Best of Boats Awards 2026: the finalists will be announced in Cannes

The appointment is for Wednesday, September 9 at the Port Canto VIP Club where, at 6 PM, the finalists of the Best of Boats Award 2026 will be officially announced. This is the first time that the prestigious international award chooses the Cannes Yachting Festival as the stage to reward the best motorboats on the market.

Best of Boats Awards 2026: a record edition

Established in 2014 by an international jury of nautical journalists, the Best of Boats Awards annually rewards the motorboats that stand out the most in the contemporary nautical landscape not only in terms of technology and performance but also, and above all, for their ability to meet the real needs of boaters.

This year’s edition marks a true record, registering the highest number of selected boats in the history of the award.

We are talking about as many as 30 models competing for the title in seven categories:

• Best for Beginners
• Best for Family
• Best for Fun
• Best Electric
• Best for Adventure
• Best RIBs
• Big Boats

In addition to the official announcement of the finalists, the cocktail on September 9 will represent an important moment of discussion among jury members, builders, and professionals present at the Cannes Yachting Festival.

The winners will be announced on November 26, 2026 during OutVenture Boat & Fun in Berlin.

“We chose the Cannes Yachting Festival because, as the main in-water boat show in Europe, it offers an exceptional showcase for the innovations and new products that are transforming the nautical industry. Our ambition remains the same: to help every boating enthusiast find the boat that best suits their needs and their way of experiencing the sea,” Stefan Gerhard, Co-founder and President of the Best of Boats Award