Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026: Debuts, Tech and Events

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026: What to Expect This Year

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026 runs October 28 through November 1 across six locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This is the 67th edition, and it is the largest in-water boat show in the world. More than 1,300 boats are on display, with over 50 debuts ranging from a new 46' outboard sport yacht to a 100' hybrid flagship. Several superyachts over 200' LOA are on the docks as well. For buyers on the East Coast, this is the one week of the year when nearly every builder, broker and equipment maker is within a water-taxi ride of each other.

Why the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Matters

Monaco sets the pace for large-yacht construction. Fort Lauderdale is where the American market buys. The show covers the full range in one city: center consoles and sportfishing boats at the Convention Center, flybridge and motor yachts at Bahia Mar, and superyachts at Pier Sixty-Six. A buyer can compare a new build against late-model brokerage, and a 40' outboard boat against a 100' hybrid, in the same afternoon.

The timing matters too. Builders bring their new models here for the start of the Florida and Bahamas season, and owners selling before winter list in time to be shown. What is on the docks this week is a fair picture of what will be cruising Florida, the Bahamas and the Northeast over the next several seasons.

What to Expect at the 2026 Show

The show is spread across six locations, connected by complimentary shuttles, golf carts and the Water Taxi:

• Bahia Mar Yachting Center: the main show, with motor yachts, flybridges and the largest concentration of new models

• Superyacht Village and Pier Sixty-Six Marina: the large-yacht display, with the Windward VIP Lounge and a new helicopter landing pad

• Las Olas Marina: yachts from roughly 60' to 200' LOA, plus a floating pickleball court new this year

• Hall of Fame Marina: in-water power and sportfishing displays

• Broward County Convention Center: boats under about 50', electronics, fishing and diving equipment, seminars and family programs

Superyachts on the Docks

Draak · Oceanco · 92.9m (305')

The largest yacht in this year’s show. Delivered in 2014 and since converted to support scientific research and exploration as a companion to the 111m Leviathan. She carries a dive center, a medical treatment area and a hyperbaric chamber, and has extensive tender and equipment-handling capacity.

Lady Christine · Feadship · 68m (223')

Delivered in 2010, with naval architecture and exterior by De Voogt and interiors by Rodney Black Design Studios. Ten guests, twin MTU engines, and a range of about 7,600 nm.

Scout · Hakvoort · 64m (209')

An ice-class explorer delivered in 2019, with commercial-inspired styling by H2 Yacht Design. She has a helideck, a forward observation lounge and a range of about 4,800 nm.

Ocean Alexander 40P · 40m (132')

The Puro series flagship, making her U.S. debut. Exterior by Giorgio M. Cassetta, naval architecture by Andrea Agrusta. Five cabins for 10 guests and nine crew, with an OctoPlex control system.

The New Builds to Watch

Pearl 100 Hybrid · Pearl Yachts · 30.5m (100')

Pearl’s largest model and its first with hybrid propulsion, making her world debut. A raised pilothouse with five staterooms, exterior by Bill Dixon and interior by Kelly Hoppen. She was designed around the hybrid platform from the start rather than converted to it.

Numarine 30XP · 30m (98')

Numarine’s first diesel-electric hybrid option, on a 208 GT explorer hull. Twin 560 hp MAN engines, a 13-knot top speed, about 3,000 nm at 8 knots, and a fold-down beach club of 46 m².

Azimut Grande 30M · 30m (98')

Exterior by Alberto Mancini, interior by m2atelier. Part of Azimut’s Low Emission Yacht range, with fuel and CO₂ reductions of up to 30 percent.

Horizon FD110 Tri-Deck · 110'

Five staterooms, an on-deck master, an enclosed sky lounge and a beach club. She is berthed at the Bahia Mar face dock, slips 600–606.

Viking 70 Convertible · Viking Yacht Company · 70'10"

The second-generation 70 replaces the 68 and is one of four Viking and Valhalla world premieres. Beam 18'11", four staterooms, five heads, a 194 sq ft cockpit and an estimated top speed of 43 knots. The Viking 64 Sport Coupe and 50 Sport Coupe also make their debuts.

Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht · Valhalla Boatworks · 46'7"

An outboard sport yacht with an open or enclosed pilothouse and 800 gallons of fuel, for owners who want Viking construction in an outboard boat.

Galeon 570 SKY · Galeon Yachts · 57'

A world debut with the profile of a hardtop and a concealed flybridge helm. Fold-down Beach Mode balconies open the hull to the water, and a tender garage keeps the deck clear.

Princess C48 · Princess Yachts · 49'

A world premiere and the first Princess offered with outboards, in Open and Deck Saloon versions.

