Cannes, Genoa, Monaco: the 2022 Boat Show Calender

It’s the start of glorious, gilded September, the most eagerly anticipated, action-packed month of the year for European yachting for the 2022 Boat Shows. Between the Cannes Yachting Festival (September 6th-11th), the Genoa International Boat Show (September 22nd-27th) and the Monaco Yacht Show (September 28th-October 1st), future Owners will have myriad opportunities to fantasize about the yacht of their dreams and perhaps even happen upon it!

Having started out as the slightly less famous cousin of the legendary Monaco Yacht Show, the Cannes Yachting Festival is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s unmissable shows. In 2021, it enjoyed an unprecedented boom in visitor numbers when it devoted most of its space to medium-sized craft whilst simultaneously aiming for the highest end of the market (30-40 metres). In recent years, Cannes has (Covid-permitting) become the showcase par excellence for Italian-built motoryachts. Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Baglietto, Ferretti, Riva, Isa and Wally are just some of Italy’s most famous brands and the undisputed protagonists of the show that takes place each year in famous Cinema Capital.

On the sailing front, the French yards dominate the medium-sized craft segment with Italian-owned yards Advance and Southern Wind responsible for the most admired of the larger yachts shown against this spectacular backdrop.
Once again this year, the Vieux Port, one of the oldest ports on the entire Cote d’Azur, is welcoming more than 500 motor craft ranging in size from 5 to 45 metres. At the other side of the Croisette, all the latest sailing arrivals will be showcased in Port Canto: there will be 120 in all, ranging in length from 10 to 28 metres. Porto Canto is also home to the Brokerage & Toys area where around 40 pre-owned craft of between 22 and 56 metres will be for sail or charter. There will be plenty of new additions in both spaces too, of course.

The most fitting term for the unique Monaco Yacht Show and the scintillating world of the Principality itself is “luxury”. In terms of yachting, there is luxury and excellence aplenty to be found here: this is home to the world’s largest superyachts, the most exclusive specs, the most sumptuous and grandiose interiors. Yards, refits, architects, interior designers and outfitters, suppliers of interior and exterior equipment, tender and megatender builders, and finance package providers all flock to Monaco, making it a beacon on the world market.

Slotting neatly between the two most internationally renowned events is the Genoa International Boat Show, which provides an important overview of Italian sailing and motoryacht production, with Azimut and Sanlorenzo leading the way. This year, new additions to the Baglietto fleet are dominating the scene: Bertram, a historic American brand acquired by Baglietto in 2015, is launching in Europe and opening a new division at the latter’s Marina di Carrara production facility where it will build and market the brand in both Italy and across Europe.

The outstanding Maviho is berthed in the area during yacht show period

The shows will certainly provide great opportunities to take the pulse of the sector and test its buoyancy. There is no doubt, however, that yachting was one of the sectors least impacted by the Covid pandemic and the international crisis – see our article The yachting market: how has it changed?).
The outlook is good for the future too. Having said that, the energy crisis and a scarcity of electronic components continue to hang over the industry like a Sword of Damocles. It is difficult to predict how things will go, but as we stand, the opening up of new markets beyond Europe’s borders will definitely be the trump card in terms of guaranteeing the Italian yachting sector’s future.

See our yachts in the area: Fifty Fifty, Manegor and Maviho.