Show guide: all you need to know about the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024

The Cannes Yachting Festival is Europe’s boat show number 1, which opens the yachting 'New Year' and a whole series of exhibitions not only in the Old World, but worldwide

Someone will definitely say that the main and most luxurious is the Monaco Yacht Show (25-28 September, 2024). However, this is a superyacht event (yachts of 30+ metres), and quite a limited number of people and companies are related to this segment, with the cost of admission to it being an eloquent testimony. But the Cannes Yachting Festival is equally luxurious and democratic. There are superyachts and small boats, sailing and motor boats, new and used vessels, equipment, gear and services. Anyone can get here. Due to the massive scale and grandeur of this boat show, most shipyards and yacht companies prefer to hold their world premieres in Cannes. So, what does the 47th Cannes Yachting Festival have in store?

What kind of yachts can one see at the Cannes Yachting Festival?

In 2024 the organisers of the festival promise to show about 700 boats measuring from 12 to 345 metres in length, with 120 of them being world premieres. These 700 exhibits are distributed in approximately the following way: 

- 335 large motor yachts including multihulls of 12 to 45 m presented in-water

- 175 small motor models under 13 m presented both in-water and ashore 

- 120 sailing yachts and catamarans 

- 45 pre-owned yachts over 25 metres

Visit to the Cannes Yachting Festival

It’s the fourth year in a row that the ticket office of the Cannes Yachint Festival has been totally digital. It means that you can’t get a ticket at the entrance to the festival. Both visitors and yachting industry professionals have to buy their tickets in advance and show it printed or on a smartphone at any of the entrance points. 

Tickets can be bought at the festival’s web site, where one can also see all the rates and terms. For example, a standard ticket for one day will cost you about 39 euro. If you buy a ticket for a longer period, the price per day will get cheaper. For those who want a higher level of service there are VIP tickets. They allow one to access the festival through VIP entrances, to go to VIP clubs, use concierge service and water VIP shuttles that go between two ports – Vieux Port and Port Canto. 

The Cannes Yachting Festival 2024 starts on Tuesday, September 10 and finishes on Sunday, September 15. All these days the festival opens to visitors at 10 am and closes at different times: 

- Tuesday to Thursday (10-12 September) at 7 pm 

- Friday (13 September) at 10 pm  

- Saturday (14 September) at 7 pm 

- Sunday (15 September) at 6 pm 

Exhibition space: how to find what you need? 

For many years the Cannes Yachting Festival has been taking place in two venues: Vieux Port (or Old Port) located next to the Palais des Festivals and the old city, and Port Canto, located to the east of the Croisette. One should note that even those who have been to the Cannes Yachting Festival more than once, have often seen just one part of the show located in the well-known Vieux Port. This could be explained by the fact that it is located in the very heart of Cannes and has been the main venue for years. Port Canto used to accommodate only used yachts and was attended by those who were looking for one. 

Things have changed over time: as Vieux Port is no longer capable of accommodating all the visitors, a few years ago the sailing area and water toys were moved to Port Canto. This year there also appeared Powerboat Marina, which will accommodate 175 small motor boats and powerboats under 13 m mentioned above. The thing is that the area of Vieux Port, Quai Max Laubeuf, where they used to stay, is currently under construction, so they had to find another place. In case you are looking for a boat of this size, it is a good idea to take a look at both expositions: Vieux Port and Port Canto. Moreover, this year Port Canto has stopped being a kind of ‘optional’ area of the festival and showcased the same number of yachts as Vieux Port.

Vieux Port is dedicated to motor yachts, and Port Canto is home to sailboats, small motor boats, water toys and pre-owned vessels. Both ports are divided into the areas so that the visitors to the Cannes Yachting Festival could find their way looking for a boat they need.

Vieux Port 

- Jetée. This is probably the most glamourous place showcasing motor yacht over 22 m by the world’s most famous shipyards. Traditionally one can see such brands as Azimut, Princess, Sunseeker, Ferretti, Pershing and other grandees of the yacht market

- Super Yachts Extension. It’s a floating quay adjacent to Jetée, which is meant for the largest 30-45-meter superyachts. This year there will be about 30 of them by such famous shipyards as AB Yachts, Van der Valk, Tankoa, Ocean King, etc. 

- Pantiero. It is adjacent to Jetée on the opposite side and is meant for small and midsize motor yachts. The quay starts with 10 to 12-metre boats, increasing in size up to 22 metres as it joins the Jetée. 

- Quai Saint-Pierre. Just like the Pantiero, it accommodates models of a similar size of 10-21 m, but this area has a focus on faster, more sporty open day boats and cruisers. A large open area of water in front of Pantiero and Quai Saint-Pierre is dedicated to large RIBs. On land these two areas are united with the help of Equipment Village, showcasing navigation and deck equipment

- Quai Max Laubeuf is a continuation of Quai Saint-Pierre, where one can find motor catamarans and performance boats of 11-15 m

- Palais des Festivals. The Palais des Festivals, which is normally home to the international film festival, becomes part of the boat show during the Cannes Yachting Festival. One can see yachting clothes and accessories, luxury brands, expensive tenders, hi-tech equipment. Among the exhibitors there are also designers, naval architects and travel companies. 

Port Canto 

- Sailing area. All kinds of sailing yachts, both monohulls and catamarans.

- Brokerage area. An area devoted to pre-owned vessels, where one can see yacht measuring 25 to 50 meters in length offered for sale.

- Toys area. It’s the world of water toys starting from paddleboards and kayaks to the most advanced jet skis, fliteboards, seabobs, etc. 

- Power Boat Marina. It’s an area for motor boats ranging from 8 to 12-13 metres.

What is new at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024?

- The main entrance to the festival has been moved to the famous steps that all the movie stars walk up during the Cannes Film Festival near the Croisette 

- Another new entrance to Vieux Port has been opened in the very centre of Pantiero. Hopefully it will help to deal with the queues 

- A new VIP-club has opened at Port Canto (for the VIP-tickets owners). It is located on the roof of the Harbour Master's Office and boasts an amazing panoramic view

-  An “Innovation Route” has appeared. As the shipbuilders are gradually moving towards sustainability and fuel efficiency, a lot of relevant innovations are appearing in the industry. The “Innovation Route” logo will help you find the most eco-responsible participants of the boat show. 

See you at the largest yachting festival in Europe!