28/9/2026
Southampton International Boat Show 2026 brought ten action-packed days to a close on Sunday 27 September, after Mayflower Park and the purpose-built show marina came alive with an outstanding showcase of boats, watercraft, marine innovation and everything the UK’s vibrant marine industry has to offer.
Visitors explored more than 500 watercraft, discovered the latest products and technology, got out on the water and enjoyed a packed programme of demonstrations, expert talks, live music and entertainment.
Across the show, exhibitors reported strong footfall and customer engagement, healthy sales and orders, promising enquiries and leads, and valuable opportunities to build relationships with both new and existing customers.
A total of 91,160 visitors attended this year’s show, which featured more than 25 World, UK and Show boat debuts, alongside 20 launches of new marine technology, equipment and gear.
The atmosphere extended well beyond the marina, with over 110 talks, workshops and demonstrations taking place, from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston sharing stories from a lifetime at sea to live wooden boatbuilding demonstrations and practical sessions on skills and craftsmanship. Visitors could also get afloat through sailing, powerboating, paddlesports and diving, with up to 8,000 people out on or under the water during the course of the show.
The expanded Wooden Boat Stage and new Wooden Boat Stage Afloat brought traditional and modern boatbuilding skills to life. Live music at The Shipyard, food and drink, family activities and late-night opening on Fridays and Saturdays kept the show lively throughout the day and into the evening, with Spitfire flypasts across the opening weekend and performances including Blue Water Giants adding to the atmosphere across the ten days.
Earle Stanner, Chief Executive Officer of British Marine, organiser of Southampton International Boat Show, said: “It has been fantastic to see Southampton International Boat Show come alive over the past ten days – there has been a real energy across Mayflower Park and the marina.
“One of the moments that really stood out for me was hearing that an exhibitor had completed the first boat sale within the first hour on day one. That set the tone for the show and was a great reminder of why Southampton International Boat Show matters so much to the industry – bringing businesses and customers together in a way that can turn conversations into real commercial opportunities.
“There is a lot to be proud of in 2026, and I want to thank everyone who played a part in making the show happen. We can now build on that momentum as we look ahead to 2027.”
Exhibitors reflect on Southampton 2026
Across the show, exhibitors reported strong commercial conversations, positive customer response and valuable opportunities to showcase their businesses to an engaged audience.
Oliver Southwell, Chief Executive Officer of Fairline, said: “Southampton has exceeded our expectations this year, with retail sales completing at the show ahead of our internal forecasts. Footfall and customer engagement were consistently strong every day, which reflects both the investment Fairline has made in the show and our new position on the pontoons – one we look forward to keeping for years to come.”
Luke Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Rooster Sailing, commented: “The Southampton Boat Show remains an important fixture in Rooster’s calendar, providing a valuable platform to engage with both existing and new customers, showcase our core range and deliver strong retail trading. We have had another positive show and look forward to returning next year.”
Annie Reed, Chief Commercial Officer of Princess Yachts, added: “We have already achieved sales as a direct result of the Show, with a number of promising conversations continuing. It has been a strong event for us, enabling us to engage directly with customers here in the UK and we came away encouraged by the quality of interest and the opportunities ahead.”
With the 2026 show complete, attention is turning to 2027 and the show’s 58th edition.
Mayflower Park has been confirmed as the home of the show for at least the next three years, while Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker have also committed to exhibiting next year, with further brands expected to be announced as plans for 2027 develop.
Scott Millar, Chief Executive Officer of Sunseeker International, looked ahead to 2027: “I’m delighted to confirm Sunseeker’s attendance at SIBS 2027. As a British brand that was born on the south coast more than five decades ago, supporting our home market matters enormously to us. But it’s not about simply turning up because it’s expected, it’s about backing an industry that continues to innovate, evolve and inspire.”
Southampton International Boat Show will return from 18th to 25th September 2027, moving to a new eight-day format – intended to ease the practical and financial demands of taking part, while supporting a stronger and more varied exhibitor line-up.
British Marine will continue working in partnership with exhibitors and businesses across the marine sector in the coming months to shape the 2027 show, with a focus on bringing more brands, boats and products together at Southampton and curating engaging content and experiences that give visitors even more reasons to attend.
Earle Stanner continued: “We’re always looking at how Southampton International Boat Show can evolve. We don’t want to keep doing things the same way simply because that is how they’ve always been done.
