Guide to the Cannes Yachting Festival 2023

For over 45 years, the Cannes Yachting Festival has been the first major international event of the boating season, as well as the Europe’s largest in-water boat show.

The 2023 6-day edition, which will be held from September 12-17, will certainly enchant the 55 thousand visitors expected with more than 650 boats on display, ranging from 5 to 50 meters, in response to the most varied owner needs.

A major new feature of the 2023 event is the creation of “The small boat area”, an area afloat in the Vieux Port, which will accommodate smaller boats, from 8 to 11 meters in length. The area will accommodate over 50 boats, once again offering the most eclectic offer possible, satisfying the demands of many exhibitors and owners, and also broadening the target audience.

“Thanks to the renewed confidence of our exhibitors, this 2023 edition is looking very good with similar forecasts to the previous year, i.e. 600 exhibitors, more than 650 boats and 140 previews – explains Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Yachting Festival, before adding – Once again this year, our visitors will enjoy discovering some real gems in-water and on land, boats of all sizes and types, equipped with “traditional” or carbon-free engines with the first on-board electric, hybrid or hydrogen power systems. As is the case every year, all our teams are mobilised on a daily basis to offer a memorable experience to our exhibitors and visitors”.

This year’s edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival will host a large number of word premieres, the latest nautical equipment and numerous innovations, divided according to the reference activities of each port. Here is the guide to all the exhibition areas of this year’s event.

The Vieux Port: the world of motorboats

The Vieux Port, one of the oldest on the Côte d’Azur, plays host each year to modern and classic motor units presented by the world’s leading shipyards. This area focuses entirely on the motorboat industry and has an exceptional variety of units totaling almost 500 boats in water and on land, from small boats from 5 meters upwards to the largest prestigious superyachts exceeding 45 meters.

The Jetée area will welcome the major international shipyards and unveil their latest innovations presented as world previews. Boats above 22 metres will be exhibited here.

The Super Yachts Extension comprises three floating barges and will feature some thirty of the largest motor super yachts of over 24 metres exhibited at the Vieux Port.

On the other side of the motorized pontoons used to let out boats for sea trials, the Quai Max Laubeuf will showcase twenty or so multihull motor catamarans as well as a large number of small boats between 5 and 10 meters, outboard and in-board engines for better visibility and ease of exhibition.

The Quai Saint-Pierre will exhibit luxury day-boats and powerboats ranging from 10 to 23 metres. Other types of model medium-sized open boats and fly-bridge boats will also feature on this quay, standing out for their design, power and elegance.

The Pantiero quay will showcase a wide range of motorboats up to 20 metres long. First along the quay will be boats from 10 to 12 metres long, followed by boats from 12 to 14 metres and then 14 to 16 metres, while boats longer than 20 metres will be on show close to the Jetée. On land the shipyards are set up along the Pantiero quays, occupying more than 4,600 m2 of the exhibition area.

Installed since 2021, opposite the Pantiero and the Quai Saint-Pierre, around fifty semi-rigid 10 to 20 metre boats will be on show in the middle of the water body; there is also an area showcasing some fifteen electric and hybrid boats.

Port Canto: the realm of sailing

The Port Canto, located at the end of the Croisette, hosts three distinct areas: The Sailing area installed since 2019 is the biggest global in-water showcase for new super yachts. This magical place hosts over 120 yachts from 10 to 26 metres, including monohulls and multihulls.

Also at the heart of the Sailing area, the “Start-up Village“, launched in 2021, highlights “smart” start-ups in the marine sector offering breakthrough technologies or services with high added value while protecting the maritime area. These start-ups are creating the future of yachting: yachting that is more powerful, more responsible and more environmentally friendly.

The second area inside the Port Canto is the Yacht Brokerage area that plays host to the leading French and international players in the previously owned yachts market. For 2023, a selection of previously owned boats from 22 metres long will be available for sale or hire.

Last but not least, the “Toys” area, established in 2018, takes advantage of the wide areas of this dyke to exhibit on-land an increasingly large selection of sport, fun and nautical activities equipment.

Cannes Yachting Festival: on-land exhibition areas

On land are the exhibition areas dedicated to the marine accessories. The Equipment Village, for example, accommodates the ultimate in electronics, fittings, paints, as well as the essential accessories to maintain your boat from the major international companies.

The Palais des Festivals is home to a large area dedicated to high-end yachting players: shipyards, architects and designers, interior fittings, tourism institutions and marinas, service companies and the Tender area.

The Luxury Gallery, located in the heart of the Palais, is dedicated to luxury, craftsmanship and luxury products from famous and more select brands.

Last but not least, the Green Route, starting two years ago (when it was created), is becoming more and more important, giving space to the ecological transition and eco-sustainability issues, which are becoming increasingly relevant in the nautical world. For this reason, the ‘green’ route stretching from one side of the Croisette to the other will be central to addressing the issues of reducing the environmental impact of pleasure boating with boatyards and exhibitors, while also raising the awareness of visitors to take a more eco-sustainable approach to our seas.

While waiting to see what the Cannes Yachting Festival 2023 will have in store for us this year, The International Yachting Media as a media partner will keep you up to date with the news and everything about the festival.

Tickets are available exclusively online here.