The Genoa International Boat Show returns to the global stage at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show – one of the world’s premier events for the recreational boating industry and a strategic hub for the U.S. market.
During an event organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the President of Confindustria Nautica, Piero Formenti (opening image), presented the results of the 66th edition of the International Boat Show – held in Genoa from October 1st to 6th – assessing the outcome of the event and outlining the next steps in the internationalization plan promoted by Confindustria Nautica with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency.
The numbers behind a success
The 66th edition of the International Boat Show concluded with 138,273 visitors, over 1,000 boats on display, 215 new product launches, and more than 4,600 sea trials – confirming the event’s role as a premier international platform for the recreational boating industry and a strategic tool for the entire supply chain.
These results are part of a broader consolidation of the Italian nautical industry, which in 2025 reached a total turnover of 8.72 billion euros – an increase of 1.4% over 2024 – thereby confirming its international leadership and strong export orientation.
In this context, the United States remains a strategic market for the Italian yacht-building industry. In 2025, it stands as the second-largest destination for the sector’s exports, with a value of $530 million – accounting for 10.7% of total Italian exports – according to data compiled by the Edison Foundation and published in “La Nautica in Cifre” (“Nautical Industry in Figures”), a market analysis produced by the Research Department of Confindustria Nautica. This positioning underscores the importance of the American market for Italian companies, as well as the value of participating in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as part of the sector’s international promotional efforts.
The results achieved bear witness to the strength of a sector that continues to distinguish itself through its industrial capacity, innovation, and international outlook. Participation in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show – within a market as strategic as the United States – marks another milestone in our structured initiative to promote the Italian nautical industry, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE). Our goal is to bolster business opportunities for Italian companies, strengthen relationships with international stakeholders, and highlight the boat show as a premier meeting point for the industry, the market, and public institutions.
– Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica
Looking at the international market
The strengthening of international outreach was a key feature of the 2026 edition of the Boat Show. Thanks to an incoming program developed with the institutional support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), the number of international buyers and journalists in attendance was doubled, with delegations arriving from 35 countries – a testament to the event’s appeal and the growing interest from foreign markets in the excellence of the Italian recreational boating industry.
The upcoming stages will include participation in Metstrade in Amsterdam, from November 17 to 19, 2026; the Dubai International Boat Show, from November 25 to 29; and the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, from December 2 to 4. The schedule will continue in 2027 with the Palm Beach International Boat Show, from March 17 to 21, concluding with the 67th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 5, 2027. Further strengthening international promotional efforts will be a roadshow program linked to the 2027 America’s Cup in Naples – with initiatives planned for 2026 and 2027 across Europe and key international markets – designed to showcase the excellence of the Italian recreational boating industry.