“The 2027 format has been developed closely with our Exhibitor Advisory Group, reflecting what businesses need from the show. Moving to eight days is part of that evolution, helping us create a format that delivers greater value for exhibitors and opens the door to more brands.
“With Mayflower Park secured for the next three years, and Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker committed to exhibit next year, we have an excellent foundation to build on.”
Further details of Southampton International Boat Show 2027 will be announced over the coming months.
Oliver Southwell, CEO, Fairline
“Southampton has exceeded our expectations this year, with retail sales completing at the show ahead of our internal forecasts. Footfall and customer engagement were consistently strong every day, which reflects both the investment Fairline has made in the show and our new position on the pontoons – one we look forward to keeping for years to come. The British debut of the Targa 58 GTO was the highlight, and it was our pleasure to welcome so many visitors on board to see what the Fairline in-house design team has brought to the water. My personal thanks go to the British Marine team, who worked constructively with us to deliver a fantastic show. I look forward to working with them strategically in the years ahead.”
Annie Reed, Chief Commercial Officer, Princess Yachts
“Southampton remains an important home show for us, and the atmosphere throughout this year’s event was extremely positive. Our stand attracted a strong flow of visitors with good levels of interest from both existing clients and new prospects across the range.
“We have already achieved sales as a direct result of the Show, with a number of promising conversations continuing. It has been a strong event for us, enabling us to engage directly with customers here in the UK and we came away encouraged by the quality of interest and the opportunities ahead.”
Scott Millar, Chief Executive Officer, Sunseeker International
“I’m delighted to confirm Sunseeker’s attendance at SIBS 2027. As a British brand that was born on the south coast more than five decades ago, supporting our home market matters enormously to us. But it’s not about simply turning up because it’s expected, it’s about backing an industry that continues to innovate, evolve and inspire.
SIBS 2027 presents a real opportunity to reimagine what a modern boat show can be. The industry has changed, customer expectations have changed, and that creates the perfect moment to bring fresh energy, new ideas and a more engaging experience to the event. We’re excited to be part of that conversation and to help create something that feels vibrant and relevant.”
Joanne Beattie, Honda Marine UK
“Southampton International Boat Show is always a standout moment in our calendar – and 2026 delivered once again. Honda Marine was proud to partner with Highfield Boats to create a stand which generated a real buzz and genuine interest from visitors, especially as it staged the UK debut of the ADV9.
“We really enjoyed seeing our customers in person and reinforcing our mission to deliver unforgettable adventures on water. Southampton remains the ideal environment for us to showcase our latest innovations, outboards and boat-engine packages to the people who matter most.”
Luke Morrison, CEO, Rooster Sailing
“The Southampton Boat Show remains an important fixture in Rooster’s calendar, providing a valuable platform to engage with both existing and new customers, showcase our core range and deliver strong retail trading. Our thanks go to the British Marine team, who have worked incredibly hard to deliver such an important industry event in what remain challenging market conditions. We have had another positive show and look forward to returning next year.”
Jolyon Martin, Project Manager, Tek Tanks
“We’re really pleased with how well the show has delivered for us. We spoke with lots of new and existing customers, created great engagement, received strong enquiries, and confirmed orders on the stand. Customers particularly enjoyed our interactive displays, getting hands-on with the products and chatting with our knowledgeable team.
“We’re already looking forward to attending the show again in 2027!”
Nic Parton, Managing Director, Triangle Berth Brokers
“In the first week we had received two in person offers on marina berth leases that we had advertised for sale at the show. Also a number of serious enquiries on marina sublet berths to chat about after the show has ended. I have to say this has been one of the best Southampton Boat Shows for us in a while.”
Charles McIntyre, Strategy Director, Windsong Boats Ltd
“Southampton International Boat Show has been a fantastic platform for introducing Windsong to the sailing community. The response has exceeded our expectations, both in the number of visitors stopping to see the boat and in the quality of conversations we’ve had with prospective owners, partners and distributors.
“We’ve generated strong sales leads, opened conversations in several new markets and, most importantly, seen genuine enthusiasm for what Windsong represents: a beautiful, traditionally inspired boat with genuinely modern performance. For a young brand, the show has been an incredibly valuable opportunity to test our proposition, build relationships and create momentum for the future.”
Charlie Bird, CEO, Hyde Sails
“Southampton Boat Show has been a really positive show for Hyde Sails this year, with strong engagement on the stand and a promising level of enquiries across our yacht sails, One Design range and accessories.
