Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: The World Premieres Worth Seeing
The Cannes Yachting Festival opens the European autumn season, and its 2026 edition, running from 8 to 13 September across the Vieux Port and Port Canto, is set to be one of the largest yet. Around 700 boats will be on the water, with roughly 150 world premieres among them. For anyone weighing a purchase, it is the first chance of the season to step aboard the newest models and compare builders side by side in one place.
With that many debuts, it helps to know where to look. Below are six world premieres we think are worth your time on the docks this year, chosen for what each one brings to its part of the market. If you are planning to attend, our team will be at the show and would be glad to walk you through any of them.
Sunreef Ultima 88
Sunreef gives its Ultima 88 a world premiere in Cannes, and it is the yacht that shows how far the Polish yard’s performance line has come. At 26.8 metres with a beam of just over 9 metres, this power catamaran sits lower and sharper than Sunreef’s upright cruising cats, borrowing the agility of a monohull while keeping the stability, volume and shallow draft of a multihull. The aft Ocean Lounge folds down into a water-level beach club, and the layout accommodates up to ten guests. Fitted with twin 1,000hp engines she reaches around 26 knots, with a diesel-electric hybrid option for quiet cruising.
Sirena 118
The Sirena 118 marks the Turkish builder’s arrival in the superyacht segment, and it is the largest yacht the yard has ever launched. At 36 metres, the all-composite, fast-displacement design keeps gross tonnage under 300 while offering the interior volume of a much larger vessel across three decks. Naval architecture is by Germán Frers, with interiors by Dutch studio Cor D. Rover and exterior lines drawn in-house. Buyers can specify up to six guest staterooms and a two-level owner’s suite that links a main-deck stateroom to a private lower-deck retreat with direct water access. Twin MAN V12 engines give a top speed of 16 knots, or 21 with the larger option.
Sanlorenzo SHE
Sanlorenzo opens a new chapter in Cannes with SHE, the first model in its Heritage line. At 25.5 metres, she reinterprets the classic 1960s Italian navetta through modern engineering, with exterior styling by Zuccon International Project and interiors by Piero Lissoni. The result is deliberately understated: balanced proportions, clean lines, and a focus on longevity rather than trend. Living spaces run across three levels connected by a mezzanine, the main saloon opens to the cockpit through full-height glazing, and the stern folds down into a sea-level terrace. The hull uses bio-based resins, and all five of the first units were sold before the yacht reached the water.
Azimut Grande 44M
The Azimut Grande 44M is one of the more technically ambitious debuts of the show. Carbon fibre makes up more than half of its structure, cutting roughly eight tonnes from the highest sections of the superstructure and allowing a four-deck layout that is unusual for a yacht of this size. The helm station, integrated into Alberto Mancini’s exterior lines, sits on the top deck, which frees the upper deck of technical functions and hands an entire level to the owner, complete with private sea-view terraces. It is also built on the Azimut Benetti group’s Low Emission platform, designed to cut CO2 output by up to 30 percent against a comparable yacht.
Pershing GTX90
Pershing brings the GTX90 to Cannes as the second-largest model in its Sport Utility Yacht range, sitting between the GTX80 and the GTX116. At just under 28 metres, the Vallicelli-designed yacht is built around deck space: the sportbridge alone covers 33 square metres, and fold-out side terraces at cockpit level push the aft outdoor area to 37 square metres. Twin MAN V12 engines paired with Castoldi waterjets deliver a top speed of around 35 knots and a 30-knot cruise, with optional gyroscopic stabilisers for comfort at anchor. Accommodation covers up to eight guests in four cabins, with a garage below for a tender and jet ski.
Riva 96′ Argo Super
Riva returns to the Croisette with the 96′ Argo Super, an evolution of its flybridge line that keeps the marque’s familiar proportions while reworking the exterior spaces and onboard technology. The emphasis, as with much of the show this year, is a closer connection to the water, achieved through redesigned deck areas and updated systems for handling and comfort. The first hull is powered by twin MTU 12V 2000 M96X engines producing 2,000hp each. For buyers drawn to Italian flybridge design with a recognisable heritage, it is one of the more polished debuts on the water.
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The Cannes Yachting Festival is not just a showcase; it’s a barometer of where the yachting industry is heading. From sustainability and flexible layouts to the integration of smart technology, these premieres reflect growing demand for eco-conscious cruising, innovative design, and enhanced onboard experiences.
We will be at the festival throughout the week and can arrange private viewings, talk through the current market, and help you compare any of these premieres against what is already available on the market. Reach out to the breezeYachting.swiss team to set up a meeting at the show.
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