More than 1,000 boats, 215 new models and 45 countries will come together at Genoa’s regenerated Waterfront di Levante from 1–6 October, bringing international business and marine innovation together with sustainability, contemporary design, Italian luxury and Mediterranean lifestyle.
More than 1,000 boats, 215 new models and representation from 45 countries across five continents will come together in Genoa from 1–6 October for the 66th Genoa International Boat Show.
Organised by Confindustria Nautica – the Italian Marine Industry Association – the Show returns to its traditional October dates at the regenerated Waterfront di Levante, part of the landmark waterfront transformation based on architect Renzo Piano’s masterplan. With new exhibition areas, the fully available Palasport Pavilion, canals and extensive in-water displays, the setting brings international yachting, contemporary architecture and Italian design together on the Mediterranean waterfront. The programme focuses on the issues shaping the future of the international yachting industry, from business and technology to sustainability and design.
One of the world’s three largest boat shows, Genoa has for more than sixty years brought together manufacturers, designers, suppliers, institutions, buyers and professionals from around the world. This year, that international business role is joined by a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, design and the global strength of Italy’s yachting industry.
The 2026 figures offer a snapshot of a changing market: the in-water display area has increased by 4%, the average size of the three largest boats in each segment is up 14.1% compared with 2025, and the number of multihulls on display has risen by 28%.
These trends come against the backdrop of an Italian yachting industry with annual turnover of €8.6 billion, generating more than €13 billion in added value and employing nearly 170,000 people. Around 90% of production is destined for international markets.
Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica – the Italian Marine Industry Association, said: “The figures for this year’s edition have a significance that goes beyond mere numbers, because the Genoa International Boat Show is a direct reflection of the market and the industry it represents. […] The expansion of the in-water display area, the increase in the size of the boats on display and the evolution of the various segments reflect a sector that is changing and an event capable of changing alongside it.”
Italian excellence moves further into the high-end market
One of the clearest developments for 2026 is the stronger presence of larger yachts.
The new Living Made in Italy area on Quay H, developed with the support of the Italian Trade Agency, is dedicated to yachts over 24 metres and has attracted yachts in the 35–50 metre range.
Bringing together yachts, design, hospitality and Italian craftsmanship, Living Made in Italy showcases a segment in which the Italian boatbuilding industry enjoys recognised leadership in global markets, while highlighting the relationship between yacht building, engineering, interiors, industrial design and lifestyle.
The brands supporting Living Made in Italy include Venini, Riflessi and Leonardo. Leonardo’s Agustabrand will display an AW109 light twin-engine helicopter at the Show – another example of Made in Italy design, performance and engineering alongside the yachts on the water.
The high-end presence also broadens the Show’s appeal beyond the marine sector, with clear links to architecture, luxury, fashion and contemporary Italian craftsmanship.
Innovation, sustainability and the Blue Economy
Innovation and sustainability will run throughout the Show. FORUM26 will address artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technological innovation, sustainability, the maritime economy, start-ups and SMEs, nautical tourism, training and careers in the Blue Economy.
Highlights include the fifth World Yachting Sustainability Forum, From AI to Energy Hubs – Building the Future of Sustainable Yachting, organised with IBI – International Boat Industry; the European Sustainable Boating Roundtable; and a conference exploring the Blue Economy and the economic impact of yachting.
The new Blue Arena inside the Palasport Pavilion will introduce a wider audience to yachting through Start Boating, Start-ups & Innovation, Training and Boating Careers, World Sailing and maritime institutions, with a particular focus on younger generations, skills and future opportunities. (Blue Arena Video).
International business at the heart of the Show
Business remains central to Genoa. The Italian Trade Agency has doubled its commitment to the Show’s international visitor programme, with buyers and journalists attending from 35 countries. The number of international buyers will rise from 70 to 180, including superyacht buyers, importers, distributors and dealers, creating more direct contact between Italian companies and international markets.
On 1 and 2 October, the second edition of TechTrade Days will bring together more than 400 specialist brands from the equipment, accessories and components sectors in a dedicated B2B format connecting shipyards, designers, technical departments, procurement managers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.
Design as a competitive force
Design remains one of the defining elements of both the Show and Italy’s international reputation in yachting. The seventh Design Innovation Award will recognise projects combining design, innovation, functionality and sustainability. Established in 2020, the Award has become a barometer of the sector’s design evolution, offering a snapshot of how contemporary yacht design and technology are changing.
