The 36th edition of the MYBA Charter Show concluded on 30 April at Portosole Marina in Sanremo, Italy, marking another triumphant chapter for one of the superyacht industry's most anticipated annual gatherings. Held on 27-30 April 2026, the event returned to its birthplace with renewed energy, drawing industry professionals, yacht crew and exhibitors from around the globe. With Sanremo nicknamed the City of Flowers, the show embraced a floral theme that paid homage to its picturesque host city.
The MYBA Charter Show 2026 by numbers
This year's MYBA Charter Show brought together an impressive fleet of 87 yachts, with a combined length of 3,279 metres and a combined internal volume of 33,251GT. Leading the lineup was the 85-metre motor yacht Gigia, represented by Burgess, which commanded attention as the largest yacht at the show, while 50.5-metre Oguz Khan, represented by Ocean Independence, held the title of largest sailing yacht in attendance. Movements across the docks were seamlessly coordinated by sea shuttle sponsor MYS Worldwide Yacht Services for smooth operations throughout the four-day event.
The show attracted 2,066 attendees, including 801 representatives from brokerage companies who gathered to forge connections, negotiate charters and explore the latest offerings in the superyacht world. Among the total attendees, 676 were dedicated crew members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure every detail ran smoothly. Additionally, 74 exhibitors set up stands manned by 422 people, showcasing the latest products, services and innovations designed to enhance the yacht charter experience.
Güneş Aysun, chair of the MYBA Charter Show Panel, reflects on the event's success: "The figures that are included in this article are an indication of the strength of the annual MYBA Charter Show and the importance of bringing our professional community together. But a successful show is never a matter of numbers alone. The atmosphere and camaraderie in Sanremo were excellent, and I believe the Show once again confirmed that returning to its birthplace was the right decision."
A week of celebration and networking
The festivities kicked off on 26 April with the Captains' Dinner at the historic Villa Nobel, sponsored by Luise Italy. The following day, exhibitors gathered for the Exhibitors Party, fostering networking opportunities in a relaxed environment.
On 28 April, all attendees were welcomed to the Show Opening Cocktail, sponsored by Begüm Yachting, which set the tone for the days ahead with its stunning Sanremo backdrop. The social calendar continued on 29 April with the MYBA Members' Cocktail, where attendees were treated to an electrifying performance by The Phly Boyz, and the evening culminated in the invitation-only Yacht Party, which once again proved to be a highlight of the event.
Beyond the competitions and social events, attendees had the opportunity to keep their industry knowledge up to date with three seminars that took place throughout the show.
Culinary excellence takes centre stage
One of the most anticipated aspects of the MYBA Charter Show is the MYBA Superyacht Chefs' Competition. This year, superyacht chefs were invited to showcase their culinary creativity under the theme "A Flower Feast for Breakfast". The challenge required chefs to create three breakfast dishes - sweet or savoury - that could be served on three different days of a charter. Judges evaluated entries based on the use of flowers in the dish's creation and presentation, originality, choice of ingredients, flavour, presentation, technique and overall impression.
The results highlighted the exceptional talent within the superyacht chef community. In the 50 metres and over category, Andrew Durham from 73.6-metre Naia (Burgess) claimed first place, with Susan Elliot from the 72.5-metre Coral Ocean (Ahoy Club) taking second, and Andrew Clark from the 55.4-metre Holdin' My Own (IYC) securing third. The 36- to 49-metre category saw Aiden Farah from 43-metre Seawolf X (Cecil Wright) take top honours, followed by Luka Zanko from 35.3-metre Noroader (Northrop & Johnson) in second place, and Daniel Brenchley from 43.6-metre Latiko (Fraser) in third. In the 35 metres and under category, Charles Agouros from 32.6-metre Centurion (SuperYachtsMonaco) emerged victorious, with Mehmet Yilmaz from 32.1-metre Lady Luna (Ocean Independence) in second and Bradley Thomas from 32.9-metre Alberry (Y.CO) rounding out the top three.
Special mentions were awarded to Mykhailo Novytskyi from 54.5-metre Quinta Essentia (Eastwind Yachts), Giovanni Rocca from 48-metre Penelope (Flying Charter) and Andrea Albanesi from 27.4-metre Penguins (Equinoxe).
Interior crews shine in Tablescaping Competition
Alongside the chefs' competition, interior crews faced their own creative challenge in the Tablescaping Competition, where they were tasked with designing a floral breakfast table setting that captured the essence of Sanremo's botanical beauty.
In the 50 metres and over category, Donne Hodges from Holdin' My Own took first place. Rebecca Wadsworth from Seawolf X won in the 36- to 49-metre category, while Anjenette Kleynhans from Centurion claimed victory in the 35 metres and under category. A special mention went to Mariia Mirkhova from Quinta Essentia.
All Hands On Deck: Showcasing crew resourcefulness
The All Hands On Deck Competition returned to challenge crew members to demonstrate their resourcefulness and creativity. The competition focused on keeping charter guests entertained during unfavourable weather conditions, providing crews with a fantastic opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season and prove they can bring their A-game to work, no matter the weather.
Coral Ocean took first place in the 50 metres and over category, while Seawolf X won in the 36-to 49-metre category, and 27.9-metre Forza Quieta (Silver Star Yachting) claimed victory in the 35 metres and under category.
Designer Water Competition: Eliminating single-use plastic
The Designer Water Competition returned in 2026, powered by CYBA. The competition aims to celebrate the exceptional quality of water produced on board superyachts, showcase the creativity of yacht chefs and stewards, and demonstrate simple, effective ways to eliminate single-use plastic water bottle waste.
Crew members were challenged to prepare flavoured water infused with flowers of their choice, using water produced by the onboard watermaker or filtration system, or from large reusable water containers if neither option was available. The water had to be served in reusable glasses, with no single-use plastic permitted anywhere. The competition garnered just under 1,000 votes across 15 participating yachts, reflecting strong engagement from attendees.
The 24.8-metre Explora (Silver Star Yachting) took first place, followed by the 16.9-metre Alesei (Silver Star Yachting) in second and Forza Quieta in third.
"The 2026 MYBA Charter Show once again showed the strength, quality and spirit of our industry," says MYBA president Raphael Sauleau. "Sanremo delivered a fantastic week with strong attendance, great weather, positive energy, constructive business discussions and great support all around the show. A sincere thank you to all exhibitors, brokers, captains, crew, sponsors, partners and of course the MYBA teams, digital marketing team and committees whose hard work and dedication made this edition another success."
Aysun concludes: "On behalf of MYBA and the Show Panel, I would like to thank Portosole Sanremo, the Region of Liguria, the City of Sanremo, our sponsors, brokers, captains, crew, exhibitors and everyone who contributed to this success."
To find out more information about the MYBA Charter Show, please contact the show organisers.
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