As the new Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival, Brément brings decades of management experience and a strong understanding of exhibitors’ needs, having formerly managed Groupe Beneteau’s participation in the show.
Interview: John Higginson; Photos: Cannes Yachting Festival

Constance Brément, Director, Cannes Yachting Festival

Constance, what led to RX France appointing you Deputy Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival in early 2025, with the plan of succeeding Sylvie Ernoult as Director after last year’s show?

My appointment was the result of a career built around marketing, digital, brand strategy and customer experience, combined with a deep knowledge of the boating industry and the luxury sector.

After an initial career in key account management, communications and marketing roles within luxury and industrial environments in France and the UK, I joined Groupe Beneteau in 2014 as Director of Communications and Operational Marketing. This experience gave me an in-depth understanding of the boating industry, the expectations of brands and boaters, product launch strategies, visibility challenges and international customer relations.

Because I managed Groupe Beneteau’s in-house team for boat shows and events, I took part in numerous editions of the Cannes Yachting Festival as an exhibitor. This provided me with a concrete understanding of what the show represents for a brand: the investment involved, organisational constraints, commercial objectives, launch preparations and the importance of the experience delivered to clients and visitors.

Joining the Cannes Yachting Festival team was an amazing opportunity and a good match with both my expertise and RX France’s expectations. The transition period with Sylvie Ernoult was extremely beneficial in understanding the organiser’s perspective and meeting with the key stakeholders.

Today, I approach the leadership of the Festival with this dual perspective: a deep understanding of the boating industry and a clear appreciation of exhibitors’ expectations. I believe this is a real asset when engaging with our clients, as I understand their logistical, financial, operational and commercial challenges, as well as the importance of participating in an event of such international significance.

Sylvie had such vast experience, having been Director of the show from 2013-25, so what type of successor was RX France looking for ahead of this year’s event, which will be held from September 8-13?

Succeeding Sylvie after she spent more than 10 years at the helm required a profile capable of respecting the show’s heritage while supporting it through a new phase of development. I believe RX France was looking for someone able to combine several key dimensions: an understanding of the boating industry, a strong brand vision, a customer experience mindset, an international outlook and a proven ability to bring people together.

 Brément (fifth right) at the 2025 show with VIPs including Sylvie Ernoult (purple jacket) in her final year as Director

The Festival brings together a wide variety of stakeholders – shipyards, equipment manufacturers, brokers, service providers, partners, institutions, professional visitors and private buyers. It’s essential to create the right conditions for each of them to find value and opportunity within the event.

I believe my ability to connect these different worlds makes my profile particularly relevant. The Cannes Yachting Festival is not only a business platform but also a showcase for brands and a premium experience. My role is therefore to preserve its high standards, strengthen its appeal at an international level and support its evolution without losing what makes it unique.

On a personal level, I’d say this role requires a great deal of listening, rigour, agility and team spirit. It’s important to know how to make decisions but also how to bring people together; to have a clear vision while remaining closely connected to the reality of the market.

In your time working with Sylvie, how did she pass on her experience and knowledge?

The handover with Sylvie was gradual, strategic and operational. I had the opportunity to work alongside her for several months during a key period for the Cannes Yachting Festival, which allowed me to benefit directly from her experience and her deep understanding of the event’s key aspects and challenges.

We shared the main stakeholders’ expectations and met exhibitors, local partners and suppliers. Together, we prepared the show layout, managed the visitor experience improvements, and discussed all the operational decisions that need to be made throughout the year.

This gradual immersion allowed me to fully appreciate the scope of the role and the importance of anticipating challenges, listening, bringing people together and maintaining exceptionally high standards.

An event such as the Cannes Yachting Festival is not passed on through documents alone. It’s also important to understand the DNA of the show, feel its personality and understand its history to ensure continuity.

How has your time managing Groupe Beneteau’s activation at boat shows like the Cannes Yachting Festival helped you in your current role?

Having managed Groupe Beneteau’s participation as an exhibitor, I worked closely with the Festival’s team both before and during the event. I always appreciated their commitment, service mindset and determination to create the best-possible conditions for participating brands.

The Vieux Port, home to most of the show’s motoryachts

This experience gave me an understanding, from an exhibitor’s perspective, of the preparation involved, the visibility challenges, the business target, the client hospitality requirements and the logistical constraints. So, I was already familiar with part of the operational dimension of the Festival.

