The Riva 56' Rivale Super and Ferretti Yachts 720 have both received Best Evolution honours at the 2026 World Yachts Trophies in Cannes. The awards were presented on September 12 at the conclusion of the Cannes Yachting Festival, with Ferretti Group collecting five trophies across its wider portfolio.
Luxury Yacht Guide is focusing on the two winners that fall below the 24-metre threshold. The Riva 56' Rivale Super won in the 45–64ft category, while the Ferretti Yachts 720 took the corresponding award in the 64–80ft category.
Riva 56 Rivale Super wins Best Evolution
The Riva 56 Rivale Super received the Best Evolution award in the 45–64ft, or 13.70–19.50m, category. The award recognises the way the Rivale concept has been updated rather than judging the yacht as an entirely separate design family.
That distinction is useful because successful production yachts often evolve through changes to layout, detailing, systems and styling instead of being replaced wholesale. For buyers, a mature platform can provide the benefit of accumulated owner feedback while still incorporating newer equipment and design ideas.
Ferretti Yachts 720 takes the larger class
The Ferretti Yachts 720 received Best Evolution in the 64–80ft, or 19.50–24m, category. That places it at the upper end of Luxury Yacht Guide coverage, where buyers increasingly expect the accommodation, exterior spaces and systems sophistication traditionally associated with larger superyachts.
The 720 award also follows its prominent 2026 show-season appearances, giving Ferretti another marketing milestone for the updated flybridge model. Awards do not replace a technical assessment, but they can indicate which new or revised yachts have attracted attention from the broader industry during a crowded launch season.
Ferretti Group collected five trophies overall
Ferretti Group also won awards with the Riva 96 Argo Super, Riva 54Metri and Custom Line Navetta 35, all of which exceed the Luxury Yacht Guide size limit. Those larger results show the breadth of the group’s showing in Cannes but are outside the scope of LYG’s yacht coverage.
Keeping the distinction matters because the operating model changes substantially once yachts move beyond 24 metres. The two Best Evolution winners covered here remain relevant to owners looking for larger luxury yachts without crossing into the full superyacht category.
Cannes closes with recognition for two LYG models
The World Yachts Trophies traditionally form part of the closing weekend around the Cannes Yachting Festival, giving builders an immediate assessment after many models have made their public premieres. Ferretti Group’s two sub-24-metre wins therefore arrive at the same moment buyers are comparing the boats directly on the water.
For LYG, both yachts already have dedicated production-model records, allowing the award news to sit alongside their specifications and model information rather than as isolated publicity. That relationship is useful for readers who want to move from an award headline to a practical comparison of the yachts themselves.
