A Billion-Dollar Showcase

This year’s five-day event presented more than $1 billion in vessels, from nimble 8-foot inflatables to nearly 300-foot superyachts. Held along the Palm Harbor Marina, the show continues its legacy as a cornerstone of the marine industry, now spanning over four decades since its founding in 1982.

Its economic impact is equally impressive, generating an estimated $1.05 billion statewide. Beyond commerce, the show has also deepened its community footprint, with a grant program launched in 2024 already contributing $1.5 million to local initiatives.

The experience itself extends far beyond the docks. Guests indulged in the Windward VIP Lounge, complete with celebrity chefs and premium hospitality, while the Nautical Ventures AquaZone delivered on-water thrills. Educational seminars, family-friendly programming like the Kids Fishing Clinic, and curated social events ensured broad appeal without compromising sophistication.

Superyachts Take Center Stage

As expected, the yachts were the true stars.

Among the most notable: Racinante, a 256-foot superyacht from Lürssen led the fleet, followed closely by Boardwalk, a 254-foot masterpiece from Feadship.

Admiral’s award-winning Kenshō made its global debut, while CRN’s Amor à Vida marked its American premiere. Additional standouts included Zenji, a striking sailing yacht from Perini Navi and Alchemist, an elegant 204-foot vessel from Sanlorenzo.

Lürssen also was proud to be celebrating 100 years in America at the Palm Beach International Boat Show.

The message was clear: Palm Beach is no longer a secondary stop—it is a destination that commands global attention.

Global Builders, Local Momentum

Shipbuilders and brokers from across Europe and beyond are taking note, increasingly prioritizing Palm Beach as a must-attend showcase. From German engineering with massive builds and Dutch craftsmanship to Italian design excellence, the international presence continues to deepen.

Italian shipyards like SanLorenzo, Benetti, Azimut, and Ferretti remain synonymous with style and sophistication, while American builders like Hinckley bring heritage and precision. Swedish/Scandinavian elegance from J Craft , Turkish innovation by Bilgin, Polish sustainability from Sunreef, and Taiwanese know-how from Ocean Alexander further underscore the industry’s global reach.

Notably, Turkish builder Bilgin Yachts made its Palm Beach debut with a major announcement, signaling growing confidence in the U.S. market and the show’s rising influence.

YATCO: A Hub of Energy and Influence

A standout presence at the show was YATCO, the Palm Beacher–founded yachting platform by Steve Myers that has become a global authority in yacht sales and charter listings.

Strategically positioned near the show’s main entrance across from the Ben Hotel, YATCO’s expansive hospitality tent quickly became a central gathering point. From an opening-night celebration to daily programming, the space blended networking, education, and entertainment seamlessly. A circular bar anchored the venue, while industry leaders and guests mingled throughout the week.

The platform itself remains unmatched in scope, offering access to tens of thousands of listings and professionals across the global marine industry—effectively serving as a one-stop ecosystem for buyers, sellers, and insiders alike.

Within the tent, sponsors and partners showcased new developments and destinations, while curated seminars explored topics ranging from market trends and destinations to the economic outlook of yachting, with insights from leading financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Deloitte Consulting. Michael Moore, a maritime law expert and industry icon, was on hand representing Moore & Company. Port Nimara showcased their marina in Anguilla that will have an Equinox Resort and their newly announced marina in Panama City

Spotlight on Innovation and Craftsmanship

Among the many shipbuilders present, several stood out:

Bilgin Yachts made a memorable entrance, hosting an exclusive event to celebrate a new client partnership with a prominent American car dealership entrepreneur, John Staluppi known for his extensive superyacht portfolio of 18 vessels all bearing names of James Bond films like Goldfinger. Casino Royale to Skyfall and more.

The new 269-foott flagship, Project BOND commissioned by Staluppi is Bilgin’s largest yacht to date reflecting on the yard’s continued rise in the upper tier of custom superyacht construction, while maintaining owner-led customization and real-world cruising versatility. Bilgin has thoughtfully engineered Project Bond for the American market.

At the show, Bilgin brand’s attention to detail, extending even to its gift caps and bespoke fragrances, mirrored the craftsmanship and passion behind its vessels. But perhaps their best asset is the Bilgin family’s humble, passionate and flexible nature, ongoing for five generations since the early 1900’s.

Sunreef Yachts, the pioneer of luxury catamarans built in both Poland and the UAE, continued to impress with its forward-thinking designs and superstar clientele. The brand introduced a new ambassador—one of tennis’s brightest stars, Carlos Alcarez—who has commissioned a custom-built model from its latest Ultima 88 line, known for expansive layouts and seamless indoor-outdoor living with a large garage to house tons of toys. Sunreef has an impressive lineup of international clients/ambassadors including tennis star Rafael Nadal, F1 champions Nico Rosberg and Fernando Alonso, footballer/soccer player, Robert Lewandowski, renowned explorer Mike Horn and professional racing driver Salih Yuluc.

