In a packed, intense month for the yachting world, two marquee events reinforced both how dynamic and how cautious the market remains. If Cannes is about world premieres and innovation, Monaco is about grandeur and prestige. Together, they offered a panoramic view of where cutting-edge design meets timeless craftmanship, innovation meets tradition, and sustainability meets the evolving expectations of modern yacht owners.
From 9 to 14 September, the Cannes Yachting Festival once again brought the Vieux Port and Port Canto to life with hundreds of yachts, tenders, and day boats on display. It was a record edition, with over 700 boats and nearly 150 world premieres. But beyond the sheer scale, what made the 2025 festival memorable were the debuts that captured the imagination of designers, brokers, and buyers alike. Below, we highlight the yachts that truly stood out — each for their own reasons of scale, ingenuity, or sheer daring.
Italian builder Tankoa introduced Singolare, a 45-metre project designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta with interiors by Debora Aguiar. At first glance, its sharp exterior lines place it firmly in the realm of Italian elegance, but it was the details that set tongues wagging. The signature feature is the transformable hardtop, which can convert into a climate-controlled veranda. This ability to slide between enclosed intimacy and breezy openness reflects a broader theme across Cannes: yachts as flexible, lifestyle platforms. Inside, Aguiar’s interiors combined natural materials and a calm, contemporary palette, evoking a floating retreat rather than a formal yacht.
Few debuts drew as much traffic as Sanlorenzo’s SX120, a 36.6-metre crossover yacht that redefined the concept of fluid space. The SX line has long been Sanlorenzo’s experimental platform, but the new flagship took things further. With interiors conceived like a loft, the yacht offers uninterrupted sightlines from stern to bow. Floor-to-ceiling glazing floods the interior with light, while a reimagined stern area integrates a vast swim platform, tender storage, and a convertible lounge. The propulsion system has been optimized for lower emissions and better efficiency, underlining how even at Cannes, sustainability was as important as design language.
Benetti used Cannes to unveil its largest GRP yacht to date, the 44.1-metre CLASS44. At a time when sustainability and efficiency dominate conversations, this yacht stood out not just for its size, but for its eco-conscious construction. Materials included FSC-certified woods and specialized resins, marking a deliberate shift toward greener builds without sacrificing luxury. The exterior, all clean horizontal lines, created an understated profile, while the interior offered flexible layouts for either private family use or semi-charter operation, with the art selection on board curated by the art consultancy company Kooness. The CLASS44 was seen as a statement of intent: that Benetti is as committed to scaling sustainability as it is to scaling length.
The Riva name carries weight, and the new 112 Dolcevita Super showed why. Measuring 34.4 metres, this model blended timeless styling with updated interiors that were both customizable and contemporary. The exterior retained the sweeping, sporty lines associated with Riva, but the yacht’s interior spaces — larger salons, reconfigured cabins, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections — reflected the evolving expectations of modern owners. The balance of heritage and innovation made it one of the most admired yachts of the show, particularly among traditionalists seeking a fresh take.
Perhaps the “craziest” boat at Cannes — and certainly one of the most discussed — was the fully solar-electric Silent 80. Austrian builder Silent Yachts has positioned itself as a pioneer of zero-emission yachting, and the SY80 represented a leap forward. Equipped with expansive solar panels, battery storage, and a hybrid-ready design, the yacht could operate in complete silence, redefining the onboard experience. Available in two- and three-deck versions, it offered not just eco credentials but also a futuristic design ethos: panoramic lounges, flexible cabins, and a sky lounge with 360-degree views. For many, it was the embodiment of how sustainability and luxury no longer stand in opposition but are becoming synonymous.
At Cannes, the spotlight belonged as much to daring concepts as to refined evolutions — … The festival stood as a laboratory for ideas, setting the stage for Monaco, where attention would pivot from prototypes and concepts to the commanding presence of the world’s largest yachts.
If Cannes was the showcase for innovation and daring ideas, the Monaco Yacht Show was about grandeur, pedigree, and the prestige of scale. From 24 to 27 September, Port Hercules welcomed over 120 superyachts, collectively valued at more than €4.3 billion. Among them, a handful stood out not just for their length, but for how they embodied the current state of superyacht design — technically ambitious, intensely personalized, and deeply invested in lifestyle.
Dutch builder Amels brought one of the show’s most admired flagships: the 89-metre Here Comes The Sun. Already an icon, the yacht reappeared at Monaco after an extensive refit that sharpened her lines and refreshed her interiors. The exterior, with its sculptural balance of curves and glass, demonstrated why Amels remains a standard-bearer for understated Dutch elegance. Inside, the refreshed interiors offered lighter palettes, open-plan salons, and enhanced wellness spaces. For many attendees, Here Comes The Sun was less about debuting something “new” and more about showcasing how a classic can be reimagined to stay at the forefront of prestige.
Feadship’s Valor was widely hailed as the most technically advanced yacht at the show. At 79.5 metres, it combined Dutch craftsmanship with engineering innovation: an ice-class hull for high-latitude cruising, hybrid propulsion for lower emissions, and a contra-flow infinity pool that became one of the most talked-about design details of the show. The interiors struck a balance between ultra-custom finishes and serene understatement — large glass-walled lounges, panoramic owner’s suite, and wellness amenities throughout. Valor encapsulated the core Feadship message: technical mastery in service of effortless luxury.
Italian yard Admiral Yachts presented one of the most visually daring designs: the 77.7-metre Amalya. Its twin-tone hull gave it a striking profile that turned heads even among Monaco’s crowded fleet. Beyond the exterior statement, Amalya showcased a diesel-electric propulsion system with battery support, aligning with the industry’s sustainability shift. Interiors, designed with wellness in mind, included expansive spa zones, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and a dramatic sculptural staircase that quickly became a show favorite. Amalya was arguably the most photogenic yacht at the show, embodying Italian flair paired
with technical ambition.
The largest yacht of the show was Benetti’s Mar, a commanding 107 meters that inevitably drew the crowds. Unlike some of the other launches, Mar appeared in Monaco as a brokerage offering, underscoring the strength of the pre-owned market at the very top end. Beyond its sheer size, Mar showcased palatial interiors, multiple decks for entertaining, and a presence that dominated the quays. While opinions differed on its styling, no one disputed that it embodied Monaco’s enduring role as the global stage for yachting’s most imposing giants. Mar was not the “craziest” yacht in terms of concept — but it was certainly the most imposing, and in Monaco, scale still makes a statement.
Cannes left visitors with the impression of an industry unafraid to experiment — where a solar-powered catamaran could command as much attention as a loft-like crossover or a sculptural flagship. It was less about size and more about ideas, a spirit that set the Riviera abuzz ahead of Monaco.
