Where To Find Your Next Yacht: The IYC Show Guide
Where To Find Your Next Yacht: The IYC Show Guide
When it comes to purchasing a yacht, a yacht show can be one of the most useful places to start. Yacht shows take place around the world throughout the year. In a few days, prospective owners can step aboard multiple yachts to compare layouts and designs, meet shipyards, and get a feel for what is currently available on the market. But no two yacht shows are the same; each one has its own strengths and is best for certain buyers.
Some yacht shows are geared towards first-time buyers and production yachts, while others are focused on the superyacht market. Many of the global shows offer a huge variety across various locations, and others take place in a more concentrated environment for buyers.
With yacht shows taking place across Europe, America and the Middle East, choosing the right one depends on what you are looking for; here are some of the most important ones to consider when you are looking to buy a luxury yacht:
The European Shows
Cannes Yachting Festival
Location: Cannes, France. When: 8-13 September 2026. Best for: First-time buyers, production yachts, sailing yachts, smaller to mid-sized motor yachts.
Cannes is the natural starting point for buyers who want to compare a broad range of yachts in one place. The show spans Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto, with motor yachts concentrated in the Vieux Port and sailing yachts at Port Canto. This year’s edition includes around 700 boats, offering a huge choice. The Cannes Yachting Festival is best for those who want variety and options rather than just being focused on the superyacht market.
Monaco Yacht Show
Location: Monaco. When: 23-26 September 2026. Best for: UHNW buyers, 98’+, large brokerage yachts, new builds and superyacht projects
Just after Cannes, the Monaco Yacht Show kicks off and is one of the most prestigious and important events of the year for prospective superyacht owners. The 2026 show will feature more than 120 superyachts as well as luxury tenders and companies related to the superyacht world. IYC plays a major role at the Monaco Yacht Show, arranging various private yacht viewings alongside luxury lifestyle events with various partners. This is the show for those who are considering larger yachts, whether buying an existing yacht, exploring a new build project or simply seeing what’s at the top end of the market.
Genoa International Boat Show
Location: Genoa, Italy. When: 1-6 October 2026. Best for: Italian-built yachts and production yachts.
Genoa is worth including; though completely different from Monaco and Cannes, this Italian show covers yachts from smaller vessels to high-end yachts. One of Italy’s largest marine events, it is a useful opportunity to meet leading builders and gain insights into Italian-built yachts.
Boot Düsseldorf
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany. When: 23-31 January 2027. Best for: First-time buyers, production yachts, sailing yachts and buyers looking for a broad range of marine products.
Boot Düsseldorf offers a very different experience from the Mediterranean shows, taking place indoors across a vast exhibition space rather than in a marina. It is particularly useful for buyers in the early stages of their search, as it showcases an extensive selection of sailing yachts, motor yachts, tenders, equipment, and marine technology. For those looking to compare brands and get a sense of the wider market in a single visit, boot can be an efficient place to start.
Palma International Boat Show
Location: Palma de Mallorca, Spain. When: 28 April - 1 May 2027. Best for: Mediterranean buyers, sailing yachts, brokerage yachts and refit-focused owners.
The Palma International Boat Show is a strong choice for buyers who spend time in the Mediterranean, particularly those interested in sailing yachts and the Balearic market. Held at the start of the 2027 Mediterranean season, the show brings together yachts, shipyards, brokers and marine businesses on Palma’s waterfront. Its location also makes it particularly relevant for owners considering cruising in the Balearics or looking at yachts with a strong Mediterranean connection.
The American Shows
Newport International Boat Show
Location: Newport, Rhode Island. When: 17-20 September 2026. Best for: US East Coast buyers, sailing yachts and smaller to mid-sized yachts.
The Newport show offers another valuable entry point to the US market, particularly for those with connections to the East Coast. Located at Newport’s historic waterfront, the show has a strong sailing and recreational boating presence as well as motor yachts. It is a great option for buyers interested in the New England market or seeking a more intimate show experience. It is certainly a worthwhile regional show for US East Coast clients.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS)
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida. When: 28 October - 1 November 2026. Best for: US buyers, broad brokerage inventory, larger yachts
Spanning seven locations and six miles of floating docks, including the Superyacht Village at Pier 66, FLIBS is one of the largest and most comprehensive yacht shows in the world. For those who want to see as much of the US market as possible in one trip, this is the show to attend. Not only yachts to view, but there are also tenders, marine technology, and lifestyle brands that showcase here. The scale of the show means it's possible to see a huge variety of yachts and products.
Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS)
Location: Palm Beach, Florida. When: 17-21 March 2027. Best for: US-based buyers, brokerage clients and 82’-164’ yachts.
The Palm Beach International Boat Show is ideal for clients who want to view a strong selection without navigating a multi-site event like the one in Fort Lauderdale. The US show offers a substantial selection of yachts from leading shipyards in a relatively compact setting, perfect for those looking for an efficient US buying experience. Its spring timing is also a useful opportunity for buyers considering cruising and ownership in the region.
Newport Beach International Boat Show (NBIBS)
Location: Newport Beach, California. When: 15-18 April 2027. Best for: West Coast buyers, Southern California clients, luxury yachts and lifestyle-focused buyers.
Over on the opposite West Coast, the Newport Beach International Boat Show is a great entry point to the Southern California market. Its in-water yacht display offers a broader luxury lifestyle experience. Held at Lido Marina Village, the show brings together leading builders and brokerages alongside marine technology, tenders, vehicles and luxury brands. The combination of yachts, restaurants, boutiques and waterfront venues also makes Newport Beach particularly well suited to clients who want to extend their yacht-show experience.
Rest Of The World
Dubai International Yacht Show
Location: Dubai, UAE. When: 25-29 November 2026. Best for: Middle Eastern Clients, international buyers, and yachts for warmer cruising grounds.
The Middle East is becoming an increasingly popular yachting hub. Dubai has become the region’s luxury hotspot, and its annual show is becoming an important meeting point between the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The show is also an opportunity to meet international builders and consultants without traveling to the traditional European yacht show circuit.
Singapore Yachting Festival
Location: Singapore. When: 22-25 April 2027. Best for: Clients based in or interested in the Asia-Pacific market.
Singapore is an important gateway to the Asia-Pacific yachting market, and its annual show provides a more regional experience. For those based in Asia or considering cruising or yacht ownership in the region, the event is the perfect chance to meet with international brands and explore the region’s growing yachting scene.
Which Yacht Show Is Right For You?
With so many yacht shows on the global calendar, it is important to prioritize the one that is best for you. Whether you are looking for your first or third yacht, looking at motor or sail, and where you are and want to cruise, IYC can direct you to the right one. Our teams are present at all the world’s leading yacht shows throughout the year, helping clients navigate the yachts, opportunities and the conversations that matter most.
Whichever stage of ownership you are at, IYC's expert consultants are always on hand to help you choose the right show, arrange private viewings and make the most of your time at yacht shows. Contact our consultants today to plan your next yacht show visit.
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