PRINCESS YACHTS BRINGS THE X90 GLOBAL PREMIERE TO CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL 2026

The Cannes Yachting Festival returns to the Vieux Port from 8 to 13 September 2026, bringing the international boating community together against the distinctive setting of the French Riviera. For Princess Yachts, this year’s edition carries particular significance: the British yacht builder will present the global premiere of its new Princess X90 alongside a carefully selected display representing several of its contemporary model families.

At Jetée 114, visitors will find the Princess X90 and X95 from the X Class, the Y80, S72 and S65, alongside the F58, V55 and V50. Together, the eight-yacht line-up offers a broad view of the marque’s approach to modern motor yachting, from the expansive, long-range character of its X Class to the more dynamic proportions of its V Class.

The centrepiece will be the Princess X90, making its global premiere at Cannes. Positioned between the X80 and flagship X95 Vista, the new yacht develops the Super Flybridge concept that has become central to the X Class. Its design places particular emphasis on the relationship between interior volume and outdoor living, creating a yacht intended to feel spacious without losing the connection with the water.

Among its most distinctive features is a redesigned cockpit. Positioned at a lower level, the space incorporates a glass transom and folding bulwark balconies that extend the usable area on either side. The arrangement is intended to open the cockpit towards the sea, while seating, a wet bar and optional entertainment equipment create a flexible setting for time spent at anchor or underway.

The X90 is also representative of a broader direction within Princess: using architecture, proportion and carefully planned circulation to make substantial yachts feel intuitive to live aboard. The X Class was conceived around extended cruising and greater onboard freedom, combining generous interior accommodation with substantial exterior spaces. In the X90, that philosophy is expressed through a design that places social areas and views of the surrounding seascape at the centre of the experience.

Its presence at Cannes also places the new model within a wider Princess line-up. The X95 Vista remains the largest model represented at the show, while the Y80 offers a more traditional flybridge interpretation, balancing open-air areas with light-filled interiors. The S72 and S65 bring the sporting character of the S Class to the display, while the F58, V55 and V50 demonstrate the breadth of Princess’s smaller yacht families.

Each range has a distinct design intention. The Y Class focuses on sophisticated cruising and generous living spaces, while the F Class is shaped around flexible layouts and practical use of space. The S Class takes a more performance-oriented approach, with streamlined forms and open-plan living, whereas the V Class places greater emphasis on responsive handling and sporting performance. Across the ranges, the common thread is an approach to yacht design that considers engineering, craftsmanship and the way people actually use the spaces around them.

Cannes provides an appropriate setting for that variety. The festival has long occupied an important position in the European boating calendar, and Princess describes it as the opening of the boat-show season and Europe’s largest in-water event. With yachts displayed directly in the harbour, the show allows visitors to encounter the vessels not simply as design objects, but in the environment for which they were created.

That distinction is particularly relevant to Princess’s philosophy of craftsmanship. The company’s yachts are designed and built in Plymouth, where the marque maintains its manufacturing base and brings together designers, engineers and skilled craftspeople. Princess states that more than 3,200 people work across its six manufacturing sites in Plymouth, with a high degree of production taking place in-house.

Princess Yachts began in 1965 in Plymouth as Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd, founded by David King, Cliff Viney and Brian Phillips. The company’s roots can be traced to a small rented waterside shed and its first Project 31 motor yacht. What began as a modest boatbuilding venture developed into an international yacht manufacturer, with tens of thousands of motor yachts built and delivered around the world. The decision to retain Plymouth as the centre of its production has remained an important part of the company’s identity and heritage.

That history also helps explain the emphasis Princess places on the relationship between contemporary technology and traditional skill. Its current yachts incorporate advanced engineering and modern design, yet much of the detailing remains rooted in specialist craftsmanship. At Cannes, this connection between technical development and hand-finished interiors will be visible across the entire display, from the X90’s expansive architecture to the more performance-focused models.

The 2026 festival arrives during an active period of development for the marque. Earlier this year, Princess introduced several new models and announced further additions to its range, including the S74 and C48, while the X90 has emerged as the latest expression of the X Class concept. Its Cannes premiere therefore represents not an isolated launch, but part of a continuing expansion and refinement of the Princess portfolio.

For visitors considering Princess yachts in the Middle East, the manufacturer’s current official network lists Princess Yachts Middle East as its regional distributor. Princess’s official distributor directory provides the current point of contact for the region; no additional UAE showroom location is stated on the manufacturer’s present listing, so a specific UAE address has not been included here.

Cannes, ultimately, offers Princess an opportunity to present its latest thinking in an environment closely associated with the pleasures of life on the water. The arrival of the X90 gives this year’s display a clear focal point, but the significance of the wider line-up lies in its variety: eight yachts, five distinct model families and several different interpretations of how space, performance and comfort can coexist aboard a modern motor yacht.

As the yachts gather at Jetée 114, the appeal of the exhibition lies not only in seeing what Princess has created, but in observing how a British builder with roots in a Plymouth shed continues to evolve its understanding of life at sea. The X90 may command attention as the newest arrival, yet it is the continuity between innovation, craftsmanship, and the enduring pleasure of being on the water that gives the 2026 Cannes presentation its deeper character.