The countdown is on to the Cannes Yachting Festival

Anticipation is building with the start of the Cannes Yachting Festival now less than a week away, and the show is set to showcase some stunning yachts, including a number of world debuts.

In less than a week’s time the Cannes Yachting Festival will become the first major international boat show to throw open its door to the public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kicking off on Tuesday 7 September, Vieux Port and Port Canto will play host to almost 600 boats as the glittering surroundings of the French Riviera showcase the best of the luxury yachting world in a COVID secure environment.

An incredible 140 power and sail models are expected to make their world debuts, with everything on show from the smallest runabouts to 50m (164ft) plus superyachts.

Crowd of people at Cannes Yachting Festival
The 2021 show may look a little different from the 2019 show, with a number of one way paths set to be introduced.

For the second consecutive edition, the Festival will be arranged by boat type. Around 450 new motorboats will be on display at the Vieux Port, ranging in size from 3m (10ft) to 45m (148ft), whilst over 100 sailing boats will be moored at Port Canto. Part of Port Canto will also be reserved for large yacht brokerage and charter, where some of the biggest yachts at the show will be found. 

A strong emphasis is being placed on the health and safety of visitors, with access to the Festival on the condition of showing a valid health pass and wearing a mask, in both indoor and outdoor areas. A two-way path will be set up where possible and for the first year the Festival is running on a fully digital basis with no tickets being sold at the entrances, with registration encouraged before attending.

Row of yachts next to each other at Port Canto
Port Canto will host the yacht brokerage and charter area.

If you are visiting for the first time read our guide to the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021 to help you make the most of your trip.

With so much on show, it can be difficult to know where to start so we have rounded up some of the best yachts on show at Cannes, including five super-flybridge models, five trawler and SUV style yachts and a rundown of the offerings from some of the biggest yards in the industry.

Yachts with Cannes coastline in background
There are expected to be around 140 world debuts in total

If you are in the market for a yacht and want to do some research before arriving on the French Riviera our YachtBuyer Head to Head comparison section pits hundreds of yachts against their handpicked direct rivals. 

Alternatively, our Yacht Buying Guides and Advice section has a host of information to help on your search for your dream yacht, whether you are an experienced owner or first-time buyer.

For a quick overview of the market at present, you can use YachtBuyer’s advanced search filters to view all new and pre-owned yachts for sale.