Cannes Yachting Festival 2026: New Boat Launches Featuring Flexiteek

As summer draws to a close, attention turns to one of the biggest events in the marine industry: Cannes Yachting Festival 2026!

Taking place from 8-13 September 2026 across Cannes’ Vieux Port and Port Canto, the festival brings together more than 700 boats and yachts, from motor yachts and sailing boats to multihulls, day boats and RIBs. It is one of the key events in the international boating calendar, giving the industry an early look at the latest boat launches, technologies, designs, and materials.

For boat builders, designers, and owners, new launches are about more than hull design and onboard technology. The materials selected for each boat also play an important role in its appearance, performance, comfort, and long-term ownership experience.

One material continuing to make its mark across the latest generation of boats is Flexiteek synthetic teak decking.

Which new boats at Cannes 2026 feature Flexiteek?

The Cannes Yachting Festival is always an exciting event, with global, French, and European launches taking place throughout the show. For us, one of the highlights is seeing how many of the latest boats feature Flexiteek decking, whether specified as factory-fitted equipment or offered as an available upgrade.

This year is no exception, with Flexiteek featuring across a wide range of new and updated models. Among the launches and boats to look out for are:

The list reflects the breadth of the market adopting synthetic teak decking, from compact day boats and performance cruisers to larger motor yachts, sailing yachts, and multihulls.

Flexiteek on the Level 43 ST

The Level 43 ST is one of the boats to look out for at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026, combining a contemporary design with generous outdoor living spaces.

For Flexiteek, the Level 43 ST is particularly exciting because it demonstrates how synthetic teak decking can become an integral part of a yacht’s overall design. The decking helps define the exterior living areas while complementing the clean, modern styling of the boat.

With its focus on outdoor space and time spent on the water, the Level 43 ST is a great example of how the right decking can contribute to both the look and feel of a modern yacht.

Tesoro Yachts T40 Inboard

Another standout at Cannes is the Tesoro T40, a walkaround yacht designed around outdoor living, comfort and personalisation.

Tesoro describes the T40 as a yacht where everything from the deck configuration to the onboard living spaces can be tailored to the owner’s lifestyle. The design creates a continuous connection with the sea, from the forward areas through to the cockpit and generous stern platform.

This makes decking an important part of the overall design. The Flexiteek-fitted T40 shows how synthetic teak can be incorporated into these high-use exterior areas, providing a premium finish while complementing the yacht’s contemporary styling.

The T40 is available in both Sport and Comfort configurations, with the Comfort version using twin Volvo Penta D4 300HP engines, while the Sport version is powered by twin Mercury 350HP V10 engines.

De Antonio Yachts D36 Cabin

The De Antonio Yachts D36 Cabin brings a different approach to the Cannes lineup, combining the performance and outdoor character of a day boat with the added protection of a fully enclosed cabin.

De Antonio describes the D36 Cabin as featuring a fully enclosed central cabin with sliding side doors, a rear accordion-style opening, and a rigid roof with an overhead opening, creating a more comfortable and versatile space on board.

At 11.14 metres in length, with space for up to 12 passengers and engine options ranging from 700HP to 850HP, the D36 Cabin is designed for both performance and practical time on the water.

The Flexiteek decking adds another layer to the boat’s design, bringing the familiar look of teak to the exterior areas while offering the practical benefits of a synthetic decking system.

Flexiteek and the next generation of boat design

Together, the Level 43 ST, Tesoro T40 and De Antonio D36 Cabin demonstrate three different approaches to modern yacht design, but they share a common focus: creating attractive, practical exterior spaces designed to be used and enjoyed.

The growing number of new boats specifying Flexiteek reflects a wider change in the marine industry.

Today’s boat builders are looking for materials that can deliver the appearance owners want while also meeting increasingly demanding requirements around weight, maintenance, comfort, durability and sustainability.

Flexiteek 3 has been developed with these requirements in mind.

At just 4.5 kg per m², Flexiteek 3 is up to 35% lighter than other synthetic decking systems. Independent testing has also verified that Flexiteek 3 can cool up to 30% faster than alternative decking solutions. Its anti-slip performance has also been independently tested.

For performance-focused boats, reducing weight can be particularly valuable. Decking is positioned above the waterline, so reducing weight in this area can contribute to a lower overall boat weight and centre of gravity.

For owners, however, performance is only part of the equation.

A deck needs to look good, feel comfortable underfoot, and withstand the demands of life on the water. It also needs to be practical to maintain.

That is where synthetic teak has increasingly become an attractive alternative to traditional teak.

From factory option to design feature

One of the most interesting developments is the way Flexiteek is increasingly being considered during the boat design and build process, rather than simply being added as an aftermarket product.

For many boat builders, offering Flexiteek as a factory-fitted option allows the decking design to be considered alongside the rest of the boat.

This means details such as colour, caulking, plank direction, borders and patterns can be integrated into the overall design.

The result is a more cohesive finish and gives boat owners greater choice when configuring their new yacht.

The move towards factory-fitted synthetic decking can also be seen across a range of boat types, demonstrating that the material is no longer limited to one particular segment of the marine market.

What does Cannes 2026 tell us about boat decking trends?

The boats on display at Cannes provide a useful snapshot of where the marine industry is heading.

Several trends stand out.

1. Contemporary decking designs

Modern yachts increasingly use decking as part of the boat’s visual identity. Cleaner lines, modern colours and contrasting caulking can create a more contemporary appearance than traditional teak.

2. Lighter materials

Weight is becoming increasingly important, particularly for high-performance motorboats, sailing yachts, and multihulls. Lightweight decking can help designers manage weight above the waterline.

3. Lower-maintenance materials

Boat owners want to spend more time enjoying their boats and less time maintaining them. Synthetic decking provides a low-maintenance alternative to natural teak without requiring the same level of ongoing treatment.

4. More choices for new boat owners

Factory-fitted decking is increasingly becoming part of the configuration process. Owners can select finishes and designs that complement the specification of their boat rather than treating decking as an afterthought.

5. Sustainability is becoming part of material selection

Material choices are also being examined through a wider sustainability lens. Flexiteek 3 uses bio-attributed PVC made using tall oil, helping to reduce reliance on fossil-based raw materials. Flexiteek’s approach is part of a wider industry movement towards considering the environmental impact of materials alongside their performance.

Flexiteek at Cannes Yachting Festival 2026

With hundreds of boats gathered across the Vieux Port and Port Canto, Cannes Yachting Festival provides one of the best opportunities of the year to see how yacht design is evolving.

For Flexiteek, the presence of its decking across a growing number of new boat models demonstrates how synthetic teak has become an established choice for boat builders and owners looking for a combination of style, practicality and performance.

And with new launches from brands including De Antonio Yachts, Level Yachts, Tesoro Yachts, Pardo Yachts, Fountaine Pajot, Delta Powerboats, Saxdor and others, Cannes 2026 is set to provide plenty of inspiration for the next generation of boats.

If you are visiting the Cannes Yachting Festival, look closely at the decks. You may be surprised by just how many of the newest boats are fitted with Flexiteek.