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Genoa International Boat Show 2026, boating charts a new course

Larger yachts, multihulls, new exhibition areas and a stronger international presence shape the future of boating at Genoa 2026

More than 1,000 boats, 215 new launches and 45 countries: the 2026 Genoa International Boat Show reflects a market growing in scale and changing in character

Larger yachts, more multihulls, an increasingly international presence and more than 200 new products. The 66th Genoa International Boat Show, taking place from 1 to 6 October 2026, arrives at a time when the leisure marine industry is changing in scale, markets and audience.

Figures released by Confindustria Nautica point to more than 1,000 boats, 215 new products and 45 countries represented across five continents. Yet some of the changes behind those headline figures reveal even more about the direction in which the market is moving.

Yachts are getting larger

One of the clearest signals comes from the Yacht & Superyacht marina. Larger vessels are strengthening their presence, while the average size of the three largest boats in each segment has increased by 14.1% compared with 2025.

It is a significant indication for an industry in which Italian shipyards continue to have a particularly strong position at the upper end of the market.

This is the setting for Living Made in Italy, a new area on quay H developed with the support of the Italian Trade Agency. Lounges, hospitality services and dedicated installations will showcase Italian yacht building above 24 metres, including superyachts between 35 and 50 metres.

It is more than simply another section of the show. It also offers a way to present Italian yacht building as part of a broader system that includes design, interiors, technology and manufacturing expertise.

The rise of multihulls

Another figure deserves attention: the number of multihulls on display is up by 28%.

Catamarans and other multihulls have become an established part of the leisure marine market. Generous volumes, stability, a growing focus on comfort and the evolution of both sailing and motor models are expanding a segment that was considerably more specialised only a few years ago.

Seeing this growth within a broad international show such as Genoa helps illustrate how relevant multihulls have also become within the Mediterranean market.

More boats on the water

The in-water exhibition layout grows by 4%. This is particularly relevant in Genoa, where the direct relationship between the show and the sea has always been one of its defining characteristics.

Work continues on the Levante Waterfront, while the new Palasport will be fully used during the 2026 edition, further changing the relationship between the show and the city.

The Genoa International Boat Show is therefore increasingly more than a sequence of exhibition stands. More boats can be seen in their natural environment, visited on the water and, in some categories, tested at sea.

An Italian industry looking beyond Italy

Behind the show is a strongly international industry. According to figures presented by Confindustria Nautica, the sector has reached €8.6 billion in turnover, generates more than €13 billion in added value and supports almost 170,000 jobs, with around 90% of production destined for international markets.

This helps explain why internationalisation is becoming increasingly central to the event.

For 2026, the Italian Trade Agency is doubling its commitment to the international incoming programme for buyers and foreign media, with participants arriving from 35 countries. The objective is not simply to increase the number of international visitors, but to create stronger connections between companies, professionals, media and overseas markets.

More than boats

The way the industry is presented is also expanding. Alongside the traditional exhibition, new projects and formats explore different aspects of the boating world.

The Blue Arena aims to introduce new audiences to maritime culture through meetings and experiences, while the TechTrade Days focus more closely on professionals and the industry’s supply chain.

FORUM26 brings together themes surrounding industry, innovation and institutions, while the Design Innovation Award once again focuses on the evolution of yacht design, recognising research, technology and creativity.

Attention to younger visitors is also reflected in a discounted Under 25 ticket. It is a small detail, but one that matters for a show seeking to broaden its audience beyond traditional yacht owners and industry professionals.

Genoa also meets the America’s Cup

The 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup will also feature in the 2026 programme. The collaboration continues following the agreement appointing Confindustria Nautica as a Strategic Marine Industry Advisory Partner of the event.

The show will also include events dedicated to maritime culture and sport, including a meeting with Giulio Bertelli, Vice President of Luna Rossa, as part of the Incontri in Blu programme.

It is an interesting connection between two different but closely related worlds: the leisure marine industry and the extreme research into materials, design and performance that has always accompanied the America’s Cup.

Six days to understand where boating is heading

The programme will effectively begin on 30 September with the presentation of La Nautica in Cifre, the 2025 market analysis produced by Confindustria Nautica’s Research Department with Fondazione Edison and IULM COMAR.

From the following day, the boats will take centre stage.

From small craft to superyachts between 35 and 50 metres, through sailing yachts, motor yachts, multihulls, equipment and services, Genoa will once again bring very different areas of the industry together in one place.

And this diversity may be precisely what makes the 2026 show particularly interesting. It is not simply an opportunity to discover new models. It provides a chance to observe, in one place, how boats are changing, how the industry is evolving and, above all, how our relationship with the sea is developing.

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Genoa International Boat Show

16 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Genoa International Boat Show 2026, boating charts a new course
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.