By joining the organisation, I discovered the entire behind-the-scenes operation that enables an event of this scale to function successfully: coordination between the ports, exhibitors, suppliers and partners, technical constraints, visitor flows, security requirements and the constant adjustments that are required.

This dual perspective is now a real asset. It allows me to understand exhibitors’ expectations while fully appreciating the complexity of the organiser’s role. What I had already perceived as an exhibitor, I can now confirm as an organiser: the Festival relies on extremely precise planning but also on a strong capacity to adapt, and an enthusiastic and amazing team of professionals.

This year, will the show keep the same basic layout as recent years, with Vieux Port hosting most motoryachts and equipment, and Port Canto home to sailboats, brokerage superyachts, water toys and, since 2024, the Power Boat Marina?

Yes, the 2026 edition will retain the same overall organisation across the Vieux Port and Port Canto, two iconic and complementary venues. The Vieux Port will remain primarily dedicated to motorboats from 12-50m, large yachts, flybridge yachts, open boats, trawlers, RIBs, tenders and multihulls, as well as marine-equipment suppliers, marinas, outfitting companies and service providers.

However, due to the ongoing redevelopment works in the Vieux Port, some areas have been reorganised. Large yachts will be partially relocated to Quai Max Laubeuf; the Power Cat Village (with more than 30 multihulls) will be located on the Pantiero; and engine manufacturers specialising in large yachts will return to the Jetée.

Thermal and electric outboard engines will be integrated into the Power Boat Marina at Port Canto, which will continue to also host the Sailing Area, featuring 120 new sailing yachts over 10m; the Yacht Brokerage Area, showcasing nearly 50 yachts over 25m; and the Toys Area. Our objective is to maintain a clear, easy-to-navigate and seamless layout despite the constraints associated with the Vieux Port works.

The renovation of Vieux Port has been ongoing since before the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival, so what’s the timeline for the completion of this project?

From 2028 onwards, when the redevelopment works are expected to be completed, we will be able to fully benefit from the potential of the renovated Vieux Port, opening exciting new opportunities for the Festival.

The Vieux Port has been hosting renovation works since the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival, resulting in changes to the show’s layout

For now, we’re working closely with the City of Cannes and Marina Vieux Port de Cannes, and holding regular meetings to assess the impact of the works on each area of the show and to adapt the layout as closely as possible to operational needs. We are already preparing the 2027 edition with this same spirit of flexibility and adaptation.

What is your number one focus in 2026, your first full year as Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival?

This year, my priority is to continuously elevate the quality of the experience for both exhibitors and visitors. The Cannes Yachting Festival is one of the major events of the international boating season. We must provide exhibitors with an environment that reflects their ambitions, product launches and brand image, while offering visitors a seamless, inspiring and premium experience.

This priority is particularly important in 2026, given the ongoing redevelopment works in the Vieux Port. Our objective is to maintain a clear, comfortable and high-quality experience across the entire Festival, while continuing to fulfil our role as a strategic platform for the international boating industry.

This means paying even greater attention to visitor flows, the quality of the welcome, the level of service provided and the overall way visitors experience the Festival. Notably, we’ve developed a new range of ticketing options including support from our concierge service, privileged access and, for certain visitors, the possibility of arriving directly at the Vieux Port by their own private tender.

Overall, what key aspects of the show do you plan to maintain?

The DNA of the Cannes Yachting Festival is first and foremost rooted in its unique positioning: Europe’s largest in-water boat show and the first major event of the international boating season. Its role as a platform for product launches, visibility, business opportunities and industry networking is fundamental, and I’m fully committed to preserving this.

It’s also defined by the quality and diversity of its offering. The Festival brings together 680 exhibitors, more than 700 boats ranging from 5-50m – sailing and motor yachts, monohulls and multihulls, new and pre-owned vessels – and a complete ecosystem of equipment suppliers, service providers, brokers, toys, marinas and luxury yachting brands.

Port Canto is home to the Sailing Area, Power Boat Marina, Yacht Brokerage Area and the Toys Area

This diversity reflects every way of experiencing life at sea, from dayboats to long-range cruising, from motor yachts to sailing yachts, and from new boats to brokerage.

Another essential element I’m keen to maintain is our commitment to quality: the quality of the welcome, the fluidity of the visitor journey, the clarity of the offering, the visibility given to exhibitors and the overall visitor experience. The Cannes Yachting Festival must remain a premium event, reflecting the standards of the brands it hosts and the expectations of its international audience.

