go yourself on toys such as jet skateboards, Jet-skis, and longboards.

Luxury Gallery

Located in the Vieux Port, this luxury space is where guests come to be introduced to some of the most respected, high-end brands in the world, which cover everything from yachting, to accessories, to fancy homewares and the art of living.

VIP Program

Yachting and luxury service go hand-in-hand, so why not indulge in a little VIP treatment at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival?

There are a couple of options to choose from: the Riviera E-Ticket is surely one of the most lusted after tickets in town.

For €1,166, this ticket covers two people for the whole six days of the show and provides exclusive access to the show via VIP entrances; entry to VIP clubs in both Vieux Port and Port Canto; gives priority access to courtesy cars; provides ticketholders with VIP water shuttles between the two ports; offers concierge services; includes a guided tour of the show by boat and a helicopter transfer – either from the airport to the show or out to the Lérins islands – and a complimentary lunch.

If you’re only visiting for a day or two, then the VIP E-ticket for two people, priced at €243 for one day might be preferable (though there is an option to buy a ticket for six days), though guests will have to do without a few of the luxuries of the Riviera ticket.

Concours d’elegance

If you are planning to be at the show on 10 September 2022 then you might like to participate in this elegant day boat parade, supported by Dalloyau, Louis Roederer and Skippers Motor.

Last year’s event took place in front of Palais des Festival beach at the Vieux Port and saw a selection of 11 modern day boats with captains and crew dressed in their finery parade past onlookers – part boat pageant and part fashion show, it’s a fabulous spectacle, and guests viewing from the VIP area (free to Riviera cardholders) will be offered champagne and other refreshments.

Innovation Space

In Port Canto, in the sailing area, this section of the show, created in partnership with Mer Angels & BNP Paribas Banque Privée, offers an opportunity for intelligent start-ups to show-off their ideas to visitors about the future of yachting. It’s worth popping along if you want to be inspired about new technologies and consider a more environmentally friendly approach to yachting.

The Green Route

Talking about being more environmentally friendly, the Cannes Yachting Festival continues to highlight builders and other marine businesses who are committed to improving the impact of yachting on the marine environment. Look for the ‘Green Route signs’, which highlight the companies who are taking a greener approach to things.

Cannes Yacht Show 2022: events and activities outside the show

If you’re visiting the Cannes boat show, then a few hours spent exploring Cannes Old Town of Le Suquet, just west of La Croisette, is a must. Away from the glitz and glamour of the seafront, it’s a different world of cobbled streets, and winding steps, and at the top of Suquet Hill are two of the city’s oldest buildings – its medieval castle and the Musée de la Castre – plus breathtaking views of the Bay of Cannes.

For a little offshore excitement, head to the Iles de Lérins, a pair of islands that feel hidden away and yet have some fantastic beauty spots and restaurants between them.

Buy tickets for the Cannes Yacht Show

Tickets for this year’s Cannes Festival of Yachting start at €19, with free entry for children 10 years and under.

The show is open from 10am to 7pm from Tues 6 - Thurs 8 and on Sat 10 September. On Friday 9 September it’s open from 10am-10pm, and on Sunday 11 September it’s open from 10am-6pm.

Getting to the Cannes Yacht Show

The nearest airport for Cannes is Nice Cote d’Azur. From Nice, it’s a 30-minute taxi ride or drive, or you could fly to the show from Nice is just seven minutes with the show’s partner, https://www.azurhelico.com/en.