The Genoa International Boat Show Takes Centre Stage at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Fort Lauderdale, 29 October 2026 – The Genoa International Boat Show is once again taking centre stage on the international scene at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the world's leading events dedicated to recreational boating and a key reference point for the US market.

During the event, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica, presented the results of the 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, held in Genoa from 1 to 6 October. He provided an overview of the event and outlined the next steps in the internationalisation strategy promoted by Confindustria Nautica with the support of MAECI and the Italian Trade Agency.

The figures behind the 66th edition

The 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show closed with 138,273 visitors, more than 1,000 boats on display, 215 product launches and over 4,600 sea trials, confirming the event's role as a leading international platform for the recreational boating industry and a strategic tool serving the entire supply chain.

The event also achieved significant international and media exposure, with 1,287 international journalists, representatives from 45 countries and 6,207 articles published, alongside a programme of 90 forums and panel discussions addressing the sector's main economic, industrial and institutional issues.

The Italian industry and the US market

These results come against a backdrop of continued consolidation in the Italian boating industry, which in 2025 achieved a total turnover of EUR 8.72 billion, up 1.4% compared with 2024, reaffirming its international leadership and strong export orientation.

In this context, the United States remains a strategic market for Italian boatbuilding, ranking as the second-largest destination for exports in the sector in 2025, with a value of USD 530 million, accounting for 10.7% of Italian exports. These figures are based on data compiled by Fondazione Edison and published in La Nautica in Cifre, the market analysis produced by the Research Department of Confindustria Nautica. This position confirms the importance of the US market for Italian companies and highlights the value of participating in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as part of the sector's international promotion activities.

“The 66th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show has reaffirmed the event's central position on the global boating scene and its role as a tangible tool for the development and promotion of our companies,” said Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica. “The results achieved demonstrate the strength of an industry that continues to stand out for its industrial capabilities, innovation and international outlook. Our participation in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, in a strategic market such as the United States, represents a further step in the structured programme for promoting Italian boating excellence that we are pursuing in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency. Our goal is to strengthen business opportunities for Italian companies, consolidate relationships with international industry players and promote the Genoa International Boat Show as a key meeting point for industry, markets and institutions.”

Internationalisation and upcoming events

Strengthening internationalisation was one of the defining features of the 2026 edition of the Genoa International Boat Show. Thanks to the incoming programme developed with the institutional support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency, the number of international buyers and journalists involved doubled, with delegations from 35 countries, confirming the event's appeal and the growing interest of foreign markets in the excellence of Italian recreational boating.

This process will continue through an extensive calendar of international initiatives aimed at supporting Italian companies' presence in key reference markets and promoting the Genoa International Boat Show as a global showcase for the boating industry.

The next events will include METSTRADE in Amsterdam, from 17 to 19 November 2026; the Dubai International Boat Show, from 25 to 29 November; and the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, from 2 to 4 December. The programme will continue in 2027 with the Palm Beach International Boat Show, from 17 to 21 March, leading up to the 67th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, scheduled to take place from 30 September to 5 October 2027.

Further strengthening international promotional activities will be a roadshow programme linked to the 2027 America's Cup in Naples, with initiatives planned throughout 2026 and 2027 across Europe and in major international markets, as part of the broader effort to showcase the excellence of Italy's recreational boating industry.