Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: The Premieres That Matter and the Spanish Presence

From September 8 to 13, Cannes once again becomes the place where the European boating season truly begins. Its 49th edition brings together around 700 boats ranging from 5 to 50 meters spread between Vieux Port and Port Canto, over 680 exhibitors, and nearly 150 world premieres.

Here we will not list the seventy most expensive yachts. We will tell you about the premieres that really matter and, above all, what Spanish presence there is this year.

Why Cannes Matters Even If You Don't Go

Cannes is the first in-water show of the European season, and that makes it more than just a showcase: it is where shipyards decide what they will manufacture for the next two years. What is presented there in September is what will arrive at Spanish ports in 2027 and 2028, and what will start to appear in the second-hand market around 2030.

If you are thinking of buying in two or three years, what happens this week on the Côte d'Azur directly affects you.

The World Premieres That Define the Edition

Sunreef ULTIMA 88. The undisputed headline. A catamaran nearly 27 meters long with hybrid-ready propulsion, the flagship of the new ULTIMA range. It already made waves before it even existed: tennis player Carlos Alcaraz chose it as his first yacht.

Pardo GT65. Pardo arrives with the world premiere of the piece that was missing from the range: 65 feet of Italian crossover with an enclosed salon, wraparound windows, and foldable side terraces. It is a model designed specifically for Mediterranean use.

Sirena 118. The new flagship of the shipyard, 36 meters, with exterior architecture by German Frers and interiors by Cor D. Rover.

Fountaine Pajot, triple debut. Three world premieres at once: FP48, FP55, and FPY 70S. The FP55 is a milestone for the brand as it is their first catamaran with a flybridge.

Rio Yachts Sport Coupé 50. A 50-foot cruiser with a fully enclosed salon and rigid roof, designed for year-round use and not just in July and August.

In addition, there are the Solaris Power 64 Long Range, the Absolute Navetta 66, the Pershing 6X, and in sailing, the Grand Soleil Plus 80 Long Cruise.

The Spanish Presence

This is the part that almost no one highlights and the one that interests you most if you are buying in Spain.

De Antonio Yachts brings the D60, its 18.5-meter model, to Cannes. The Barcelona shipyard has earned a spot in Europe's most competitive show with its solution of hidden outboards, and has built a complete range from the E23 to the D60.

Astondoa showcases the 677 Coupé, 19.34 meters from the Santa Pola shipyard, one of the few Spanish builders with a continuous presence in the international circuit.

If you want to see what De Antonio does up close without waiting for Cannes, at GuruBoat we have units like this De Antonio D50 Coupé.

What Is Really Being Decided

Beyond the premieres, the 2026 edition arrives amid a transformation in the sector. The spaces dedicated to innovation and new propulsion systems focus on low-emission engines, eco-design, and hybrid propulsion.

Translated into practical terms: the boat you buy in 2028 will have propulsion options that do not exist in the catalog today, and that affects the residual value of what you buy now.

The Awards

The 2026 edition introduces the ceremony for announcing the finalists for the best boat awards, one of the main European accolades for motor vessels, with an international jury from fifteen countries. It is on September 9 at 18:00, the same day as the Nautical Industry Gala.

It is worth following that list: the Cannes finalists are usually the models that dominate sales the following year.

Practical Information

• Dates: from Tuesday, September 8 to Sunday, September 13, 2026

• Venues: Vieux Port (motor and superyachts) and Port Canto (sailing and multihulls)

• Edition: 49th

• Fleet: around 700 boats from 5 to 50 meters

• World premieres: nearly 150

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026?
From September 8 to 13, 2026, at Vieux Port and Port Canto in Cannes.

Which Spanish shipyards will be present?
De Antonio Yachts with the D60 and Astondoa with the 677 Coupé, among others.

What is the most anticipated premiere?
The Sunreef ULTIMA 88, a catamaran nearly 27 meters long prepared for hybrid propulsion.

Is it worth going if I am not going to buy a superyacht?
Yes. The fleet starts at 5 meters, and a good part of the offer is between 8 and 15 meters, which is the range where most purchases occur.

In the Meantime

We will return with the balance of the models that have really performed well at the show. Until then, you can explore the offer that is already available in Spain: new boats, second-hand boats and our Guru Highlights.

And if you have two or three models in mind and can't decide, the GuruBoat comparator puts them side by side in seconds.