This year’s international jury will be chaired by architect Paolo Brescia, co-founder of OBR – Open Building Research, a figure who combines a design ethos, innovation and a deep understanding of the relationship between architecture, the sea and the local environment. The winners will be announced on Friday 2 October during the Design Innovation Award gala on the terrace of the Blue Pavilion.
Sport will also connect design, performance and technological innovation. Following Confindustria Nautica’s appointment as Strategic Marine Industry Advisory Partner for the 38th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, the partnership continues at this year’s Show, while World Sailing and the Italian Sailing Federation will also be represented.
A Show and a city shaped by the sea
The Genoa International Boat Show takes place within the regenerated Waterfront di Levante, part of the wider transformation based on architect Renzo Piano’s masterplan. The fully available Palasport Pavilion, new exhibition areas, canals and extensive in-water displays create a more open setting that brings the Show, the city and the Mediterranean closer together.
For international visitors, Genoa offers more than a conventional trade exhibition. Marine business and technology sit alongside contemporary architecture, Italian design, hospitality and the maritime culture of one of the Mediterranean’s great port cities. With canals weaving through the exhibition, open sea views and thousands of sea trials taking place throughout the six-day event, the waterfront is central to the Show’s Made of Sea identity.
DESIGN, LUXURY AND MADE IN ITALY: ADDITIONAL VOICES FROM GENOA
The Genoa International Boat Show’s links with the wider worlds of design, fashion, automotive and luxury are also reflected in the partners and leading creative figures involved in its 66th edition. Their perspectives highlight some of the shared ideas – from craftsmanship and performance to innovation, beauty and the relationship with the sea – that connect their industries with yachting.
Paolo Brescia, Chair of the Design Innovation Award Jury: “Design is undergoing a period of profound transformation and today carries with it a strong sense of responsibility. With the Design Innovation Award, we aim to encourage reflection on a transition that is not merely energy-related, environmental or digital, but also cultural, shifting the focus from products to the ideas and processes that make them possible. Because when we talk about yacht design, we are not just talking about boats, but about their relationship with people, with the environment that hosts them and with the sea. It is a principle I also see reflected in the Casa della Vela, created to forge a connection with the sea and restore a space to the public realm: a square by the sea, open on all sides, from which to view the city from the sea and the sea from the city – a space for everyone that, during events, can be transformed into a regatta stadium.”
Alberto Racca, CEO of Trussardi and the Miroglio Group: “Deep affinities run between Trussardi and the world of yachting, starting with the concept of beauty. Beauty is not creativity without constraints: it arises when creativity meets reality. A boat is beautiful also by virtue of what it does, of its movement, of lines that are never an end in themselves. It is an idea very close to that of elegance associated with Trussardi: a discreet, dynamic elegance that Nicola Trussardi identified in the greyhound, the Maison’s symbol. It is this affinity that forms the basis of our collaboration with the Genoa International Boat Show: we will be present with Trussardi Casa in the VIP Lounge and the official offices, with a capsule collection dedicated to the Boat Show and through our participation in a number of events. For us, this marks the starting point of a collaboration with a world that we feel is deeply in tune with who we are and what we wish to represent.”
Santo Ficili, CEO of Alfa Romeo and Maserati: “There are passions that spring from the same energy: the desire for freedom, the pursuit of beauty and pride in an Italian craftsmanship recognised worldwide. Alfa Romeo and the Genoa International Boat Show share this common vision. For us, being the Official Car of one of the world’s most important yachting events means standing alongside a symbol of excellence which, like Alfa Romeo, knows how to transform technology, innovation and emotion into authentic Italian style.”
Mario Peserico, General Manager of Eberhard & Co.: “For us, the Genoa International Boat Show represents much more than an institutional presence: it is an opportunity to convey the spirit of Eberhard & Co., characterised by passion, independence and research. Over almost 140 years of history, the Maison has forged a recognisable identity, the result of a distinctive vision of watchmaking, in which the sea is a constant 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 different walks of life.”
Racecarmarine race an Open 7.50 race boat - Cool Runnings - with Racecarmarine branding in a number of events on the South Coast of the UK and have a good understanding of the marketing requirements for businesses in the marine sector. Contact us for details on how we can help with your project.