Boat Shows in France 2026: Cannes, La Rochelle and the Calendar

With two coastlines and thousands of marinas, France hosts some of Europe's largest boat shows. From Cannes to La Rochelle, these events shape the end of the year: visitors discover the latest models from the shipyards, test boats at sea and, for industry professionals, close a large share of the season's sales.

For a visitor, a boat show is a chance to compare hundreds of boats in one place. For an exhibitor (shipyard, equipment maker, broker, marine service), it is an essential commercial showcase. And for the organizers, it means heavy logistics: pontoons, on-land stands and hundreds of exhibitors to coordinate. Here is the 2026 calendar of France's major boat shows, with verified dates and what you need to know to take part.

The 2026 boat show calendar

Show	City	2026 dates	Type
Les Nauticales	La Ciotat	April 14-19	In-water, Mediterranean (past)
International Multihull Show	La Grande-Motte	April 22-26	Multihulls (past)
Cannes Yachting Festival	Cannes	September 8-13	In-water, international
Grand Pavois	La Rochelle	September 22-27	In-water and on-land, international
Autumn Boat Show	Cap d'Agde	October 28 to November 1	In-water and on-land
Paris Nautic Show	Le Bourget	November 25-29	On-land, generalist

Dates are taken from the events' official websites and the trade press. They can still change: always check before travelling or booking a stand.

The autumn season: the big events ahead

Most of the season runs from September to December. Four major shows follow one another, from the south of France up to the Paris region.

Cannes Yachting Festival, September 8-13

Billed by its organizers as Europe's leading in-water boat show, the Cannes Yachting Festival opens the season. It spreads across two sites, the Vieux Port and Port Canto, with new motor boats on one side and sailing yachts and brokerage units on the other. It is the show for global premieres: shipyards unveil their year's launches here, often for the first time. A must for anyone interested in motor yachting and sailing alike.

Grand Pavois, La Rochelle, September 22-27

Two weeks after Cannes, the Grand Pavois takes over on the Atlantic coast, at the Port des Minimes in La Rochelle. An international in-water and on-land show, it leans more towards cruising sailboats, offshore racing and accessible boating. Sea trials are central here: it is one of the few shows where you can really take the helm before buying. The atmosphere stays family-friendly and focused on sailing rather than luxury alone.

Autumn Boat Show, Cap d'Agde, October 28 to November 1

On the Mediterranean, the Cap d'Agde Autumn Boat Show closes the in-water season. For its 2026 edition it announces more than 500 new and used boats, afloat and ashore, alongside equipment and marine services. It is a transaction show: many visitors come to buy or sell, at a time when shipyards clear the year's models. The All Saints' holidays also make it a family outing.

Paris Nautic Show, Le Bourget, November 25-29

The Paris boating event is held at the Parc des Expositions du Bourget. An indoor, on-land show, it brings together boats, equipment, accessories and sailing destinations across the halls. It is the big year-end show for the Paris audience and northern France boaters, at a point when it is too late to sail but just in time to plan the next season.

The spring shows: see you in 2027

Two major Mediterranean events traditionally open the season in spring. Les Nauticales, in La Ciotat, ran from April 14 to 19, 2026 at the Port des Capucins: one of the largest in-water shows in the south. The International Multihull Show, in La Grande-Motte (April 22-26, 2026), is the world's leading event dedicated to multihulls, catamarans and trimarans. Both are over for 2026 and will return in spring 2027, worth noting for anyone planning the year ahead.

In-water show or on-land show: what's the difference?

Not all boat shows are alike, and the right one depends on what you are looking for.

• In-water show: boats are afloat, moored along pontoons. You step aboard, look around and often test at sea. This is the format of the big autumn shows (Cannes, La Rochelle, Cap d'Agde). Ideal to picture yourself on a real boat.

• On-land show: boats are displayed in halls or on an exhibition ground. The format suits smaller units, equipment and accessories better. This is the Paris Nautic Show, along with many indoor regional shows in winter.

Some shows combine both, with an afloat section and an on-land section: that is the case for the Grand Pavois and Cap d'Agde.

Exhibiting at a boat show: what to plan for

For a marine professional, a show is a significant budget: the stand (per square metre on land or per linear metre of pontoon), transporting and launching the boats, fitting out the stand, staff and accommodation. Profitability is not measured on the day itself but over the following weeks, through leads converted into sales. So preparation matters: booking meetings in advance, clearly highlighting new models, and rigorously following up on the prospects you meet.

On the organization side, these in-water shows involve logistics few sectors face: hundreds of exhibitors to register, a pontoon and on-land layout to map precisely, bookings to track and constant communication with shipyards. For organizers who want to industrialize that process, exhibitor management software like Keyqo, focused on exhibitor registration and interactive floor plan editing, centralizes those needs in a single tool.

FAQ

When is the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026?

The Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 runs from September 8 to 13, 2026, across two sites in Cannes: the Vieux Port for new motor boats and Port Canto for sailing yachts and brokerage units.

What are the major autumn 2026 boat shows in France?

Four major events follow one another: the Cannes Yachting Festival (September 8-13), the Grand Pavois in La Rochelle (September 22-27), the Cap d'Agde Autumn Boat Show (October 28 to November 1) and the Paris Nautic Show at Le Bourget (November 25-29).

When is the Paris boat show in 2026?

The Paris event, the Paris Nautic Show, takes place from November 25 to 29, 2026 at the Parc des Expositions du Bourget. It is an indoor, on-land show dedicated to boats, equipment and accessories.

What is the difference between an in-water and an on-land boat show?

At an in-water show, boats are afloat along pontoons and can often be tested at sea (Cannes, La Rochelle, Cap d'Agde). At an on-land show, they are displayed in halls or on an exhibition ground, a format suited to smaller units and equipment (Paris Nautic Show).

Going further

If you exhibit at or organize other types of events in France, here are our complementary guides:

• Trade Show Display Design: The Complete Booth Guide 2026: how to design a booth that attracts and converts, from budget to layout.

• Trade Show Profitability: The Honest 2026 Guide: calculating the real cost and ROI of a show from the exhibitor's side.

• Gastronomy & Food Fairs in France: 2026 Guide: the calendar of major food, wine and regional produce fairs, with tips for exhibiting.

Sources:

• Cannes Yachting Festival, official website (2026 edition dates and sites)

• Grand Pavois La Rochelle, official website

• Cap d'Agde Autumn Boat Show (capsalon.com)

• Fédération des Industries Nautiques (fin.fr), show agenda

• Figaro Nautisme, 2026 boat show calendar