Design, innovation and sustainability in the spirit of Made in Italy.
At the Genoa International Boat Show, the sea becomes an international stage for innovation, design and Made in Italy. A record-breaking edition that captures the new face of yachting: more experiential, technologically advanced and increasingly conscious. There is a moment at the Genoa Boat Show when yachting ceases to be simply an industry and becomes an experience, an aspiration, an entire lifestyle. It comes when the boats leave the pontoons, the engines come to life and the yacht, once an object to admire, becomes something to be experienced. This is the magic of the Genoa International Boat Show, which for its 66th edition once again transformed the Ligurian capital into an international hub for the world of nautical lifestyle. The figures tell a compelling story: 138,273 visitors, up 11.3% on the previous edition, more than 1,000 boats and exhibitors from 45 countries. Most strikingly, more than 4,600 sea trials were conducted, offering tangible proof of an event that does not simply showcase the future of yachting, but invites visitors to experience it first-hand — quite literally, on the water. Genoa also provided the stage for 215 new launches, in a world where performance, comfort, technology and design are increasingly intertwined. From day cruisers to superyachts, every vessel embodies a new interpretation of luxury: not simply size and precious materials, but bespoke solutions, innovation, efficiency and a more harmonious relationship with the sea.
THE SEA AS A NEW LIFESTYLE
The Boat Show has evolved far beyond the traditional trade fair. It has become a meeting place where yachting intersects with fashion, design, hospitality and high-end craftsmanship — the very ecosystem that makes Made in Italy so distinctive on the global stage. The new Blue Arena, together with the integration of the Palasport and shopping centre, and the Living Made in Italy project, further expanded this vision, attracting younger audiences and creating new connections between the world of yachting and contemporary design. It is a particularly significant evolution for an industry that has long made Italian design excellence one of its defining strengths. The figures behind this success are equally compelling. In 2025, Italy’s boatbuilding industry reached an export share of 90%, with exports worth €4.4 billion and accounting for 21.3% of global exports. It is a performance that helps explain why, for six days, Genoa once again became a true global capital of the sea.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
Behind the glamour lies a profound transformation. Yachting is looking firmly towards the future, and FORUM26 highlighted the key forces shaping the industry: artificial intelligence, electric and hybrid propulsion, new materials, sustainability, cybersecurity and increasingly sophisticated production processes. This is where the very meaning of luxury begins to evolve. The new exclusivity does not compromise on beauty; instead, it combines beauty with responsibility, technology and research. The contemporary yacht becomes a statement of design and innovation, expressing the timeless desire for freedom while remaining conscious of the need to protect the environment that makes that freedom possible. The Show’s international reach further confirms its global appeal. 1,287 accredited journalists, together with buyers and industry professionals from 35 countries, turned Genoa into a crossroads for international relationships and opportunities, with 580 B2B meetings held over just two days. The event’s impact was also reflected in its visibility: 6,207 press articles and almost 11.7 million views across its official social media channels amplified the story of a show that reaches far beyond the boundaries of yachting and firmly into the wider world of lifestyle. Genoa, meanwhile, proved once again to be its perfect stage: a city shaped by its port and its culture, a laboratory for innovation and a setting for an unmistakably Italian sense of elegance. The next chapter is already on the horizon. The 67th Genoa International Boat Show will return from 30 September to 5 October 2027 — six days celebrating the enduring allure of the sea, where technology, design and the desire for freedom set sail together.