Premieres Closer to Home: Yachts Under 70 Feet

Many of this year’s debuts suit owner-operators cruising Florida, the Bahamas and the Northeast:

• Prestige M8 EVO · 65': U.S. debut of the flagship power catamaran, with a full-beam flybridge and an owner’s suite reached from the main deck

• Horizon PC68A · 68': a power catamaran built for accessible cruising, with an elevator serving every deck, a retractable boarding ramp and a 2,000 Ah battery bank

• Absolute Navetta 66 · 64': U.S. debut, three decks with a sheltered cockpit terrace

• Hunt 56 · 63'1": twin Volvo Penta IPS 950, about 30 knots as a flybridge and 32 as an express

• Sunseeker Manhattan 56: U.S. debut, twin Volvo Penta D13-800, 32-knot top speed

• Aventura 56 Motor Yacht: U.S. premiere of a long-range power catamaran

• Nordhavn 46 MK II: a new design built on the original N46, nearly 40 years later

• Maritimo S50: an Adventure Deck with an extended swim platform and a lazarette for a tender or toys

• Hanover 327: public debut of the newest 7 Series model, inboard or outboard

• Hinckley 41: triple Mercury Verado V-10s on a 22-degree deadrise hull

Design and Technology in the Spotlight

Hybrid Propulsion at 100 Feet

Pearl and Numarine are each showing their first hybrid yachts, both at 30 meters. For owners, the practical gains are quieter running at anchor and lower fuel burn at displacement speeds. Ask about range on battery, battery service life and warranty terms before you compare price.

Lithium in Place of the Generator

The Scout 435 LXF Li-Ion runs its house loads on a lithium bank charged by its outboards, so it needs no generator. The Horizon PC68A’s 2,000 Ah bank serves the same purpose at a larger size. A quiet night at anchor is now possible well below the superyacht range.

Lighter Construction

The Delta 72, drawn with Mannerfelt Design, is built in carbon fiber to reduce fuel burn and extend range. Scout uses carbon epoxy construction on the 435 LXF for the same reasons.

Outboards Move Up

Princess, Valhalla and Hinckley all now build outboard yachts between 41' and 49'. Outboards give an owner simpler maintenance and freed-up space where the engine room would be. The tradeoff is higher fuel burn at cruise than a comparable inboard boat, and buyers should weigh that.

Integrated Control and Stabilization

Systems such as OctoPlex on the Ocean Alexander 40P bring lighting, climate, tankage and alarms into a single interface. Gyro stabilization is now standard on boats in the low 40s, including the Scout 435.

Events and Seminars

• Best of Show: an independent panel judges debut vessels over and under 60', and the winners are announced in a one-hour FOX Sports special.

• Seminars: complimentary all five days, covering boating safety, navigation, knot tying, boat handling and cruising to the Bahamas. A separate RefitX seminar program covers refit topics.

• Windward VIP: the VIP Lounge returns to Superyacht Village and the Cabana Club moves to Bahia Mar. Chefs Ryan O’Sullivan and Dave White are cooking, and a one-day VIP ticket is $459.

• Floating pickleball, Las Olas Marina: a tournament for yacht crew.

• Families: The Blue Wild exhibits and a Kids Corner at the Convention Center. Don Dingman’s Hook the Future fishing clinics run Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m., with a rod and reel for each child.

Tickets and Hours

Tickets are sold online only at flibs.com. There is no box office on site, and digital tickets are scanned at entry.

• Wednesday, October 28 (Preview Day): 12:00–19:00

• Thursday through Saturday: 10:00–19:00

• Sunday, November 1: 10:00–17:00

Active military and veterans can request one complimentary general admission ticket for Sunday in advance through flibs.com.

A ticket gets you onto the docks, but not necessarily aboard. Larger yachts and many debuts are shown by appointment through the listing broker or the builder’s sales team, and those calendars fill early in show week.

How to Get to the Show

• By air: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is a short drive from Bahia Mar. A helicopter shuttle runs from FLL and Fort Lauderdale Executive to Pier Sixty-Six, and 10-minute helicopter tours are $600 per flight.

• By train: Brightline serves Fort Lauderdale from Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

• By water: the Water Taxi connects the venues, with a $15 day pass at watertaxi.com/FLIBS.

• By car: parking near the show fills quickly. Park once and use the free shuttles between venues.

Planning a Productive Visit

• Buy tickets online and have them saved to your phone before you arrive.

• Allow two days. Six venues is too much ground to cover in one.

• Start at the Convention Center for electronics and smaller boats, then move to the marinas.

• Book boarding appointments in advance, and have them confirmed with the broker’s mobile number.

• Wear soft-soled shoes that slip off easily, since shoes come off at the passerelle.

• For any boat you are considering, ask whether the boat on display is the standard build or carries options. Come with questions on LOA, beam, draft, fuel and water capacity, warranty and service network.

• Ask before taking photographs aboard.

Fort Lauderdale in Late October: The Setting

The end of October is when South Florida turns back toward the water. The heat has eased, the season is starting, and boats are moving south from the Northeast for winter. The show spreads across the city’s marinas along the Intracoastal and the New River. The best way to see it is from the water, and the Water Taxi passes the yachts tied up along the way.

Final Thoughts

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is where the American market meets the year’s new models. This year’s fleet shows the direction plainly: hybrid propulsion reaching the 100' class, lithium replacing generators on smaller boats, outboards moving onto larger hulls, and more long-range capability at every size. For buyers, it is also the most efficient week of the year to weigh a new build against brokerage, side by side, in the water.

Spencer Christopher Yacht and Ship has an office in Fort Lauderdale. If you saw a yacht on the docks this week and want an independent view of her before you make an offer, we are available to help.