Cannes Yachting Festival 2024: A Complete Guide
Find out more about grand debuts and Cannes must-see hotspots.
Kicking off the yacht show season, The Cannes Yachting Festival will take place between September 10 to September 15 in the sparkling azure Bay of Cannes, sprawling across two major ports: Vieux Port and Port Canto. The Festival will commence on Tuesday, September 10th, at 10 a.m. spanning six spectacular days with 355 new motor boats showcased on the water at Vieux Port, ranging from 12 to 45 meters including both rigid and semi-rigid mono- and multihulls. Various equipment manufacturers and service companies in the industry will be exhibiting and present as well. Meanwhile, Port Canto will host the sailing world, presenting 120 new monohull and multihull boats averaging 16 meters in length, a brokerage section with 45 pre-owned boats starting at 25 meters, and a dedicated area for water toys and the new Power Boat Marina, which will accommodate 175 boats under 13 meters.
Every September international boatbuilders gather to exhibit grand debuts. Innovation is at the heart of the festival. Product launches take place every year and industry experts take to the stage in the Luxury Gallery, the Palais des Festivals to discuss industry trends.
Over 55,000 visitors are expected to attend with approximately 600 boats overall presented, spanning motor yachts, sailing yachts, and superyachts to catamarans, water toys and tenders ranging from 5 to 50 meters in size.
What Is New For Cannes Yachting Festival In 2024?
This Cannes Yachting Festival presents a new sector dedicated to new motorboats up to 40 feet (12 meters) located at Port Canto, between the Sailing and Yacht Brokerage & Toys areas.
Hot Yacht Debuts
The official line-up of boats for the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival includes highlights from the Ferretti Group that will include the debut of Custom Line Navetta 38, Pershing GTX80, Ferretti Yachts INFYNITO 80, Ferretti Yachts 670, Riva El-Iseo, wallywhy100 and wallypower50.
Silent Yachts is set to unveil the Silent 62 3-Deck full-electric catamaran. While Turkish shipyard Numarine will present the 30.7-meter explorer, the first yacht in its 30XP series with hybrid propulsion.
Also, Princess Yachts, British luxury yacht shipbuilder, will showcase two highly-anticipated S Class models, the all-new Princess S80 and S65 sports cruisers, designed to combine luxury, comfort and speed.
Getting to Cannes Yachting Festival
From Nice airport you can catch a shuttle bus directly to Cannes, or take bus routes 200 and 210. A taxi will cost from approximately €55, depending on the number of passengers.
If you want to bypass traffic then you can ratchet a helicopter with Azur Hélicoptère, which will take only seven minutes to fly from Nice to Cannes and costs just over €500.
Where To Go
The first major port hosting the prestigious yachting event is Port Canto, which is the largest sailing yacht exhibition in the world. At Vieux Port motor and superyachts will be on display for a short journey via free maritime shuttles that depart every 15 minutes.
For an extensive list of exhibitors and stands visit Cannes Yachting Festival for more information on attending the show.
Above: Cannes Bay, Cannes, France. Image credit: Jim Thirion
Cannes: Things To Do
The French Riviera has everything from lively chi-chi wood-decked ocean-facing beach clubs, stretches of serene white-sand beaches, jungle pine forests, rugged cliffs, and vibrant flame-hued sunsets. With Monaco, Cannes, St Tropez and Antibes all within short distances of each other.
La Croisette runs the length of the Cannes seafront, which is ideal for unwinding with beach clubs, restaurants, bars and casinos. Forville Market is a feast for the eyes, where you can source local specialties.
La Suquet, Cannes’ millennium-old old town, where you’ll find pocket-sized bars, boutiques, and family-owned restaurants serving typical Provençal dishes.
While visiting Cannes, explore the charming historic quarter of Le Suquet, and admire the view from the church of Notre-Dame d’Esperance, or shop at the boutiques on the Rue d’Antibes.
Take a jaunt to nearby Île Sainte-Marguerite, a dot of an island characterized by a Eucalypt forest, just a few minutes from Cannes via boat.
Beach Clubs And Luxury Restaurants
In Southern France, beach clubs often roll eating, drinking and clubbing into one venue thanks to lively DJ sets that get the restaurants swinging. Here are some of the best locations we have earmarked for September:
The newly-emerged Nammos Beach Club and Zuma, a Japanese Izakaya style dining restaurant located along Palm Beach, is crowned by its infinity pool. It serves freshly caught seafood filled sushi, and fine cuts of beef.
La Guérite is a waterfront venue carved into rock on Ile Saint Marguerite. It is a venue for celebrating, and this island means that it is mainly frequented by yachties.
Lucia, part of Nikki Beach is a hip ocean-view venue with vibrant decor and the menu prides itself on its ever-changing menu that elves with the seasons.
There are high-end culinary options that include La Petite Maison, under the eagle eyes of Chef Yiannis Kioroglou, along with musical cabaret and restaurant Medusa, and Tamarin, a South American-inspired tropical restaurant, sister to the well-established restaurant in St Baths.
Accommodation
Since Cannes hosts star-studded event, The Cannes Film Festival, there are an abundance of palatial hotels in which to stay. Top of our list is the recently-opened Hôtel Belle Plage, a stylish luxury hotel located in the Suquet district. Maison Carla Rosa is a Californian-style boutique. Other dreamy iconic hotels frequented by include The Carlton, Hôtel Barrière, Le Majestic and The Martinez.
Okko Cannes and Hotel America are great mid-range options. Rooms start at just £137 pn, and yet they boast all of the luxuries of a five-star hotel.
Half an hour away from Cannes, in Antibes is the world-famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, a celebrity haunt and synonyms with lauded sixties photographer Aaron Slims.
If you are on a shoe-string budget, there are plenty of self-catering and Airbnb rental options also available, just ensure that you book early since availability is limited around major festivals during the Summer.
