Monaco Yacht Show's 35th edition draws 120 superyachts to Port Hercule

Port Hercule looked nothing like its usual self for four days last month. The quays were given over entirely to the 35th Monaco Yacht Show, with around 120 superyachts moored stern-to along the harbour and a further ring of tenders, water toys and support vessels filling the gaps between them. More than 560 exhibitors set up stands across the port and the adjoining Darse Nord, from shipyards and naval architects to brokers and interior designers.

For residents used to walking the port on a quiet September evening, the scale of the takeover is hard to miss each year. Captains and crew moved between vessels in branded polos, brokers held meetings on aft decks, and the usual mix of joggers and dog walkers had to find routes around security checkpoints and hospitality marquees. Traffic along Quai Albert 1er and Avenue du Président J.F. Kennedy was noticeably heavier through the show's four days, a pattern now familiar to anyone who lives near the harbour.

The show remains one of the few weeks of the year when Monaco's yachting economy is visible rather than simply present. Shipyards use the event to unveil new builds and confirm orders, brokers close deals that have been in progress for months, and the knock-on effect reaches hotels, restaurants and the port's service trades. For an industry that quietly underpins a large share of Monaco's economy year-round, the Yacht Show is the one occasion when it steps fully into view, before the fleet disperses and Port Hercule returns to its usual rhythm.