The Genoa International Boat Show once again takes centre stage in the world of boating. The 66th edition runs from 1 to 6 October 2026, at the Waterfront di Levante, and arrives with a promise that goes beyond the boats: to mark the year in which the area hosting the event is presented as complete, after a long process of urban transformation.
Organised by Confindustria Nautica and I Saloni Nautici, the show expands the 2026 edition with more exhibitors and new spaces, reinforcing its role as one of the sector's main gatherings in the world. More than an exhibition, the event works as a platform for business, international relations and the circulation of trends.
The new Waterfront di Levante as a backdrop
The great highlight of this edition is the setting. The organisers present 2026 as the edition that marks the completion of the works at the Waterfront di Levante, the ambitious urban regeneration project designed by Genoese architect Renzo Piano, through the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, in partnership with the OBR studio.
Conceived to return the sea to the city, the plan foresees the transformation of a large area between the centre and the old port, with an investment estimated at around 350 million euros. The project integrates navigable canals, docks, an urban park, new exhibition spaces, a seafront promenade and the new Palasport, which is already in operation.
It is important to note, however, that the delivery of the Waterfront is a phased process. The completion announced for 2026 is presented by the organisers as part of the project's schedule, while part of the works continued over the past years. In practice, the 2026 Boat Show is expected to present the public with a more complete and integrated version of the complex, a direct result of this regeneration.
A structure built around the water
The Boat Show's model remains one of its greatest advantages. The event is organised into five complementary areas, created to represent different parts of the production chain.
The Yachts & Superyachts area gathers the largest vessels and the high-value projects. Sailing World is dedicated to sailing, multihulls and the segment's equipment. Boating Discovery presents motor boats, inflatables, outboard engines and solutions for different boating profiles. TechTrade concentrates components, accessories, electronics, engines, materials and technologies. Living the Sea brings the public closer to services, nautical tourism and the different ways of living the sea.
With much of the space in the open air and directly linked to the water, the show allows a large part of the vessels to be presented at sea. Visitors can get to know the product on the stand, step aboard, examine details and, in many cases, follow the performance during the sea trials held throughout the event.
An agenda that unites innovation, sustainability and business
The 2026 programme goes far beyond the display of boats. The official opening, on 1 October, brings together authorities and institutional representatives, starting six days of activities.
On 2 October, two moments stand out. The Design Innovation Award recognises projects that excel in design, research, functionality, technology and sustainability. On the same date, the World Yachting Sustainability Forum reaches its fifth edition, bringing together companies, bodies and institutions to discuss the sustainable transition, regulatory challenges and the future of leisure boating.
Another highlight is the second edition of the TechTrade Days, a format aimed at the professional environment that is expected to gather more than 400 brands of accessories and components, bringing together manufacturers, technology suppliers, buyers and operators. Together, these initiatives show that boating does not end at the vessel: around each boat there is a chain made up of industry, technology, services, tourism and professional training.
Why this matters to Brazil
Following Genoa is a way to understand where global boating is heading, at a time when the Brazilian industry is expanding production, exports and international presence. Events like the Genoa Boat Show show how a show can be, at the same time, a product showcase, a driver of urban development and a business environment that moves hospitality, tourism, technology and services.
For a sector experiencing a good moment in Brazil too, the example of Genoa reinforces a central idea of the Ocean Economy: when industry, city, tourism and innovation move together, boating stops being merely leisure and becomes a driver of development.
Service
- Event: 66th Genoa International Boat Show
- Date: from 1 to 6 October 2026
- Venue: Waterfront di Levante, Genoa, Italy
- Organisation: Confindustria Nautica and I Saloni Nautici
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Mundo Mar
