Key takeaway: The yacht-partner package set up by the Cannes Lions organiser is the new commercial framework governing yacht access to the quay facing the Palais during the festival. Introduced as part of the organiser’s 2026 overhaul (Ascential Events, now operated within the LIONS / Informa Festivals group), it replaces the former Yacht Pass with a package priced at roughly €50,000 (excl. VAT) (figures to be confirmed with the organiser), covering eligibility for a berth on the Yacht Row, a quota of 4 passes, official partner status and partner-portal access for the festival period (Cannes Lions® 2026: 22–26 June). For the 2027 edition, in June, the process must begin as early as September 2026.
Sources : Cannes Lions — Official Yacht Partner, Cannes Lions 2026 Guide — YachtCharterFleet, The Yacht Pass 2017 (PDF officiel, 5 passes).
Cannes Lions® 2027: the organiser’s official yacht package — what you need to know
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package has become, in just two seasons, the issue that shapes every brand’s thinking about hosting on the water during the festival. For the 2026 edition (22–26 June), the organiser locked access to the quay of honour facing the Palais des Festivals behind a single, paid, capped commercial formula. The result: you no longer simply charter a boat — you enter a framework. This article breaks down that new model, compares the former Yacht Pass with today’s package, maps the exact perimeter of the Yacht Row, and sets out three concrete strategies depending on your budget. The goal is not to fight the framework, but to understand it and decide with full information before Cannes Lions® 2027, this coming June.
🎯 The view of Sandrine Chevalier, Founder & Managing Director of Cannes Exhibitions, Sales Manager at Cannes Yachts Booking: “Faced with the new official package, the worst decision is to react in a panic in May. The right strategy is decided in September, with a clear budget: either you enter the official framework and optimise it, or you build an equally strong hospitality operation just outside the perimeter. Our role is to cost both and let the client choose.”
Cannes Lions® Official Yacht Partner Package: what changes for the 2027 edition
The Cannes Lions® Official Yacht Partner Package marks a clean break with the previous decade. For years, hosting on a yacht moored opposite the Palais came down to negotiating a berth and obtaining a relatively accessible Yacht Pass. That era is over. Access to the festival’s most coveted quay is now conditional on buying an official package, whose price and perimeter are set by the organiser. The logic has shifted from a harbour rationale (a location) to a commercial one (a partnership). For 2027, this means one simple thing: the question is no longer “which boat?” but “within which framework?”. And that framework has to be prepared well in advance, because eligible berths are scarce and allocated on a strict timeline.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: the context of the 2026 commercial overhaul
The Cannes Lions® Official Yacht Partner Package is part of a wider move the organiser has driven across several editions: regaining control of the festival experience, including beyond the walls of the Palais. The surroundings, hotel terraces and the harbour are all part of that. This overhaul has two drivers. First, a desire to frame behaviour: the organiser has previously tightened access to Croisette hotel bars and curbed off-framework yacht parties. Second, an economic logic: turning a high-demand space — the quay facing the Palais — into a structured revenue stream. Understanding this intent is essential. The package is not a mere levy: it is a tool through which the organiser monetises and controls the “maritime” fringe of the festival. You do not fight it head-on; you organise around it.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: what the formula includes (€50,000 excl. VAT)
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package rests on a clear principle: a single entry fee that unlocks eligibility, rather than a simple location rental. The price of the Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package sits at around €50,000 excl. VAT for the base formula (figures to be confirmed with the organiser), excluding the yacht charter itself and the harbour mooring billed by the marina. In practice, this package typically includes the right to moor on the Yacht Row (the row of boats facing the Palais), the partnership number required by the marina for any berth application, and a quota of 4 passes for the festival period. Additional accreditations are negotiated separately. Beyond the berth and the passes, the package also unlocks access to a partner portal (with an approved-supplier list), a Cannes Lions hostess at your welcome desk, official “Official Yacht Partner” status with inclusion in the festival’s partner branding, and the right to host events and content on board, turning the yacht into an official brand HQ for the week. The exact list of services and the figures are to be confirmed with the organiser. The table below separates the components so the package cost is never confused with the total operation cost.| Item | Included in the package? | To budget separately |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee / Yacht Row eligibility | ✅ ~€50,000 excl. VAT* | — |
| Partnership number (required by the marina) | ✅ | — |
| Quota of 4 festival passes | ✅ | Extra passes on top |
| Official partner status + branding | ✅ | — |
| Partner portal + welcome hostess | ✅ | — |
| Right to host events on board | ✅ | Event services on top |
| Mooring / berth (billed by the marina) | ❌ | Based on yacht size |
| Yacht charter | ❌ | Based on size, duration, standing |
| Fit-out, crew, catering, branding | ❌ | Based on project |
Cannes Lions® Official Yacht Partner Package: before / after — the old Yacht Pass and the new formula
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package is best understood against the previous system. For years, the scheme was simply called the “Yacht Pass”: a permit required to apply for a berth on the quay of honour, which historically included a set of festival accreditations. The new formula keeps the partnership-number logic but raises the entry price, cuts the number of included passes and turns it into a fully owned “partner package”. The change is not only about price — it is philosophical. We move from a harbour permit to a commercial partnership.
