The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show closed on 1 November after five days across six locations, bringing together more than 1,300 boats, 50 boat debuts and 200 superyachts. The Azimut Grande 30M and Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht took the FOX Sports Best of Show awards, while organisers set the dates for RefitX, a new yacht refit and repair event launching alongside FLIBS in 2027.

Held from 28 October to 1 November 2026, the show is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets. Its 1,000 exhibitors came from more than 50 countries and occupied nearly 90 acres of exhibition space.

Azimut Grande 30M and Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht win Best of Show

The FOX Sports awards recognised debuting boats for their design, performance, technology and architecture. The Azimut Grande 30M won the category for boats over 60 feet, ahead of fellow finalists Fleming 60 from Fleming Yachts and Pearl 100 Hybrid from Pearl Yachts.

In the under-60-foot category, the Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht earned Valhalla Boatworks its second consecutive win, following the Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht in 2025. The other finalists were the SŌLACE 41CT from SOLACE Boats, Princess C48 from Princess Yachts and Beneteau Gran Turismo 50.

Best of Show celebrations on the docks.
Best of Show celebrations on the docks. Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The independent judging panel comprised motocross and supercross champion Ricky Carmichael; Florida Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito; cliff diver Ellie Smart Doros; Daytona International Speedway president Frank Kelleher; and radio host Paul Castronovo. FOX Sports has scheduled a one-hour Best of Show programme on FS1 for 13 December 2026 at 9:30 a.m.

More than $1.72 billion in listed boats

MarineSource, the show's official online marketplace, introduced the Official Boat Show Map. It recorded more than 110,000 listing views during the first four days. Its figures put the combined length of the exhibited boats at 64,200 feet, or 12.2 miles, with more than US$1.72 billion in inventory represented by vessels carrying a listed price.

Exhibitors reported strong sales during the week. The inventory figure describes the value of priced boats on display, rather than completed sales. Organisers also cite the latest economic impact study, which puts the show's typical contribution to Florida's economic output at more than US$1.7 billion.

Viking sportfishing yachts on display at FLIBS 2026.
Viking sportfishing yachts on display at FLIBS 2026. Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Helicopter transfers, floating pickleball and seminars

A new Wave Helicopters shuttle brought visitors to Pier Sixty-Six, while 10-minute aerial tours offered another view of the city's waterways. At Las Olas Marina, yacht crews competed on a floating pickleball court. Expert-led seminars and the Windward VIP Experience completed the programme, with chefs Ryan O'Sullivan of Hell's Kitchen and Dave White of Below Deck and Chopped.

A Wave Helicopters aircraft at the show helipad.
A Wave Helicopters aircraft at the show helipad. Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows at Informa Markets, highlighted the combination of new yachts and activities that let visitors experience the event from the air, the water and the docks.

RefitX makes its debut on 27–28 October 2027

MIASF and Informa Markets presented plans for RefitX at Bahia Mar's Yacht Builder's Tent on 30 October. The new conference and exhibition will focus on yacht repair and refit, making its debut on 27–28 October 2027 as the official refit event of FLIBS.

Joining Doole were MIASF CEO and president Phil Purcell, Derecktor Shipyards chief commercial officer Joel Shine and Delta Marine director of sales Tim Kershaw. Purcell stressed the importance of refit and repair in sustaining shipyard activity and skilled trades throughout the year.

The opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at FLIBS 2026.
The opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at FLIBS 2026. Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The next Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will run from 27 to 31 October 2027, with RefitX taking place on its first two days.

Read more about the yachts and debuts announced for FLIBS 2026 and Oceanco's rebuilt exploration yacht Draak.

For more information, visit the official Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show website.

Cover: superyachts at the FLIBS 2026 docks. Photo courtesy of Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.