138,273 Visitors Mark Close of 66th Genoa International Boat Show

Genoa reports double-digit attendance growth

The 66th Genoa International Boat Show closed on 6 October with 138,273 visitors, an increase of 11.3% according to figures released by the organisers. The six-day event brought together more than 1,000 boats and exhibitors from 45 countries across the full recreational marine market, from equipment and smaller craft to yachts and superyachts.

Organisers also recorded more than 4,600 sea trials and 215 product debuts during the show. Those figures underline Genoa's distinctive in-water format, where buyers and industry professionals can move directly from static displays to on-water demonstrations during the same event.

Business activity remained a central measure

Confindustria Nautica said feedback from exhibitors was positive, with yards reporting orders, contracts and new commercial opportunities during the show. That matters because attendance alone does not define the effectiveness of an industry exhibition, particularly in a market where qualified buyers and international trade contacts can be more important than raw footfall.

The show also drew 1,287 accredited journalists and hosted 90 forums and institutional debates. International buyer activity and a programme covering market, technology, regulation and industrial policy reinforced Genoa's role as both a consumer-facing event and a working platform for the marine sector.

Superyacht presence forms part of wider industry growth

The 2026 edition expanded its larger-yacht presence while retaining the broad supply-chain structure for which Genoa is known. For superyacht builders and suppliers, that creates overlap with equipment manufacturers, service companies and smaller craft businesses that often feed technology and skills into the larger-yacht sector.

The organisers have already confirmed the next Genoa International Boat Show for 30 September to 5 October 2027. The 2026 result gives that next edition a strong commercial benchmark, with the challenge now to convert higher attendance and exhibitor optimism into durable orders and industry investment.