The five superyacht shows that matter most

September marks the height of the yacht show season, when the world’s biggest marine events open their pontoons to buyers, builders, celebrities and the curious alike. From Britain’s South Coast to the French Riviera, from the Italian shipyards to the billionaires’ playground of Monaco and the vast marinas of Florida, the world’s leading yacht shows are launch pads for new designs, marketplaces for billion-dollar deals, and spectacles of wealth, glamour and innovation. Here are the five you simply cannot afford to miss

The yacht show circuit has grown into one of the most visible platforms for the global marine industry. These events are part marketplace and part spectacle, bringing together shipyards, brokers, financiers and designers with a clientele that ranges from first-time buyers to some of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

Each show carries its own identity. Southampton anchors the British market and attracts a broad public audience, while Cannes opens the Mediterranean season and draws strong interest from European builders. Genoa underlines the strength of Italy’s shipyards, combining design tradition with commercial scale, and Monaco has become the benchmark for the superyacht sector, a meeting point for high-net-worth investors and their advisers. Fort Lauderdale, meanwhile, the largest in the world by footprint, reflects the scale and spending power of the American market.

Together they form a circuit that drives sales, shapes trends and sustains employment across a wide range of industries linked to the sea. Contracts worth hundreds of millions are often concluded during the four days of the Monaco Yacht Show. In Florida, the Fort Lauderdale event generates more than a billion dollars of economic impact for the state. Southampton continues to underpin the UK’s marine economy, while Cannes and Genoa provide a stage for European manufacturers and charter companies.

These shows also serve as shop windows for innovation. Shipyards use them to introduce advances in propulsion, materials and design. Sustainability is now a central theme, with builders competing to demonstrate progress in hybrid power, alternative fuels and energy efficiency. Interiors reflect broader luxury trends, too, with collaborations between naval architects, fashion houses and technology firms now increasingly common.

High-profile launches, branded hospitality and celebrity appearances ensure the shows receive international media attention. For many visitors, the appeal lies as much in the atmosphere (and celeb spotting) as in the vessels: the chance to step on board, to see new technology in action, and to meet and greet the rich and famous.

Whether you are an industry insider, a prospective buyer or simply drawn to the spectacle, these are the shows you cannot afford to miss.

Southampton International Boat Show (UK)

Southampton is the anchor of the British marine calendar. Each September the city’s Mayflower Park and surrounding pontoons fill with boats of every size, from paddleboards and dinghies to 60-metre yachts. What distinguishes Southampton from its Mediterranean counterparts is its accessibility: it is as much for families and first-time buyers as it is for serious investors. Visitors can climb aboard, take sea trials in the Solent, and talk directly to builders and dealers.

The show is also a key engine for the UK’s £3.7bn leisure marine sector. Orders placed here sustain jobs across British shipyards, chandlers, designers and tourism. Increasingly, it has become a platform for sustainability, with electric dayboats, hybrid propulsion systems and even hydrogen concepts making their debut on its pontoons. Its mix of scale, inclusivity and commercial impact makes it indispensable to the UK industry.

Fact file:

• Founded: 1969
• Location: Mayflower Park, Southampton, with purpose-built pontoons in the Solent
• Scale: 600+ brands, 650 vessels, c.90,000 visitors annually
• Highlights: On-the-Water Zone for test sails and trials; green propulsion launches; marine lifestyle pavilions
• Why go: The most accessible of the big five, offering hands-on access to the full spectrum of British and European boating

Cannes Yachting Festival (France)

Cannes opens the Mediterranean season each September and sets the tone for the autumn calendar. Its twin venues, Vieux Port and Port Canto, separate motor yachts from sailing craft but together create a glamorous showcase stretching across the waterfront. Champagne receptions and branded lounges are as much a part of the scenery as the yachts themselves.

For shipyards, Cannes is a vital launchpad. Many European builders time unveilings around the festival, keen to reach Mediterranean buyers at the very start of the season. Sea trials are encouraged: boats berth in open water, ready for clients to take out into the Bay of Cannes. Alongside the yachts, the Luxury Gallery presents watches, jewellery, art and fashion, underlining the festival’s dual role as trade fair and lifestyle event.