On the Yacht Row, every berth facing the Palais is booked months in advance.
| Criterion | Former Yacht Pass | New official package |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Harbour permit | Commercial partnership |
| Entry price | Moderate | ~€50,000 excl. VAT |
| Passes included | Set of accreditations | 4 passes |
| Yacht Row access | On berth application | Conditional on the package |
| Flexibility | More open | Strict, capped framework |
Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: Yacht Row, the exact perimeter of the berths
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package concerns one very precise perimeter: the famous Yacht Row. This is the row of yachts moored along the quay of honour (Quai Albert Edouard / Pantiero), directly facing the Palais des Festivals, a few steps from the main entrance and the Croisette. That immediate adjacency is what creates all the value — and all the price — of the scheme. A yacht on the Yacht Row is visible to every delegate, reachable on foot in thirty seconds, and becomes a recognisable address all week long. The Port of Cannes, however, is not limited to this row. Other mooring zones exist around the Old Port and beyond, outside the package’s official perimeter. They lack the same immediate proximity but open up alternatives to the official Cannes Lions yacht package worth studying against your objectives.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: how the official Cannes Lions yacht package works for 2027
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package follows a multi-step administrative path that must be anticipated. To grasp how the official Cannes Lions yacht package works for 2027, distinguish three players: the festival organiser, the marina (port authority / berth manager), and the broker who selects and coordinates the yacht. The typical process starts with requesting the partnership number from the organiser — a non-negotiable condition. Next comes the berth application to the marina, which is not guaranteed even with the package: berths remain limited to the number of physical spaces on the quay. Finally come the yacht charter, fit-out and logistics. This sequencing explains why everything is decided very early. A late application meets a quay that is already full, package paid or not. The golden rule: secure eligibility before finalising the choice of boat.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: strategy 1 — enter the official framework
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package is the direct route for brands whose central objective is maximum visibility facing the Palais. If your presence rests on the address — hosting “on the quay”, being seen, capturing the delegate flow — then entering the official framework makes sense. This strategy suits comfortable budgets, where the €50,000 excl. VAT package (to be confirmed with the organiser) is an acceptable share of an already high overall event investment (yacht charter, crew, catering, fit-out). For a listed company or a major group running a client-relations operation, the location justifies the price. The package brings a real asset here: by buying it, the brand gains official partner status, a presence in the festival’s partner branding, partner-portal access and the right to run its own events on board as a brand HQ. For a visibility operation, these elements clearly reinforce the value of the location. Optimisation then means making every euro count: choosing the right yacht for the number of available passes, calibrating the programme over the festival’s duration, and refining the fit-out so the premium address translates into a memorable experience. This is where specialist support makes the difference.
A successful networking evening rests on 80% invisible preparation.
Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: strategy 2 — mooring a yacht at Cannes Lions without the official package
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package is not the only way to exist on the water during the festival. For some brands, mooring a yacht at Cannes Lions without the official package is a fully rational option, provided you accept the trade-off: stepping outside the immediate Yacht Row perimeter. By taking a berth away from the quay of honour — elsewhere in the harbour or nearby — you avoid the €50,000 excl. VAT entry fee while keeping a high-standing corporate yacht. The onboard experience is identical; what changes is the visual proximity to the Palais. This approach works particularly well for closed, invitation-only hospitality, where guests are escorted and the exact address matters less than the quality of the reception. A well-organised transfer easily offsets a few extra minutes of walking.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: strategy 3 — rethinking hospitality off the quay
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package can also be deliberately set aside in favour of a different format. Not every brand needs a yacht facing the Palais: some serve their objectives better with a villa, a rooftop, a Croisette apartment or a private beach. Stepping off the quay is not a retreat: it is an allocation choice. The budget that would have gone into the entry fee can fund a more ambitious scenography, exceptional catering or a longer client experience across the week. For brands combining land and sea, sister agency Cannes Exhibitions orchestrates complete set-ups near the Palais. The point is to reason by business objective, not by the reflex that “we must have a yacht on the quay”. Sometimes yes, sometimes no — and that is exactly what the costing should reveal.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: our recommendation by budget
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package should be decided against your overall envelope and objectives. Here is a simple, dogma-free reading grid to guide the decision before Cannes Lions® 2027.| Budget profile | Dominant objective | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| High (flagship operation) | Maximum visibility facing the Palais | Enter the official package and optimise it |
