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Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, the premieres opening the new season

More than 700 boats and around 150 world premieres will bring new ideas in design, cruising, efficiency and life on board to Cannes

From the Magellano 27M to Sanlorenzo SHE, new catamarans and superyachts, Cannes 2026 previews some of the season’s most interesting launches

The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 opens the European yachting season with impressive numbers and, more importantly, a concentration of debuts that provides an early indication of where the industry is heading. From 8 to 13 September, more than 700 boats, over 680 exhibitors and around 150 world premieres are expected between the Vieux Port and Port Canto. Beyond the figures, however, the announced projects reveal an industry that continues to rethink its design language, materials and approach to life at sea.

Cannes offers the first look at the new season

Part of the appeal of the French show comes from the opportunity to discover new yachts directly on the water. The Vieux Port remains the centre for motor yachts, superyachts, flybridges and power catamarans, while Port Canto brings together sailing yachts, dayboats, brokerage and toys. In 2026, the sailing area is expected to host around 120 new boats over ten metres, offering one of the broadest overviews of contemporary international sailing yacht production.

Magellano 27M brings Mediterranean architecture on board

Among the most interesting premieres is the Azimut Magellano 27M, the third model in the range and Michele De Lucchi’s first collaboration in yachting. The main deck is conceived almost as a loggia open to the sea, with light wood elements recalling Mediterranean pergolas and patios. The approach introduces references closer to residential architecture than to conventional yacht layouts, making natural light and the relationship with the exterior central parts of the design.

Sanlorenzo SHE looks back to the 1960s without nostalgia

Another debut likely to attract considerable attention is Sanlorenzo SHE, a 25.5-metre yacht and the first model in the new Heritage range. Its silhouette recalls Italian yachts of the 1960s, yet the project is not simply nostalgic. Classical proportions are combined with extensive glazing and a contemporary approach, bringing back the sense of restrained elegance that helped define an important chapter of Italian yacht design.

Ultima 88 gives the multihull a different identity

Among the power catamarans, the Sunreef Ultima 88 arrives in Cannes with an approach that brings together two traditionally separate worlds. Its 26.8-metre length and 9.10-metre beam provide the volumes associated with a multihull, while the exterior profile adopts more dynamic proportions inspired by sporty motor yachts. Generous outdoor areas and a close relationship with the water remain central to the onboard experience.

ISA Viper 130 brings sporting character to almost 40 metres

At 38.8 metres, the ISA Viper 130 is one of the major premieres in the large motor yacht category. Designed by Fulvio De Simoni, it combines a carbon-composite hull with three MAN V12X-2200 engines and a declared maximum speed of 35 knots. At the stern, three different areas and extending side balconies increase the surface in direct contact with the sea, reflecting a clear trend in contemporary yacht design: the edge of the yacht is becoming less of a boundary and increasingly a place to live.

The explorer meets a Mediterranean way of life

Exploration no longer necessarily means moving away from Mediterranean comfort. The Numarine 40MXP, measuring 39.42 metres, explores precisely this combination. Its steel hull and declared range of 6,000 nautical miles at 8 knots belong to the explorer world, while its outdoor spaces and onboard lifestyle are conceived around a more open and sociable approach. The result is a yacht designed for long passages without giving up the pleasure of extended time at anchor.

Manhattan 94 opens a new chapter for Sunseeker

The new Sunseeker Manhattan 94 is also among the international debuts confirmed for Cannes. At 28.6 metres, it becomes the largest model in the Manhattan range and will take centre stage in the British shipyard’s display. The first hull has already been launched and entered the testing programme ahead of its public unveiling at the show.

Sailing also brings new ways of travelling to Cannes

Port Canto will provide an equally significant part of the story. Announced world premieres include the Grand Soleil Plus 80 Long Cruise, AMEL 50.2, CNB 62, Swan 80, the new Y7 and several new sailing catamarans. Measuring 26.20 metres and with naval architecture by Matteo Polli, the Grand Soleil Plus 80 LC also incorporates a 40 kWh battery system designed to reduce dependence on the engine while in port.

Not one trend, but many ways of experiencing the sea

The Cannes 2026 previews show above all how difficult it has become to describe contemporary yachting through a single trend. Some builders are rediscovering classical proportions, others are introducing residential architecture on board, while others focus on greater autonomy or completely rethink the relationship between yacht and water. Monohulls, multihulls, explorers, dayboats and large sailing yachts nevertheless appear to share one principle: space is increasingly designed around the experience of the people living on board, rather than simply as a collection of rooms.

For six days, Cannes will allow these ideas to be seen side by side and directly on the water. That may be the Festival’s real value: not only presenting new models, but offering an early picture of the directions international yachting is likely to follow over the coming months.

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Cannes Yachting Festival 2026

04 September 2026
© Y-MAG Editorial Team
Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, the premieres opening the new season
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