The Venice Boat Show closes its 2026 edition
The Venice Boat Show closes its 2026 edition. Mayor Venturini: “Even bigger for the next five years”.
Venice, May 31, 2026. The seventh edition of the Venice Boat Show concluded today at the Arsenale, five days that confirmed the city as a leading international hub for boating, shipbuilding, and maritime innovation. The dates for the next edition are already set: from May 26 to 30, 2027, the Arsenale will once again open its doors to shipyards, professionals, and visitors from around the world.
The 2026 edition also enjoyed the usual attendance of 30,000 visitors, with a strong participation of professionals, foreign delegations, and enthusiasts from across Europe. While 60 percent of visitors were Italian, the composition of the remaining 40 percent from Europe and the rest of the world was very interesting. Many arrived in Venice from Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, England, and the United States, but also came from India, Belgium, Finland, Jamaica, Korea, Mauritius, Nepal, and South Africa.
During his presence at the Salone, newly elected Mayor Simone Venturini reaffirmed the Administration’s interest and commitment to the future of the event, which remains a cornerstone of the program for the next five years.
“In recent years, the Boat Show has delivered the Venice Arsenale to the people of the sea and brought naval art back home with the best of international and Italian nautical design. But it has also brought many traditional vessels, countless activities, opportunities for cultural gatherings and family gatherings. Over the years, it has touched on the themes of the maritime economy. The Show also represents a great opportunity for our city to return to the topic of the sea, water, and its relationship with the world of navigation,” he said. “And so, to do so, we need to continue to grow, and for this reason, I confirm that the Boat Show will continue for the next five years, consolidating its position as a global reference point for these themes. Giving the Show a future is crucial to further developing a permanent maritime economy in Venice, with marinas, maintenance infrastructure, the creation of new shipyards, and artisanal businesses that work on traditional Venetian vessels and workboats.”
The Arsenale—with its 55,000 square meters of water and over 1,100 linear meters of docks—has thus confirmed its unique position as a global venue for an event dedicated to recreational boating. Over 300 vessels were on display, from large 30-meter vessels—including catamarans—to fully electric models, hybrid solutions, and highly energy-efficient prototypes. It was a showcase that brought together leading international shipyards, historic Italian nautical brands, master shipwrights, and innovative companies and businesses in the Blue Economy. Although it began with concerns about a declining market due to all the current geopolitical events, the event nevertheless confirmed its value as a “Boat Show,” a place for debate and emotional contact with boats. And the venue—the Arsenale—always knows how to add something that isn’t available elsewhere.
Mayor Simone Venturini added: “The Venice Arsenal is the most beautiful setting in the world to host this type of event, and I believe it is a great opportunity for international visibility in the Venetian context, with the Basin of St. Mark, the Giudecca Canal, the Lido, and the Certosa as a backdrop. These are unique opportunities to communicate an important message to the world, especially in this historical moment, when all shipyards are doing a great job on sustainability. Venice, throughout its history, has always looked to the East, to the Gulf economy, to China, India, and all the Eastern markets, and even today it continues to observe those worlds, including in nautical themes, bringing them here to Venice, the cradle of the ancient Serenissima, where it all began”.
Those who frequented the docks of the Show were able to enjoy a comprehensive overview of the contemporary nautical world, from small boats suitable for families to vessels that sail without borders. As always, particular attention was paid to the world of sustainability, with the presentation of models with different propulsion systems and numerous conferences on this topic. “Our production is driven by research. We have managed to combine the technology of Porsche, a major automotive manufacturer, with that of a shipyard that builds excellent products,” says Mauro Feltrinelli, importer of the Austrian Frauscher shipyard. “I would say that these types of initiatives bring the cultural growth we need. This year, we participated in the Boat Show for the fourth time, and we’ve always done so with great satisfaction, even for potential customers.”
One of the shipyards that builds boats along the route that made the Serenissima great is Numarine, with its production facility near Istanbul. CEO Patrick von Sydow states: “It’s wonderful to be here in Venice, in the Arsenale, where you can feel the spirit of Venetian culture and its maritime heritage. Entering the Boat Show through the splendid museum section takes you on a journey through the city’s naval history. Over time, more and more people will come into contact with this beauty, strengthening the reputation of the Show, its proximity to the Biennale, and all the events taking place in the Lagoon.”
“This edition has demonstrated, once again, that Venice is a benchmark for the international boating industry,” says Fabrizio D’Oria, general director of Vela spa. “The quality of the shipyards present, the attention to sustainability, and the public response confirm the strength of a project that grows year after year. The Arsenale is a place like no other: here, the nautical industry finds a natural stage capable of expressing its tradition and future.”
The Italian Trade Agency (ICE) has also played a key role, supporting the event since its inception, bringing delegations of buyers, press, and international nautical industry professionals to Venice, thus helping to strengthen the Show’s commercial dimension and consolidate ties with strategic foreign markets for the Italian shipbuilding industry. This year, 53 delegates, including professionals and journalists, arrived in Venice from Austria, Croatia, Denmark, the UAE, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
“The Venice Boat Show is now a recognized platform at the European level,” adds Alberto Bozzo, Marketing Director of the Show. “T
he presence of so many foreign professionals, the positive data from the related industries, and the interest in green technologies demonstrate that we are on the right track. We will continue to work to expand our offering, strengthen international collaborations, and promote the Arsenale as the capital of sustainable boating.
The Venice Boat Show saw the daily commitment of nearly 2,000 people, including exhibitors and staff from Vela Spa—a company led by Piero Rosa Salva—who oversaw the general organization and all services, from mooring management to set-up, transportation, security, cleaning, catering, as well as hostesses and stewards. The Show’s official social media channels received over 3 million views.
The Venice Boat Show is promoted by the City of Venice and organized by Vela Spa in collaboration with the Italian Navy.
Main Partner: Camera di Commercio di Venezia Rovigo, Consorzio di Tutela della DOC Prosecco, Eni, Generali Italia, Range Rover, Intesa Sanpaolo
Technical Partner: Aqualy, Aqua superPower, MURPHY&NYE, Seaquip, Venezianico.
Media Partner: RAI TGR, The Boat Show, SKY TG24.
Institutional Partner: Marina Militare, Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy, Agenzia ITA, Venice World Sustainability Capital Foundation, Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia, Venis, AVM, Gruppo Veritas.
Official Venice Boat Show website www.salonenautico.venezia.it