“One of the highlights for us was seeing our new stand come together. The entire stand was created using sailcloth, with imagery from our long-standing Clipper Round the World Race partnership brought to life through our innovative dye-sublimation printing process. It gave us the opportunity to demonstrate not only the performance of our sails, but also the versatility of the materials and technology we work with every day.
It was also great to spend time with our partners and welcome both existing customers and new faces to the stand. Having the new stand ready for the team as we arrived for set-up was a real highlight, and seeing it come to life throughout the show has been hugely rewarding.
“The show has given us some excellent conversations and promising leads to follow up, and we’re looking forward to building on the relationships and opportunities generated over the course of the event.”
Guy Adams, Director, Wessex Marine
“The overall atmosphere has been the most positive we’ve experienced for a few years of the show, and much busier than anticipated. There’s been a great level of footfall, including international visitors as well as home attendees, which has been fantastic.
“The more focused size of the show this year has worked very well for us – it feels right in the current marketplace, which is a real positive, and has gone down very well with visitors and clients.
“Our intention is to return again next year, and we’re looking forward to it!”
Simon King, Managing Director, Broad Reach Sailing
“This is our 10th year at the show – we were particularly happy with our stand, which was in a new location for us, within the new wave hall, in which we have been very impressed with the quality of visitors and conversations.
“The show continues to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with returning customers, partners, and new potential leads.
“We’re looking forward to returning in 2027, for an even bigger and better show! Thank you to the British Marine team for listening and engaging with exhibitors to continually improve the experience and show itself.”
Jim MacDonald, Managing Director, Mactra Marine
“We’ve been coming to the show for more than 20 years now, and this year, we’re very happy with the quality of conversations with visitors. It’s a great opportunity for our partners, potential customers and distributors to see demonstrations of our products.
“We’ve signed up again for 2027 and look forward to coming back to the show next year!”
Paul Richards, Company Director, Sussex Marine & Sea-Doo
“A fantastic Southampton International Boat Show 2026! On behalf of Sea-Doo and Sussex Marine, I would like to say what a fantastic show it has been this year.
“The level of interest, customer engagement, new contacts and sales has been outstanding and has far exceeded our expectations. It has been particularly encouraging to hear so much positive feedback from customers visiting our stand, with so many commenting on how much they have enjoyed the show and the atmosphere this year.
“Following the success of the 2026 show and the interactions we have had with both existing and potential new customers, we are delighted to confirm that Sussex Marine has signed to return to the Southampton International Boat Show in 2027.
“This year’s show was also particularly important for Sea-Doo. BRP Sea-Doo chose the Southampton International Boat Show as the venue for the European launch of the new 2027 Sea-Doo RXT-X 350 and Sea-Doo Spark Trixx 110, making Southampton the centre of an exciting moment for the brand and its customers. The response to the new models, and to Sea-Doo generally, has been exceptional and has helped make this year’s event particularly memorable for everyone involved.
“Personally, and on behalf of BRP, Sea-Doo and the entire team at Sussex Marine, I would like to pass on our sincere thanks and congratulations to the organisers and everyone behind the Southampton International Boat Show for what they have achieved this year. It has been a hugely successful show for us, and we very much look forward to being back in 2027.”
Simon Rosier, Director, SE Yachts
“This year’s show has been great for SE Yachts. Bringing Delta, Arcona and Najad together on one stand gave visitors a real sense of the breadth we now offer, from fast, capable powerboats to true bluewater cruisers. The UK premiere of the Najad 451 AC drew a lot of attention, and the Arcona 435 Mk II and Delta 33 Coupé kept the stand busy from opening to close every day. The sunny weather has helped too! We’ve had high-quality conversations with serious buyers, some of which are already moving towards orders, and plenty of interest in the Delta 48 Adventure and Arcona 465 Mk II coming to the UK. Southampton remains the most important date in our calendar, and we’re leaving with a strong pipeline heading into 2027.”
Russell Chadwick, General Manager, Sleipner UK
“We’re delighted with how SIBS has performed for Sleipner this year. The show attracted a strong volume of high-quality visitors, giving us the opportunity to engage with serious prospects, existing customers, and industry professionals. It’s encouraging to see more people recognizing the true performance benefits of Sleipner electric stabilization, and we’ve had particularly positive conversations around retrofitting solutions. The show has generated valuable leads and commercial opportunities, making it a very successful event for Sleipner.”
