Groupe Beneteau makes a big splash at Cannes with 24 new models

Groupe Beneteau chooses to maintain an offensive strategy in a nautical market still characterized by uncertainty and longer decision-making times for boat purchases by owners. At the Cannes Yachting Festival, the group presented 24 new models for the 2026-2027 season, staying true to its ambitious program that foresees a total of 66 launches between 2025 and 2027. The renewal pace of the Group’s ranges has increased by 50% compared to the previous three-year period: following the 23 models presented in 2025, 24 new releases are being introduced for the new season.

Initial results seem to support this strategy. Models launched in 2025 represented nearly 30% of sales in the first half of 2026, while retail sales during the same period grew by 14% compared to the first half of 2025. “In an uncertain market, we do not intend to stand idly by. We continue to invest, accelerate, and act on the factors we can control. Our strategy is clear: to offer the right products and services, from accessible boating to high-end yachting,” stated Bruno Thivoyon, Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe Beneteau.

The Groupe Beneteau Offering Covers All Segments

The 24 new releases presented in Cannes reflect a strategy structured on several fronts: accessibility, renewal of core segments, new usages, and premium segment growth. In the monohull sailing sector, Beneteau and Jeanneau continue the renewal of their respective ranges with the First 36 Spirit, Oceanis 42, Sun Odyssey 385, and First 60. The four models cover different market positionings, from accessible performance sailing to high-end offerings.

For multihulls, the group is strengthening multiple segments. The Lagoon 47 refreshes the core range, while the Excess 16 becomes the brand’s new flagship. Finally, with the Lagoon Eighty3, the Lagoon brand further expands its lineup in the premium power catamaran sector.

Another interesting new release from Jeanneau is the Sea Loft 480, moving from the concept phase presented last year into production. The vessel is particularly intended for charter, tourism, and the hospitality sector.

Dayboating: More Models and New Segments

In dayboating, Groupe Beneteau is accelerating the renewal of its lineup with a series of models designed for different needs and markets. The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 6.0 CC represents the entry point to the range, aiming to offer an accessible and competitive solution, while the Beneteau Flyer 30 expands the brand’s presence in new segments, with a special focus on the North American market.

Jeanneau also introduces a new lineup with the EX 34, offered in Hardtop and Cabin versions. Finally, the development of the Wellcraft brand continues with the new 33 T-Top and 33 Explorer. Groupe Beneteau’s overall objective is to broaden choices while maintaining an offering capable of covering both daily use and more specialized recreational activities.

Motor Yacht Range Renewal

The motor yacht sector is also undergoing a substantial renewal program. Beneteau presented the new Gran Turismo 40 Open, Gran Turismo 45 Open, and Gran Turismo 45, in addition to the Swift Trawler 43 and Swift Trawler 49. But Cannes also featured the Gran Turismo 50, a model highlighting the collaboration developed between Beneteau and Alpine.

Particularly extensive is Prestige’s program, which presented five new models, marking the most significant launch plan in the brand’s history. The range expands downward with the C43, a new entry-level model to the Prestige universe, while the F6.7 model takes on the role of new flagship. The brand also continues to invest in the multihull segment with the evolution of the M6 and M8 models.

A New Organization to Support the Pace of Development

A program of 66 launches in three years also requires an evolution of internal processes. To sustain this pace of development, Groupe Beneteau created a new cross-functional Design Center bringing together product expertise, naval architecture, and design. The new organization was designed to allow the group to manage a high number of projects simultaneously while maintaining the renewal rhythm scheduled in the 2025-2027 plan. The strategy therefore concerns not only catalog expansion, but also the industrial and design capacity required to maintain a launch cadence significantly higher than in the past.

Alongside new models, Groupe Beneteau is expanding services designed to accompany customers throughout the boat’s lifecycle. Wiziboat offers subscription-based usage options through 34 bases, while other solutions are dedicated to owners who wish to use, customize, and manage their boat more easily.

A central role is also given to Seanapps, the platform that today connects over 15,000 boats, enabling usage monitoring, facilitating maintenance, and improving the connection between owners and the service network.

NEO Expands: From Two to Eight Models

It is from this logic of ongoing support that the expansion of NEO was born, the program dedicated to pre-owned boats. After an initial phase focused on two Lagoon models, Groupe Beneteau is accelerating the project by taking it from two to eight models and involving three brands: Lagoon, Beneteau, and Jeanneau.

NEO was created with the objective of giving boats a second life through refit and modernization work carried out directly by the manufacturer. The project fits into the group’s environmental strategy, which identifies four main levers for action: naval architecture, energy management, materials, and extending the service life of boats through refits. These actions contribute to Groupe Beneteau’s goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2022 levels.

The logic behind NEO is twofold: on one hand, extending the operational life of boats, and on the other, making the pre-owned market more accessible by offering boats reconditioned and updated directly by the manufacturer. The potential is significant: according to Groupe Beneteau, for every new boat sold, three to five pre-owned boats change hands. The shipyard therefore intends to take a more active role in the secondary market, providing expertise and data that are difficult for independent operators to replicate. Indeed, Groupe Beneteau can count on direct knowledge of the boats it designed and built, original technical data for individual units, three specialized Mediterranean sites with direct access to the sea, and the industrial capabilities needed to update boats and integrate new technologies.

56 Groupe Beneteau Models in Cannes

Groupe Beneteau’s presence at the Cannes Yachting Festival totaled 56 models, of which 18 are new releases for the 2026-2027 season and 11 are world debuts. The event was therefore not only a showcase for new models, but also the occasion when the group presented its medium-term strategy: accelerating renewal, expanding services, increasing accessibility, and progressively shifting toward the premium segment.

Conclusions

Groupe Beneteau’s strategy for the 2025-2027 three-year period combines a particularly strong launch pace with an evolution of its offering that spans products, services, and the pre-owned market. The 24 new releases presented in Cannes confirm the intent to maintain a presence across virtually all main pleasure boating segments, from accessibility to luxury. In this context, NEO represents perhaps the most significant industrial evolution: the manufacturer no longer looks solely at selling new units, but also at managing the subsequent life of its boats. An approach combining refitting, circularity, and accessibility that could become an increasingly important component in the relationship between major nautical groups, boats, and boat owners.

Sources and References

Groupe Beneteau at Cannes 2026 – FAQ