The fifth edition of the Venice Boat Show is fast approaching and will bring a raft of exciting innovations in the sector to the Venice Arsenale from 29 May to 2 June 2024. Since its first edition in 2019, the show has grown into an unmissable event in the nautical calendar. Organised by Vela Spa on behalf of the Municipality of Venice and in collaboration with the Italian Navy for the exceptional opening of the Arsenale compound, last year’s show was also recognised by the Veneto Region as an international event – proof positive of its maturity and its deserved place on the world stage.
Be part of a global event
More than 30,000 visitors from across the Adriatic basin crowded the Venice Arsenale over the event’s five days in 2023, with delegates in attendance from more than 30 countries. The location proved to be ideal for the Eastern market, with many visitors hailing from Eastern Europe.
The 2024 edition looks to confirm the event’s growth, both in numbers and quality, gaining more national and international acclaim. And it seems particularly symbolic that the fifth edition of the Venice Boat Show falls in the same year as the 700th anniversary of the death of the first European to explore the Asian market through trade: the Venetian merchant Marco Polo.
View the latest marine products
The spaces available to the approximate 250 expected exhibitors are distributed over a 50,000-square-metre water basin that accommodates more than 320 boats (including 240 on-water), with more than 1,100 linear metres of piers thanks to an infrastructure addition in the Arsenale complex, plus an indoor exhibition space of 5,000 square metres. Confirmed exhibitors include the Ferretti Group, Azimut|Benetti, Solaris Yachts, Sanlorenzo, Silent Yachts, Filippetti, Astondoa, Green Line, Pardo, Prestige, Absolute, FIM and Wider. The sailing segment is also expanding, with significant Italian and international brands in both the monohull and multihull sectors in attendance.
The new opening of the medium dry dock area in the Arsenale will consolidate the exhibition layout dedicated to watersports in the 2023 edition, with a particular focus on electric SUP, surf and foil solutions, including in-water tests. At the same time, a new exhibition in the Rio delle Galeazze will showcase the best of wooden motor boat production, with both endothermic and electric engines.
Hear from the forefront of the industry
In addition to being the place to discover new boats and products, the Venice Boat Show will also promote scientific discourse with conferences, panels and presentations, as well as host workshops and educational activities for children and families. More than 50 cultural and in-depth events are planned, many of which are dedicated to the theme of sustainability, the health of the sea and new electric and hybrid propulsion.
The 2023 exhibition involved more than 2,000 workers, more than 500 staff and 448 accredited journalists, including 33 foreign operators and journalists brought by ICE – Italian Trade Agency, coming from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Serbia and the UK. ICE has also confirmed its collaboration for the 2024 show.
Through its boat show and its particular attention to new hybrid and electric engines, Venice is strengthening its credentials as a “world capital of sustainability”, a true laboratory for “the oldest city of the future”.
Also worth mentioning are three important events leading up to the fifth edition of the show. The 2024 edition of BOAT International’s prestigious World Superyacht Awards will be hosted on 3 and 4 May at the Arsenale, where the world’s best boats will be recognised by the industry. A few days later, on 11 and 12 May, there will be a stage of the first championship of the Formula E1 circuit, which follows the event prototype that was presented at the 2022 Venice Boat Show. And from 17 to 19 May, the Lagoon Escapade will take place; an annual event that showcases Lagoon catamarans produced by the Beneteau Group.
With quantitatively and qualitatively growing numbers, the Venice Boat Show has become a key point of reference for sailing enthusiasts, renewing the profound and celebrated bond between Venice and the sea.
For more information, or to secure your ticket, visit the Venice Boat Show’s website.
Sponsored content created for Vela Spa