Finally, the Festival’s identity is inseparable from Cannes itself. The French Riviera, the Vieux Port, Port Canto, the elegance of the city and the Mediterranean lifestyle create a truly unique atmosphere. It’s this combination of business opportunities, yachting excellence and the distinctive spirit of Cannes that makes the Festival so special, and that I’m committed to preserving.

What are the aspects of the show that will change or develop?

The Cannes Yachting Festival must continue to evolve alongside its market, the expectations of visitors, new generations of owners and boating enthusiasts, as well as the major challenges of innovation and sustainability.

The first area of development is the experience itself. An international boat show can no longer just be an exhibition venue. It must offer a seamless, easy-to-navigate, inspiring and high-quality journey. This applies not only to visitors but also to exhibitors, who expect a level of service and support that matches their ambitions.

The phone app we launched last year has been a great success. For visitors, it’s a great asset to enhance innovations and allow for a smooth circulation around the show.

The 2026 edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival will be held from September 8-13

We must also continue to strengthen the Festival’s international reach, attract increasingly qualified visitors and welcome new profiles – younger, more international audiences who are often more focused on usage, experience and flexibility.

Innovation is another key area. Through the Innovation Route and Innovation Route Awards, we aim to continue showcasing the solutions that represent the future of boating, whether in sustainability, propulsion, technology, services or new onboard experiences.

Finally, I’d like to further develop the ‘festival’ dimension of the event. This means delivering a more premium, personalised and service-oriented experience through initiatives such as our new VIP ticket packages, a dedicated concierge service, access to VIP Clubs at both ports, dedicated shuttle services and guided yacht tours.

The objective is not to transform the identity of the Cannes Yachting Festival but to help it evolve – becoming more seamless, more international, more experience-driven and more innovative, while preserving the high standards and premium positioning that define the Festival.

Will there be any changes to the Innovation Route introduced in 2024?

In 2026, the Innovation Route will continue to highlight the most innovative solutions in the boating industry, with a particular focus on sustainable initiatives as well as solutions facilitating navigation. Its objective is to provide visitors with a clear understanding of the transformations taking place across the sector.

Through a dedicated route across both ports and supported by specific signage, visitors can easily identify the selected innovations, whether they relate to propulsion, onboard technology, energy efficiency, materials, services or new onboard experiences.

The Innovation Route and Innovation Route Awards are important aspects of the show

This initiative is further strengthened by the Innovation Route Awards, launched in 2025 and renewed for 2026. The Awards recognise the most outstanding projects and celebrate exhibitors who are helping to make boating more sustainable and attractive.

The Innovation Route perfectly illustrates our ambition: to make the Cannes Yachting Festival not only a showcase for yachting excellence but also a place where visitors can see first-hand how the industry is preparing for the future.

What else can you tell us about the show’s ongoing commitment to being increasingly eco-friendly and sustainable?

Sustainability has become a central challenge for the entire boating industry. Manufacturers are developing electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered solutions while also working on energy optimisation, new materials, energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

As organisers, we must also be consistent with this ambition, so we continue to implement initiatives aimed at reducing the Festival’s environmental footprint. These include reducing printed materials, selecting more sustainable or recyclable materials, working with committed suppliers, implementing waste-management programmes, offering catering options that include vegetarian dishes and seasonal, local or organic products, and collaborating with GreenBee Event Upcycling on the reuse of certain materials.

Is there anything else our readers should know about the 49th Cannes Yachting Festival?

The Cannes Yachting Festival is not simply an event where people come to see boats. It’s a place where visitors can understand the major trends shaping the boating industry, discover world premieres and innovations, meet the brands behind them, and experience the unique atmosphere of the sea, travel and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

The 49th edition fully reflects this spirit. It will retain the richness of the offering that has made Cannes such a success, with more than 680 exhibitors, over 700 boats and nearly 150 world premieres, while continuing to enhance the visitor experience.

The city of Cannes and the Côte d’Azur are also appealing attractions for visitors to the Cannes Yachting Festival

One of our key areas of focus is improving the readability of the Festival through a new signage system, which will be unveiled in September. It has been designed to make circulation more intuitive, clearly identify the different sectors of the show, and guide visitors throughout their journey. It’s a tangible evolution but one that says a great deal about our ambition: to make Cannes an experience that is increasingly seamless, premium and inspiring.

For me, the 2026 edition perfectly embodies what the Festival should be today: an international showcase for the boating industry, certainly, but also a place for experiences, encounters and inspiration.

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