| Comfortable | Quality closed hospitality | Yacht outside the perimeter, careful transfer |
| Controlled | Targeted receptions and networking | Land format (villa, rooftop, apartment) |
| Mixed land-sea | Multi-format presence across the week | Yacht + Croisette set-up combination |
Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: when to book a yacht for Cannes Lions 2027
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package imposes a tight timeline. Knowing when to book a yacht for Cannes Lions 2027 is probably the most decisive call of the whole project. The answer: from September 2026, nine months before the June 2027 edition. This timeline is not excessive. Eligible berths are limited in number, package eligibility is handled upstream, and the best yachts for festival weeks are booked very early. Waiting until spring 2027 means arriving at a quay already allocated. The ideal back-planning: eligibility and budget settled in autumn 2026, yacht selection and berth application by year-end, fit-out and logistics locked in the first quarter of 2027. Anticipating from the September return is the golden rule we share with all our strategic clients.Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package: the role of an independent broker
The Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package makes the support of an independent broker more useful than ever. In a framework that has become complex — organiser, marina, quotas, timeline — an intermediary with no fleet of its own to place defends only your interest. An independent broker compares scenarios without bias (package or outside the perimeter), selects the yacht suited to the number of passes, coordinates the administrative steps and manages fit-out, crew and catering. Fifteen years of Cannes roots provide a fine reading of what plays out in the harbour each year. Cannes Yachts Booking does not organise the festival and is affiliated with no organiser: it supports brands that want to host during the festival, inside the official framework or alongside it, whichever best serves their objectives. It is this neutrality that allows honest advice on a subject where every euro counts.
Sources and references (updated June 2026):
- Cannes Lions — Partnerships / Yachts & the Harbour: canneslions.com/partnerships
- Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes: palaisdesfestivals.com
- Port of Cannes (Old Port / Quai Albert Edouard): cannes-port.com
- City of Cannes: cannes.com
FAQ — Cannes Lions® Official Yacht Partner Package
What is the Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package?
It is the official commercial formula governing yacht mooring on the Yacht Row, the quay facing the Palais des Festivals, during the Cannes Lions® festival. It replaces the former Yacht Pass with a paid package of around €50,000 excl. VAT, covering eligibility for a berth and a quota of four festival passes, excluding the yacht charter and the harbour mooring.
What is the price of the Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package?
The price of the Cannes Lions Official Yacht Partner Package is around €50,000 excl. VAT for the base formula. This figure covers the entry fee and Yacht Row eligibility: it does not include the yacht charter, the marina-billed mooring, or the fit-out, crew and catering, which are budgeted separately depending on the project.
What exactly does the official package include?
The package typically includes the right to moor on the Yacht Row, the partnership number the marina requires, a quota of four passes, official partner status with branding, partner-portal access, a welcome hostess and the right to host events on board. The harbour mooring and the boat charter remain to be budgeted on top. Figures to be confirmed with the organiser.
What is the Yacht Row at Cannes Lions?
The Yacht Row is the row of yachts moored along the quay of honour (Quai Albert Edouard / Pantiero), directly facing the Palais des Festivals. That immediate proximity — a few steps from the main entrance and the Croisette — creates all the value of the location and explains the price of the package that now governs its access.
How does the official Cannes Lions yacht package work for 2027?
Understanding how the official Cannes Lions yacht package works for 2027 means distinguishing three players: the organiser (who issues the partnership number), the marina (which allocates berths) and the broker (who selects and coordinates the yacht). The process starts with eligibility from the organiser, then the berth application, never guaranteed, and finally the charter and fit-out.
Can you moor a yacht at Cannes Lions without the official package?
Yes. Mooring a yacht at Cannes Lions without the official package is possible by taking a berth outside the Yacht Row perimeter, elsewhere in the harbour or nearby. You give up immediate proximity to the Palais but keep a high-standing corporate yacht while avoiding the entry fee. This option suits closed, invitation-only hospitality with an organised transfer.
What alternatives to the official Cannes Lions yacht package exist?
Alternatives to the official Cannes Lions yacht package include mooring a yacht outside the perimeter, but also land-based formats: a villa, rooftop, Croisette apartment or private beach near the Palais. The budget saved on the entry fee can fund a more ambitious scenography or a longer client experience across the festival week.
When should you book for Cannes Lions 2027?
Knowing when to book a yacht for Cannes Lions 2027 is decisive: from September 2026, nine months before the June 2027 edition. Eligible berths are scarce, package eligibility is handled upstream and the best yachts go early. Waiting until spring 2027 means arriving at a quay already full, package paid or not.
Does the package guarantee a berth on the quay?
No. The package unlocks eligibility and provides the partnership number, but the actual allocation of a berth depends on the marina and remains limited to the number of physical spaces on the quay. Even with the package paid, a late application can meet a quay already full. Hence the importance of anticipating from the previous autumn.
