FROM 1977 TO TODAY

History of the Cannes Yachting Festival

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Today, the Cannes Yachting Festival is one of the most important dates in the international boating calendar, but it started life as a far more modest affair. Its story follows the rise of leisure boating on the Riviera, the growth of the superyacht industry and the transformation of Cannes into a year-round events town. Knowing where the show comes from adds another layer to a visit, especially as it approaches its 50th edition.

A modest beginning in 1977

The first edition took place in 1977 under the name Salon de la Navigation de Plaisance, a pleasure boating show held in Cannes. It was soon renamed the Festival International de la Plaisance de Cannes, a title that many French visitors still use today. Its defining feature is that boats are presented in the water rather than in an exhibition hall, so visitors can step aboard and see them as they would be used.

The event was organised by Reed Expositions France, now known as RX France, part of the RX events group. Its long-serving leaders shaped its identity. Jacqueline Bourey ran the show from its creation until 2000, followed by Eric de Saintdo, Renaud Jourdon and, from 2013, Sylvie Ernoult, who led it for more than a decade. In 2026, Constance Brément directed her first edition. Over the decades, the show grew alongside the Riviera’s marinas and the booming market for larger yachts, gradually attracting more international shipyards and visitors.

Classic sailing yacht under sail with an old town in the background

Milestones at a glance

Some dates stand out in the festival’s history, whether because the show changed its name, its layout or its scale. Together they explain how a regional boat show became what the organisers now describe as Europe’s leading in-water yachting event. If you visit for the first time, our insider tips for first-timers explain how the show works today.

  • 1977, first edition of the show in Cannes
  • 2014, the show becomes the Cannes Yachting Festival to reflect its international reach
  • 2017, the RAF Red Arrows fly over the bay to mark forty years of the show
  • 2019, sailing boats move to Port Canto, freeing space for motor yachts in the Vieux Port
  • 2020, the 43rd edition is cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic
  • 2021, Cannes is the first major boat show in Europe to reopen for business
  • 2026, the 49th edition welcomes some 56,000 visitors
  • 2027, the 50th edition is scheduled from 7 to 12 September

The two harbours behind the show

The Vieux Port

The Old Port is the historic heart of Cannes, sheltered beneath the hill of Le Suquet. Its Quai Saint-Pierre was inaugurated in 1838, long before the town became a glamorous resort. Today it offers more than 800 berths, including around a hundred for superyachts of up to 140 metres, and its position next to the Palais des Festivals makes it the natural centre of the show. It remains the stage for motor yachts and world premieres.

Port Pierre Canto

Port Canto was the vision of Pierre Canto, a local businessman who proposed a new marina at the Pointe Croisette in 1958 and financed it himself. Inaugurated in 1965, in the presence of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, it has around 530 berths and can welcome yachts of up to 90 metres. Run by the town since 2002, it has become the festival’s second home, hosting the sailing exhibition, brokerage and water toys.

How the show evolved with the industry

Row of modern luxury motor yachts moored in calm water

A new name and a wider audience

In 2014, for its 37th edition, the Festival International de la Plaisance became the Cannes Yachting Festival. The change was meant to express the show’s increasingly international positioning, and it came with a growing presence of large yachts and brokerage. By 2019, the decision to separate sail and power between the two harbours allowed the show to expand further, and that year it welcomed around 54,000 visitors and 650 boats. The sea shuttles linking the two harbours became a signature of the visit.

Innovation and sustainability

Since the 2021 reopening, the festival has given more space to cleaner technologies, with a dedicated route for eco-designed equipment, an area for electric and hybrid boats and paperless ticketing. In 2026, the Innovation Route Awards received 120 applications, a sign of how quickly the industry is changing. Hybrid propulsion, solar power and recyclable materials now sit alongside the classic flagships, and many visitors come specifically to see where the industry is heading.

Looking ahead to the 50th edition

The 2026 show confirmed the festival’s scale, with some 56,000 visitors, around 680 exhibitors and roughly 700 boats from 5 to 55 metres, including about 150 world premieres. The next edition, from 7 to 12 September 2027, will be the 50th. Reaching fifty editions is a symbolic moment for a show that began as a regional pleasure boating event and has grown with the yachting world for almost half a century, and the anniversary is likely to be marked on the water as well as ashore.

Anniversary editions usually draw extra attention from shipyards, media and visitors, so it pays to plan early. Hotels in Cannes fill quickly in September, and our guide to where to stay during the festival can help you secure the right base. Whatever the programme holds, the essence of the show remains the same as in 1977: boats in the water, sea air and the pleasure of stepping aboard.

Panoramic view of Cannes, its harbour and the hills behind

Frequently asked questions