Genoa, 28 September 2026 — More than 1,000 boats, 215 new models and exhibitors from 45 countries across five continents: the 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show will take place from 1 to 6 October at the new Waterfront di Levante. An event that combines maritime innovation and international exchange with sustainability, contemporary design, Italian luxury and the Mediterranean art of living.
A Renewed Site, Signed by Renzo Piano
Organised by Confindustria Nautica, the Boat Show returns to its usual October slot and takes up residence at the new Waterfront di Levante site, an integral part of the sweeping regeneration of the Genoese waterfront envisioned by architect Renzo Piano. Thanks to new exhibition spaces, the now fully restored Palasport, navigable canals and extensive in-water display areas, the site welcomes the international boating industry on every level: commercial, technological, architectural and sustainable.
The Genoa Boat Show is one of the three largest in the world. For more than sixty years it has brought together shipyards, architects, suppliers, institutions, buyers and professionals from every country, and this year its role as an international commercial platform places particular emphasis on innovation, sustainability, design and the global strength of the Italian boating industry.
The Numbers of a Sector in Full Transformation
The 2026 figures capture a market in transition: the in-water exhibition area has grown by 4%, the average size of the three largest boats in each category has increased by 14.1% compared with 2025, and the number of multihulls on display has risen by 28%.
These trends are set within a particularly dynamic Italian boating sector, which generates annual revenues of 8.6 billion euros, more than 13 billion euros in added value and approximately 170,000 jobs. Around 90% of production is destined for international markets.
“The figures for this edition carry an importance that goes beyond mere statistics, because the Genoa International Boat Show is a direct reflection of the market and the sector it represents,” declares Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica. “The expansion of the in-water exhibition area, the increase in the size of the boats on display and the evolution of the different boat categories reflect a sector in full transformation and an event capable of evolving alongside it.”
Living Made in Italy: Italian Excellence in the High-End Segment
One of the most significant trends of 2026 is the growing presence of large vessels. The new Living Made in Italy space, developed on Quay H with the support of the Italian Trade Agency, is dedicated to boats over 24 metres and will host yachts ranging from 35 to 50 metres.
At the crossroads of yachting, design, conviviality and Italian craftsmanship, Living Made in Italy celebrates the excellence of a segment in which Italian shipyards dominate the international stage, while highlighting the bridges between shipbuilding, engineering, interior decoration, industrial design and lifestyle. The Italian companies Venini, Riflessi and Leonardo support the initiative: Agusta, the Leonardo-owned brand, will in particular present the AW109 light twin-engine helicopter, a further example of Made in Italy design, performance and engineering alongside the yachts on display in the water.
An exceptional presence that extends the Show’s reach beyond the boating world, bringing together architecture, luxury, fashion and contemporary craftsmanship.
Innovation, Sustainability and the Blue Economy
Innovation and sustainability will be at the heart of the event. FORUM26 will address topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technical innovation, sustainable development, the maritime economy, start-ups and SMEs, boating tourism, and training and careers in the Blue Economy.
Among the highlights are the fifth International Sustainable Boating Forum, dedicated to the theme “from AI to energy platforms: building the future of sustainable boating”, organised in collaboration with IBI (International Boat Industry), as well as a European Round Table on Sustainable Boating and a conference devoted to the Blue Economy and the economic impact of the boating sector.
The new Blue Arena space, inside the Palasport, will introduce boating to a wider audience through innovation and start-ups, training and sector professions, as well as institutions such as World Sailing, with a particular focus on younger generations, skills and future opportunities. Access to this area is completely free of charge.
Foreign Trade at the Heart of the Show
The commercial dimension remains paramount in Genoa. The Italian Trade Agency has strengthened its commitment to the programme welcoming international visitors, with buyers and journalists from 35 countries. The number of international buyers will thus rise from 70 to 180, including superyacht purchasers, importers, distributors and dealers, fostering direct exchange between Italian companies and international markets.
On 1 and 2 October, the second edition of the TechTrade Days will bring together more than 400 brands specialised in the equipment, accessories and components sectors. The event, organised in a B2B format, will connect shipyards, architects, technicians, sales professionals, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.
