What to Do in Cannes on September 5 and 6, 2026: Events, Sports, Art and Must-See Attractions

The first weekend of September brings a varied programme of events to Cannes, combining art, heritage, sport and local life. On Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, the city on the French Riviera offers several opportunities for visitors who want to spend a few days in Cannes while discovering its cultural attractions, enjoying outdoor activities and taking part in events dedicated to the local community.

The city’s official calendar highlights two cultural events on Saturday, September 5, while Sunday will feature two particularly notable events: the spectacular Traversée à la nage des Îles de Lérins, a swimming challenge between the Lérins Islands, and Viva Associations, a major event celebrating Cannes’ local associations.

Saturday, September 5: art and heritage in Cannes

The weekend can begin with a cultural experience at the guided tour of Marion Charlet’s exhibition, scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10:00 am. The one-hour tour focuses on the exhibition Marion Charlet – Happiness, hosted at the Suquet des Artistes, 7 rue Saint-Dizier, in the heart of Cannes’ historic Le Suquet district.

The guided tour offers visitors the opportunity to explore the artist’s work in greater depth with the assistance of a mediator. Marion Charlet’s paintings combine architecture, nature, perspective and particularly vibrant colours, creating landscapes suspended between reality and imagination. The Happiness exhibition runs until January 10, 2027, making it one of the most interesting cultural attractions to visit in Cannes in early September.

The September 5 guided tour costs €6.50 for the standard ticket and €4.50 for the reduced rate. The tour lasts approximately one hour, and advance booking through Cannes City Hall’s ticketing service is recommended. For further information, visitors can contact Suquet des Artistes at +33 (0)4 97 06 45 21.

After exploring contemporary art, the afternoon offers the chance to experience a completely different side of Cannes with a guided tour of Villa Domergue, one of the city’s most fascinating and distinctive landmarks. The tours take place on Saturday, September 5 at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, with two one-hour sessions available.

The visit takes place at Villa Domergue and its gardens, 15 avenue Fiesole, impasse Fiesole, 06400 Cannes, on the hills overlooking the city. It is an opportunity to discover an important part of Cannes’ architectural and artistic heritage. The villa was built in 1934 by Jean-Gabriel Domergue and is strongly influenced by Italian architecture. Its terraced gardens feature pools and waterfalls, creating an exceptional setting. The property was added to the French register of historic monuments in 1990.

Access to Villa Domergue is by reservation only. The standard ticket costs €8.50, with several reduced rates available, including €5.50 for visitors aged 18 to 25 and Cannes Pass Culture holders, while certain groups, including students and visitors under 18, can benefit from a €2 rate. Further information is available from the Pôle d’Art Contemporain de Cannes at +33 (0)4 97 06 45 21.

Sunday, September 6: a swimming challenge between the Lérins Islands

Sunday morning starts early for water sports enthusiasts. At 7:00 am on Sunday, September 6, 2026, the Traversée à la nage des Îles de Lérins gets underway, offering one of the most spectacular sporting experiences of the weekend against the natural backdrop of the Lérins archipelago.

The event takes place around Île Sainte-Marguerite, 06400 Cannes, and involves a swimming crossing of approximately 1.5 kilometres between Sainte-Marguerite Island and Saint-Honorat Island. The event is organised by the Les Amis de l’île Sainte-Marguerite association, with the support of Cannes City Hall.

One of the most appealing aspects of the event is that it is open to a wide range of participants. The challenge welcomes amateur swimmers and enthusiasts, as well as licensed and non-licensed participants. It is therefore not exclusively aimed at professional athletes, but is designed to involve swimmers with different levels of experience.

The event is scheduled to run from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Visitors planning to attend should pay particular attention to the organisation of transportation to the islands, as the event takes place at sea. Even for those who are not participating, the Lérins Islands provide a spectacular setting for beginning the day away from the bustle of the Croisette.

The event is also included in Cannes’ official calendar and was updated by the Cannes Tourist Office on August 13, 2026.

Viva Associations: Sunday, September 6 is dedicated to Cannes’ local associations

From 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday, September 6, the focus of the city’s activities moves to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, 1 boulevard de la Croisette, where Viva Associations will take place.

This is one of the most interesting events for anyone who wants to discover Cannes’ local community life. Organised by Cannes City Hall, the event brings together nearly 200 associations working across a wide range of fields, including sport, culture, leisure and many other activities. The aim is to allow residents and visitors to meet local organisations directly, gather information and discover activities they can take part in throughout the year.

Viva Associations is more than just an information fair. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy demonstrations, sporting activities, introductory sessions and competitions, transforming the Palais des Festivals into a large space dedicated to participation and community life. Admission is free, making the event particularly attractive to families and visitors travelling with children and teenagers.

For anyone staying in Cannes over the weekend, Viva Associations also offers an opportunity to discover a different side of the city, beyond its international events and the glamorous atmosphere of the Croisette. It is a chance to experience the local community and the many activities that keep Cannes lively throughout the year.

A September weekend combining culture, the sea and local life

The weekend of September 5 and 6, 2026 in Cannes offers an appealing mix of experiences. Saturday is ideal for visitors interested in culture, with the guided tour of Marion Charlet’s exhibition at Suquet des Artistes and the guided tours of Villa Domergue. Sunday, meanwhile, brings together two very different events: the spectacular swimming crossing between the Lérins Islands and the community-focused Viva Associations event at the Palais des Festivals.

For visitors planning a stay in the French Riviera city, this is also an interesting time to enjoy the final events of summer in Cannes 2026, a seasonal programme that has brought exhibitions, concerts, cultural activities and events to the Croisette, Le Suquet and other parts of the city.

It is therefore a weekend that allows visitors to experience Cannes from several different perspectives: contemporary art, historical heritage, the Mediterranean waters surrounding the Lérins Islands and the city’s vibrant local community. Four different experiences that together reveal a less predictable and particularly fascinating side of Cannes at the end of summer.