Why did the organiser create this package?
The package responds to two logics: framing the festival experience beyond the Palais — including the harbour and surroundings — and structuring revenue on a high-demand space. After tightening access to hotel terraces and off-framework parties, the organiser turned the quay facing the Palais into an official, capped commercial offering.
Does the package suit every brand?
No. The package is mainly justified for flagship operations where maximum visibility facing the Palais is the central objective, with a comfortable overall budget. For closed hospitality or targeted receptions, a yacht outside the perimeter or a land format can serve the same goals at lower cost. The decision depends on who you host and why.
What is the difference between the old Yacht Pass and the new formula?
The former Yacht Pass was a relatively accessible harbour permit including a set of accreditations, required to apply for a berth. The new formula keeps the partnership number but raises the entry price to around €50,000 excl. VAT, cuts the included passes to four and embraces a commercial-partnership positioning. The change is as philosophical as it is financial.
Is the yacht charter included in the package?
No. The package is an entry fee, not an all-inclusive deal. The yacht charter, the marina-billed mooring, the fit-out, crew, catering and branding are budgeted on top, depending on boat size, duration and standing. Confusing the package cost with the total operation cost is the most common mistake.
Can an independent broker handle the package process?
Yes. An independent broker supports the eligibility steps, the berth application to the marina, the selection of the yacht suited to the number of passes and the coordination of fit-out, crew and catering. With no fleet of its own to place, it defends only the client’s interest and can cost scenarios with or without the package without bias.
Is Cannes Yachts Booking an official Cannes Lions partner?
No. Cannes Yachts Booking is an independent broker with no affiliation or official partnership with the organiser of Cannes Lions®. The agency supports brands wishing to host during the festival, within the official package framework or outside its perimeter, whichever best serves their objectives and budget.
Legal notice and independence. Cannes Yachts Booking is an independent yacht-brokerage and event-management agency. We are neither affiliated, associated, sponsored, nor officially connected with Ascential Events / LIONS (Informa Festivals), organiser of Cannes Lions®, with RX France (organiser of MIPIM®, MIPCOM® and MAPIC), with TFWA (Tax Free World Association), with ILTM (Reed Travel Exhibitions), or with any other entity organising the congresses and festivals mentioned in this article. All event names cited — Cannes Lions®, MIPIM®, MIPCOM®, MAPIC, TFWA®, ILTM Cannes, Festival de Cannes — are the exclusive property of their respective organisers and registered as trademarks. The “Official Yacht Partner Package”, the “Yacht Pass” and the “Yacht Row” are schemes defined and operated by the festival organiser; Cannes Yachts Booking holds neither control nor exclusivity over them.
In accordance with applicable regulations, any charter of a yacht moored at the Port of Cannes in the context of a congress or professional event is subject to prior official authorisations issued by the competent port authorities (IGY Marinas for the Vieux-Port, City of Cannes for Port Canto) and by the official organiser of the event concerned. Cannes Yachts Booking assists its clients with all necessary administrative steps, without being able to guarantee the granting of these authorisations or the allocation of a berth.
The information in this article, including the figures quoted, is provided for information only, may change without notice, and should be confirmed with the official bodies before any decision.
Follow Cannes Yachts Booking on Instagram and Facebook. Read more: Yacht charter price during a Cannes congress, Yacht mooring at Quai Albert Edouard, MIPIM yacht charter or contact our team. ions issued by the competent port authorities (IGY Marinas for the Vieux-Port, City of Cannes for Port Canto) and by the official organiser of the event concerned. Cannes Yachts Booking assists its clients with all necessary administrative steps, without being able to guarantee the granting of these authorisations or the allocation of a berth. The information in this article, including the figures quoted, is provided for information only, may change without notice, and should be confirmed with the official bodies before any decision. The operating conditions for yachts, authorization procedures and eligibility requirements may change depending on the event, the regulations of the Port of Cannes and the policies of the relevant event organizer. Each project is reviewed individually before confirmation.
Follow Cannes Yachts Booking on Instagram and Facebook. Read more: Yacht charter price during a Cannes congress, Yacht mooring at Quai Albert Edouard, MIPIM yacht charter or contact our team.
The names and trademarks of the congresses and events mentioned (MIPIM, Cannes Lions, TFWA, MAPIC, ILTM, MIPCOM, World AI Cannes Festival / WAICF, Datacloud, etc.) belong to their respective owners. Cannes Yacht Booking is an independent agency: not affiliated with, associated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or officially connected to the event organiser.
Planning a reception during this congress?
Berths at the Palais des Festivals harbour are booked far in advance for congress weeks. To prepare your event on board: yacht charter for Cannes Lions®, guest capacity by format, or all our yacht charters in Cannes.