Sanlorenzo highlighted its continued evolution, including the expansion of its charter division in partnership with a well-established brokerage celebrating four decades in the industry, Equinoxe Charter Yachts.

Hinckley, the iconic Maine based American builder, unveiled a reimagined version of its Picnic Boat 45, blending timeless design with modern functionality for entertaining. Their Picnic 45 has been their social flagship for more than three decades. The new model reimagines how guests gather aboard, introducing expanded entertaining spaces and a seamless flow between cockpit, bow, and swim platform.

Heesen Yachts showcased a striking 55-meter vessel, Laurentia that balances sculptural exterior lines by Omega Architects with a serene, contemporary interior by RADYCA, now a sought-after charter option.

The Brokers and the Business of Yachting

No boat show is complete without its brokers, and Palm Beach drew some of the most influential names in the business. From Moran, Burgess, IYC, Cecil Wright, Fraser, Denison, Northrup & Johnson, Camper & Nicholsons, Eastwind to Palm Beach’s namesake, Worth Avenue Yachts among many more, the broker visibility was extensive.

From global powerhouses to boutique firms, brokers hosted clients in lavish lounges and aboard pristine vessels, offering a more intimate setting for dealmaking. Evening cocktail events, private dinners, and creative activations—from fashion shows on the docks turned runways to curated onboard experiences, added a social dimension to the commercial core of the show. PR Maven Shari Liu spearheaded many of the luxury fashion and social activations during the boat show including a sunset cocktail filled with socialites aboard Natural 9. MTN, Maritime Telecommunications Network, a satellite internet provider for the marine industry, a must “amenity,” hosted a party aboard M/Y Bad Daddy.

One notable brokerage highlight: the release of a new industry report titled, “The Global Superyacht Market 2026,” by Fraser aimed at improving transparency and data quality across the superyacht market—an indication of the sector’s continued maturation.

Beyond the Boats

While yachts dominate, the show’s appeal extends into lifestyle and entertainment.

One of the most talked-about attractions was a floating inflatable pickleball court—an innovative, fully modular concept that drew both players and spectators by AquaBanas. Equal parts sport and spectacle, it exemplified the playful luxury that defines today’s yachting culture. Customers can customize their courts with logos and an assortment of pantone colors for their full regulation size courts.

Elsewhere during the show on Saturday at Palm Beach Padel Club, a padel invitational presented by Pelorus Yachting brought together enthusiasts for friendly competition, with an extraordinary prize: an experience aboard superyacht, Kontiki Wayra. Pelorus Co-Founder/President, Jimmy Carroll was present for the festivities.

A City in Transformation

The rise of the Palm Beach International Boat Show mirrors the transformation of West Palm Beach itself.

Driven by significant investment and visionary development, the city is rapidly evolving into a world-class destination. New commercial and residential towers, luxury hotels, and high-end retail and dining concepts are reshaping the skyline and elevating its global appeal. The boom is being spearheaded by 84-year-old mega-developer, Steve Ross of Related Ross South Florida who moved officially from NYC to Palm Beach.

During the show, top hotels operated at full capacity, while restaurants and rooftop venues buzzed with energy. The popular Greek Milos restaurant recently landed in West Palm Beach exuding pure elegance, while KYMA shares a more hipster vibe with Mediterrean cuisine. On upper Flagler overlooking the Rybovich Marina and superyachts is popular La Marina restaurant.

Across the bridge, Palm Beach Island continues to refine its legacy with new hospitality concepts and dining destinations that blend heritage with modern sophistication. Ultra-luxe Veneta Hotel has moved into the 100-year-old legacy location of the Chesterfield Hotel just blocks from Worth Avenue with European sister properties like Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc and The Bristol. The Polo Room restaurant is another new entry on the Palm Beach Island side conceived by charismatic polo player/Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figueras as well as Tutto Mare Italian dining spot.

Luxury residential developments are also surging, with globally recognized brands entering the market and redefining waterfront living. West Palm Beach is being invaded by brands anxious to put their flags on this prestigious soil. Recently announced are Mandarin Oriental Residences and Banyan Tree Residences, the first in America. Already being delivered this Spring is Alba Residences along the intracoastal on North Flagler Avenue. Alba has been hosting guests in their sales lounge during the last few Palm Beach International Boat Shows with free-flowing liquid libations and bites. Mr. C from the Cipriani family is also under development in downtown West Palm Beach that will include a special private club for residents. Here membership is a privilege in Palm Beach.

The Takeaway

The Palm Beach International Boat Show 2026 delivered on every front: scale, sophistication, and spectacle.

Over five windy, sun-drenched days, guests explored, learned, celebrated, and connected -immersed in a world where craftsmanship meets lifestyle, and business blends seamlessly with pleasure.

While official sales figures remain undisclosed, one thing is certain: with the extraordinary concentration of wealth and influence now centered in Palm Beach, the flow of capital from superyachts to real estate, hospitality and beyond—shows no signs of slowing.