The Cannes Yachting Festival opens today with 456 exhibitors in attendance and close to 600 boats on show.

The show is being held at two French Riviera ports:  Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto and runs until September 11.

As many as 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, which kicks off the 2016 yacht show season and features around 100 world premieres. 

Several shipyards will offer trips out to sea so that potential buyers can try out some of the finest yachts in the world and make an informed choice. 

For 2016, the festival’s organisers have created a new space devoted to luxury called La Terrasse.  

Situated at the departure of the VIP shuttles, this new area overlooks the old port and its 500 yachts on one side, and the Cannes bay and Croisette on the other.

Dedicated to luxury brands, this new space will focus on automobiles, watches, jewellery, private aviation, prestigious property, couture houses, hotels, as well as luxury yachts.

In the wake of its successful inaugural edition in 2015, the festival's Concours d’Elégance competition will also be back. 

The Concours d’Elégance is limited to no more than 20 vintage and modern boats that are less than 12 m in length and will be held on September at Vieux Port alongside the VIP pontoon and the festival’s beach area.

Another highlight of the festival will be the 2016 World Yachts Trophies, organised by Yachts France magazine and its new owner Stéphane Guedj.

The event will take place on September 10 at the Carlton Hotel’s beach with 700 guests including industry professionals, owners of big yachts and shipyard chiefs in attendance.

The World Yachts trophies reward the best of luxury boating industry innovations from last season.

The Concours d’Elégance is supported by Frédérique Constant, Studio Harcourt Paris, Louis Roederer, Lise Charmel, Foglizzo and Skippers Motor, while Porsche is a new partner and official carrier of the festival.

Other partners include Wajer Yachts, Azzur Helicopters and Tohatsu dealer Fenwick.