From 19 to 26 September 2026, Cannes will once again become one of the key destinations for enthusiasts of classic yachting. The Bay of Cannes will host the 48th Régates Royales de Cannes — one of the French Riviera’s landmark sailing regattas.
According to the City of Cannes, more than 150 classic sailing yachts are expected this year, including yachts designed by renowned naval architects such as William Fife III, Nathanael Herreshoff and William Gardner.
But the Régates Royales are not only of interest to those taking part in the competition. For anyone visiting the French Riviera at this time of year, it is a rare opportunity to see historic sailing yachts not in a museum or marina, but in the environment for which they were created — under sail on the open sea.
Illustrative image created using AI.
Régates Royales de Cannes 2026: dates
The 48th Régates Royales de Cannes will take place from 19 to 26 September 2026.
The official Fédération Française de Voile calendar also lists the event from 19 to 26 September. Meanwhile, the Comité International de la Méditerranée calendar lists the classic yacht competitions within the Régates Royales from 21 to 26 September.
We therefore recommend checking the latest race schedule and programme directly with the organisers before your visit.
Which yachts can you see in Cannes?
What sets the Régates Royales apart from a modern yacht show is above all the character of its fleet. The focus is on classic and traditional sailing yachts, many of which represent distinct periods in the history of yachting and naval architecture.
According to the Fédération Française de Voile calendar, the 2026 programme includes racing in several categories, including:
- classic yachts under the CIM rating system;
- 8 Metre;
- 12 Metre;
- 5.5 Metre;
- Dragon;
- Tofinou.
The City of Cannes reports that the expected participants include classic yachts associated with the names of renowned designers William Fife III, Nathanael Herreshoff and William Gardner.
Город Канны сообщает, что среди ожидаемых участников будут классические яхты, связанные с именами выдающихся дизайнеров William Fife III, Nathanael Herreshoff и William Gardner.
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Where do the Régates Royales take place?
The main stage of the regatta is the Bay of Cannes. The Alpes-Maritimes Department also identifies the area around the Îles de Lérins as part of the event’s waters.
On shore, the atmosphere of the Régates Royales can be experienced around the Vieux Port de Cannes. Cannes Tourisme notes that visitors can access the quays free of charge and watch the yachts being prepared and the crews at work before they head out to race.
In 2026, the fleet is divided between two locations: the classic yachts are based in the Vieux Port, while the Dragon and 5.5 Metre classes are based at the Yacht Club de Cannes in the Pointe Croisette area.
Illustrative image created using AI.
Why experience the Régates Royales from the sea?
From the quays, you can admire the yachts before and after the races, but the Régates Royales offer an entirely different experience when viewed directly from the Bay of Cannes.
From the water, you can watch the classic yachts under sail, observe the crews at work and experience the dynamics of the regatta against the backdrop of Cannes, the Mediterranean and the Lérins Islands.
It is important to remember that the racing area is controlled by the organisers, and leisure and motor yachts must not interfere with competitors. The route and viewing position should therefore be chosen in accordance with current navigation restrictions and the organisers’ instructions.
If you are planning to be in Cannes during the Régates Royales, Yacht ServiceAzur can help you select a yacht for charter and organise a trip at sea according to your dates, number of guests and preferred itinerary.
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Régates Royales and the history of classic yachting
The defining feature of the Régates Royales is the combination of competitive sailing and maritime heritage. Yachts from different eras and classes meet in the same bay, from large classic sailing yachts to the famous Metre classes and Dragons.
This provides an opportunity to see not simply beautiful historic vessels, but an active racing fleet. The yachts leave the harbour, hoist their sails and compete in the conditions for which they were originally created.
This is precisely why the atmosphere of the Régates Royales differs so markedly from the Cannes Yachting Festival, which takes place in Cannes just a few days earlier. The Yachting Festival focuses primarily on the contemporary yacht market, new models and the industry, while the Régates Royales reconnect Cannes with the traditions of sailing and classic yachting.
What happens next on the French Riviera?
For enthusiasts of classic yachting, late September offers the opportunity to combine several events in a single trip.
According to the Comité International de la Méditerranée calendar, immediately after the Régates Royales the classic yacht fleet continues its season on the French Riviera: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2026 is scheduled from 28 September to 4 October.
Late September is therefore an especially interesting time for a yachting trip along the coast: classic yachts first gather in Cannes before the focus of the yachting world moves to Saint-Tropez.
Illustrative image created using AI.
If you are in Cannes during the Régates Royales
You do not need to be taking part in the competition to experience the atmosphere of the regatta. You can start the day at the Vieux Port, see the classic yachts and crews preparing to depart, and then head out into the Bay of Cannes aboard a charter yacht.
When planning a trip at sea, it is advisable to take the race schedule, weather conditions and navigation restrictions in the competition area into account in advance.
We recommend checking the latest Régates Royales 2026 programme on the organisers’ official resources immediately before your visit.
Would you like to experience the Régates Royales from the sea?
Tell us your dates, number of guests and preferences, and the Yacht ServiceAzur team will suggest suitable yachts for charter in Cannes and on the French Riviera.
