Constance Brément: the Cannes Yachting Festival evolves without losing its identity

After succeeding Sylvie Ernoult as Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival, Constance Brément is entering her first edition at the helm of Europe's leading in-water boat show. Having spent a year working alongside her predecessor, Brément combines continuity with a clear vision: preserving the Festival's identity while helping it evolve alongside changing markets, emerging technologies, and a new generation of boaters.

PressMare - You spent a full year collaborating with Sylvie Ernoult before taking over. What did that transition teach you, and what do you hope to bring to the Festival?

Constance Brément - It was an incredible opportunity because it's quite rare to have a full year alongside someone before taking over such a complex event. Coming from the exhibitor side of the industry, I understood the market, but organising an international show like the Cannes Yachting Festival is something entirely different.

Sylvie passed on an enormous amount of knowledge about both the event itself and its ecosystem. You work with the city, exhibitors, suppliers, institutions and countless stakeholders, so learning how to navigate that complexity was invaluable.

One of the biggest lessons I took from her is determination. When she believed something was important, she never gave up until it was achieved. That persistence is essential when you're coordinating so many partners.

Because she introduced me to all the key stakeholders during that transition year, I was able to build trust early on and this made the handover remarkably smooth.

PM - Has your vision for the Festival changed now that you're leading it?

CB - I'm not someone who believes in revolution for the sake of it.

Next year, the Cannes Yachting Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary. The event has existed long before me, and it will continue long after me. I steer away from reinventing it. What I want to achieve is preserving what makes it unique while continuously improving it.

Of course, we must adapt. Visitors evolve, technology evolves, exhibitors evolve. But the Festival already has a very strong identity so our responsibility is to remain loyal to that personality by constantly refining the visitor experience.

PM - The boating market has faced economic challenges recently. How is the Festival and the industry responding?

CB - The market is certainly more challenging today, particularly in the mid-size segment.

Manufacturers are experiencing slower sales, especially for sailing boats and motorboats between eight and twelve metres and stock rotation is taking longer than before.

At the same time, the larger yacht segment has remained comparatively resilient. The clientele purchasing those vessels has not been affected in quite the same way, so that part of the market continues to perform well.

What's interesting is how builders are adapting. Rather than focusing solely on ownership, they're exploring new ways for people to experience boating.

We're seeing growing interest in shared ownership models, boat clubs and membership-based access. These concepts lower the barrier to entry and introduce new audiences to boating.

PM - What innovations do you expect visitors to notice most this year?

CB - Technology is making boating easier, safer and more efficient.

One of the most exciting developments is the arrival of foiling technology into leisure boating. Until recently, foils were mainly associated with racing, but we're now beginning to see them incorporated into recreational vessels.

At the same time, onboard systems continue to evolve with joystick controls and docking cameras and intelligent navigation assistance are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Artificial intelligence is another area beginning to emerge. For instance, manufacturers are developing AI-assisted systems capable of optimising fuel or energy consumption, improving navigation efficiency and providing smarter operational support.

The objective isn't technology for its own sake but to make boating more accessible and enjoyable.

PM - Sustainability continues to shape the marine industry. What developments stand out for you?

CB - I always want to avoid greenwashing because sustainability is made by the progressive accumulation of many improvements.

Manufacturers are optimising production processes, reducing the amount of material used in construction and introducing recycled composites where possible. Onboard, electronic systems now help skippers optimise fuel consumption in real time, while solar panels, foiling technology and more efficient propulsion all contribute to lowering environmental impact.

It's a combination of hundreds of incremental innovations rather than one revolutionary solution.

PM - Last year, you renewed the Innovation Route and launched the Innovation Route Awards. How are they evolving?

CB - The objective is simple: to give innovation greater visibility.

Visitors consistently tell us that discovering new products is one of the main reasons they attend Cannes. In this sense, the Innovation Route helps them identify the most exciting developments throughout the show.

This year, for the second time, we're taking the Awards further by highlighting finalists in each category, not only the winners. Each finalist will also have a dedicated video explaining its innovation, which we'll share across our website and social media channels.

For us, the role of the Festival extends beyond the event itself, as we want to continue showcasing our exhibitors and their innovations before, during and after the show.

PM - Has the profile of visitors changed?

CB - The Festival has always been highly international, with more than 60% of our visitors coming from outside France.

We continue to welcome strong audiences from Italy, Spain and across Europe, while also seeing increasing numbers from the Adriatic region. We're also welcoming more visitors from the UK, alongside growing interest from the Middle East, Asia and North America.

What's particularly encouraging is the emergence of younger entrepreneurs, especially people who have built businesses in technology, data and digital sectors.

Historically, boating has attracted an older demographic. Today we're seeing younger buyers entering the market, and alternative access models like boat clubs and shared ownership are helping accelerate that shift.

PM - Beyond the yachts themselves, what makes the Cannes Yachting Festival unique?

CB - It's the diversity because visitors can discover everything from superyachts to sailing boats, catamarans, motorboats, tenders and marine equipment… all in one place.

This year we've expanded the catamaran area even further, reflecting the strong growth of that segment. At the same time, Cannes remains the largest sailing boat exhibition in Europe, with more than 120 sailing yachts on display.

As of the 29th of June, we already have 636 new boats and 144 world previews confirmed, but the Festival also showcases an extraordinary range of expertise. You'll find vessels built in fibreglass, aluminium and steel, alongside remarkable craftsmanship in naval architecture, design and engineering.

For me, the Cannes Yachting Festival is a place where people come to explore and to be inspired.

That's ultimately what the Festival is about: bringing together innovation, expertise and passion, while creating an unforgettable experience for everyone who shares a love of the sea.

 

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