A cocktail reception organised on 9 September at the Port Canto VIP Club will bring together European players in the boating industry
The Cannes Yachting Festival is set to host the cocktail reception announcing the finalists of the Best of Boats Award for the first time. The 30 boats selected for the 2026 edition will be announced across seven categories on Wednesday 9 September at 6 pm, at the Port Canto VIP Club. The winners will be announced on 26 November 2026 at OutVenture Boat & Fun in Berlin.
A new highlight at the Cannes Yachting Festival
From 8 to 13 September 2026, the Cannes Yachting Festival will bring together more than 680 exhibitors and almost 700 boats from 5 to 50 metres long between the Vieux Port and Port Canto. Around 56,000 visitors from all over the world are expected, who come to see the latest new products and premieres presented by the major players in the boating industry. The Best of Boats Award will announce its finalists in Cannes for the first time as part of this 49th edition. This event will bring together manufacturers, specialist journalists, jury members and industry professionals around the models that have stood out this year.
A record number of finalists
The Best of Boats Award were created in 2014 by an international jury of boating journalists to recognise the best motor boats each year, taking into account their use and recreational boating enthusiasts’ actual expectations. Among the jury members is Gerasimos Gerolimatos, head of ONDECK Media and President of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Yacht Show, who serves as a judge and founding member of the Best of Boats Award. For its 2026 edition, 30 boats were selected, a record number since the award was created. They will compete across seven categories:
Best for Beginners – the best boat for beginners
Best for Family – the best family boat
Best for Fun – the best leisure boat
Best Electric – the best electric boat
Best for Adventure – the best adventure boat
Best RIBs – the best rigid inflatable boat
Big Boats – the best big boat
Announcements and networking at a cocktail reception
The cocktail reception on 9 September will start with the official announcement of the 2026 finalists. It will continue with a discussion between the members of the jury, manufacturers and professionals present at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
“Hosting the announcement of the Best of Boats Award finalists is a new highlight for the Cannes Yachting Festival. This collaboration illustrates our shared desire to highlight the boats, innovations and expertise accompanying changes in boating. We are very pleased to bring the jury members, manufacturers and industry professionals together in Cannes to mark this first occasion.” Constance Brément, Director of the Cannes YachtingFestival
“We chose the Cannes Yachting Festival because, as Europe’s leading in-water boat show, it offers an exceptional showcase for the new products and innovations that are changing the boating industry. Like our jury, which consists of 15 members from all over Europe and the United States, the Festival is constantly focused on innovation and transformation in the industry. With 30 finalists across seven categories, our ambition remains the same: to help each boating enthusiast identify the boat that best matches their uses and the way they experience the sea.” Stefan Gerhard, Co-founder and Chairman of the Best of Boats Award.