Design as a Lever for Competitiveness
Design remains one of the key elements of the Show and of the international standing of the Italian boating industry. The seventh Design Innovation Award will reward projects combining design, innovation, functionality and sustainability. Established in 2020, the award has become a barometer of the sector’s architectural evolution and offers an insight into the transformations underway in the design and technology of today’s boats.
This year’s international jury will be chaired by architect Paolo Brescia, co-founder of OBR (Open Building Research), whose approach combines design, innovation and reflection on the interactions between architecture, the sea and the environment. The winners will be announced on Friday 2 October during the gala evening held on the Blue Pavilion terrace.
Sport will also forge a link between design, performance and technological innovation: following the appointment of Confindustria Nautica as Strategic Partner for the Boating Industry of the 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, the partnership continues this year at the Boat Show with the presence of World Sailing and the Italian Sailing Federation.
A Show and a City Shaped by the Sea
The Genoa International Boat Show takes place at the heart of the Waterfront di Levante, an integral part of the sweeping transformation of the seafront envisioned by architect Renzo Piano. With the fully renovated Palasport, new exhibition spaces, canals and vast in-water display areas, the site creates a genuine continuity between the Show, the city and the Mediterranean.
For international visitors, Genoa offers more than a mere trade fair: the boating industry and its technologies sit alongside contemporary architecture, Italian design, the art of living and the maritime culture of one of the Mediterranean’s greatest port cities. With canals running through the exhibition, breathtaking views out to the open sea and the thousands of sea trials organised over these six days, the waterfront is at the heart of “Made of Sea”, which fully embodies the spirit of the Show.
Design, Luxury and Made in Italy: Voices from the Show
The Genoa International Boat Show maintains close ties with the worlds of design, fashion, automotive and luxury, an openness reflected in the presence of partners and major creative figures for this 66th edition.
Paolo Brescia, President of the Design Innovation Award jury: “Design is going through a period of profound transformation and is today accompanied by a strong sense of responsibility. Through the Design Innovation Award, we wish to encourage reflection on a transition that is not only energy-related, environmental or digital, but also cultural: the aim is to shift the focus from the finished product to the ideas and processes that give rise to it. Because speaking about boat design does not only mean speaking about boats, but also about their relationship with people, with the environment that hosts them and with the sea. It is the principle I find in the Casa della Vela, designed to create a bond with the sea and to give back a public space: a seafront square, open on every side, at the crossroads between the city and the sea. A place for everyone which, during events, can be transformed into a sailing stadium for regattas.”
Alberto Racca, CEO of Trussardi and of the Miroglio Group: “There are profound affinities between Trussardi and the world of boating, beginning with the notion of beauty. Beauty does not stem from unconstrained creativity; it is born from the encounter between creativity and reality. What makes a boat beautiful is also what it does, its movements, its lines, which are never an end in themselves. This vision is very close to the elegance so dear to Trussardi: a discreet and dynamic elegance, the one Nicola Trussardi identified in the greyhound, emblem of the House. It is from this affinity that our collaboration with the Genoa International Boat Show was born: we will be present with Trussardi Casa in the VIP area and in the official offices, through a capsule collection dedicated to the Show, as well as through our participation in several events. For us, this marks the beginning of a collaboration with a universe in perfect harmony with our identity and what we wish to embody.”
Santo Ficili, CEO of Alfa Romeo and Maserati: “Certain passions draw on the same energy: the desire for freedom, the pursuit of beauty and the pride in an Italian craftsmanship recognised throughout the world. Alfa Romeo and the Genoa International Boat Show share this common vision. Being the Official Car of one of the world’s greatest boating events links us to a symbol of excellence which, like Alfa Romeo, knows how to transform technology, innovation and emotion into an authentic Italian style.”
Mario Peserico, General Manager of Eberhard & Co.: “The Genoa International Boat Show is, for us, much more than an institutional presence. It is an opportunity to convey the spirit of Eberhard & Co., characterised by passion, independence and research. Over nearly 140 years of history, the House has forged a recognisable identity, the fruit of a singular vision of watchmaking, in which the sea is a permanent source of inspiration. Every year, the Boat Show offers us the opportunity to share this journey with a diverse audience of enthusiasts, professionals and visitors from all walks of life.”
The 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show will take place from 1 to 6 October 2026. The full programme is available on the official website: https://www.salonenautico.com/en/events-and-conferences/