Fact file:

• Founded: 1977
• Location: Vieux Port and Port Canto, Cannes
• Scale: 600+ exhibitors, 700 boats, 55,000 visitors from 35+ countries
• Highlights: Motor yachts in Vieux Port, sailing in Port Canto, Luxury Gallery, Riviera sea trials
• Why go: The curtain-raiser for the Mediterranean season, combining glamour with serious business

Genoa International Boat Show (Italy)

Genoa is the Mediterranean’s largest marine exhibition and the pride of Italy’s shipbuilding sector. Founded in 1962, it sprawls across 200,000 square metres of waterfront and draws more than 120,000 visitors. Its scope is unmatched: it is effectively five shows in one, covering yachts, sailing, inflatables, components and marine tourism.

The Salone Nautico is where Italian shipyards showcase their strengths. Azimut-Benetti, Ferretti, Sanlorenzo and Riva are regulars, unveiling designs that blend craftsmanship with technological innovation. Alongside the spectacle, Genoa has a serious professional side. Conferences on regulation, design and sustainability attract policymakers and trade associations, reinforcing its role as a bellwether for the health of the wider industry.

Fact file:

• Founded: 1962
• Location: Genoa, Liguria
• Scale: 1,300 exhibitors, 1,000 boats, 200,000 m² exhibition space, 120,000+ visitors
• Highlights: Five themed sectors; strong Italian design presence; industry forums on innovation and regulation
• Why go: The largest show in the Mediterranean, combining scale, tradition and cutting-edge design

Monaco Yacht Show (Principality of Monaco)

Monaco is the superyacht world’s shop window. Every September, Port Hercule is lined with some of the most expensive yachts afloat, many exceeding 70 metres. For four days, Monaco becomes a showcase for ultra-high-net-worth buyers, their advisers and a tightly curated guest list.

The event’s exclusivity sets it apart. Around 120 superyachts are displayed, with 40 world premieres typical in any given year. Alongside them, designers present concepts, interiors and sustainable technologies at the Yacht Design and Innovation Hub. Luxury brands from helicopters to hypercars exhibit nearby, reinforcing Monaco’s image as a marketplace for the global elite.

Sustainability has become more visible here too. Hybrid systems, hydrogen concepts and advances in hull design all debut in Monaco, reflecting pressure on the sector to adapt. For brokers and shipyards, though, the focus remains on connecting with the wealthiest buyers in the world.

Fact file:

• Founded: 1991
• Location: Port Hercule, Monaco
• Scale: 120+ superyachts, 40 world launches, c.30,000 visitors
• Highlights: Dockside premieres, Yacht Design & Innovation Hub, Sapphire VIP programme, luxury partner brands
• Why go: The most prestigious and exclusive event in the yacht show calendar

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (U.S)

Fort Lauderdale dwarfs all its rivals in scale. First held in 1959, it has grown into the world’s largest in-water boat show, spanning nearly 90 acres across seven sites in the self-styled “Yachting Capital of the World.” More than 100,000 visitors attend each October to view a fleet that ranges from jet skis to 100-metre superyachts.

FLIBS, as it is known, is America’s most important marine marketplace. European builders use it to reach American clients, while US manufacturers dominate with scale and variety. Its Superyacht Village rivals Monaco in size and spectacle, while its seminars, fishing competitions and luxury showcases ensure it appeals beyond the core yacht-buying audience.

The numbers underline its weight: the show generates more than $1.3 billion in economic impact for Florida, supporting tens of thousands of jobs. For anyone serious about the business of yachting, FLIBS remains the essential American stop on the circuit.

Fact file:

• Founded: 1959
• Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, across seven marinas
• Scale: 1,200+ vessels, 100,000 visitors, 90 acres of exhibition space
• Highlights: Superyacht Village, marine seminars, luxury brand showcases
• Why go: The largest yacht show in the world and the commercial powerhouse of the global industry