“Back on track”: boot Düsseldorf 2026 reports rising international attendance and strengthening demand for 24m+ yachts

The world’s largest yacht and watersports show, boot Düsseldorf, returned to Messe Düsseldorf from 17–25 January, once again transforming 16 exhibition halls into a comprehensive showcase of the global leisure marine industry.

The 2026 edition welcomed over 200,000 visitors from more than 110 countries, marking a slight increase in overall attendance year-on-year. According to organisers, approximately a quarter of visitors travelled from European markets outside Germany and overseas destinations, underlining what they described as “increased internationality” across its visitor profile. Nearly 1,500 exhibitors from 68 nations participated.

Show director Petros Michelidakis highlighted the strength of the yacht and sailing segments in particular. “We were excellently positioned in the sailing boat and yacht sector this year," he said. "Almost all the global players were on board with their boat premieres. In addition, we were able to attract innovative new manufacturers, with many boats being presented for the first time here in Düsseldorf."

This year's largest global debut in length was from Bluegame, with the brand pulling back the curtain on its first 24-metre-plus model, the BGX83. Luca Santella, founder and head of product strategy at Bluegame, described Düsseldorf as a strategically focused launch platform. “boot Düsseldorf is a very good setting for a presentation because everybody is focused on your event,” he said. “It’s incredibly expensive to bring such a boat here, but I think it was worth it.”

That momentum extended to the sub-24-metre sector too, where multiple shipyards used the show as a global launchpad. SAY Carbon Yachts unveiled the SAY 42 Sport, a 13-metre, 50-knot performance variant of its SAY 42 model. Sunseeker unveiled the 17.2-metre Manhattan 56, while Highfield presented the new 9.2-metre ADV9 adventure RIB.

New model designs were also revealed, including Pearl Yachts’ 22-metre Pearl 73 and Greenline Yachts’ 13.5-metre Greenline 42.

Beyond yacht launches, boot Düsseldorf 2026 also signalled development within the broader marine ecosystem. Marina operators were heavily featured, with an entire hall dedicated to the sector. D-Marin launched its new Latitude membership scheme, consolidating its customer benefits into a single offering and reflecting the marina sector’s growing shift towards integrated lifestyle and service platforms rather than standalone berth operations.

IGY Marinas made its debut appearance at the show, using the European platform to strengthen awareness of its Mediterranean network and promote Trident, its invitation-only membership programme that offers priority berthing among other benefits, and is designed to address the industry’s continual challenge of superyacht berth shortages.

From a commercial perspective, organisers described the 2026 edition as a recovery phase for the market. As Messe Düsseldorf COO Marius Berlemann puts it: “After the difficult past few years with sluggish sales, our exhibitors are back on track. They report very good discussions and business deals at their stands. boot 2026 has once again presented itself as the international beacon and driving force of the industry.”

However, market confidence was accompanied by a more nuanced assessment of demand across different size segments. Azimut general manager Andrea Antichi noted a clear divergence. “We are seeing two different paces: one over 24 metres, where there is strong enthusiasm and increasing demand year on year," he explained. "The other is under 24 metres, especially around 50–60 feet, where we are seeing more struggle.”

Several exhibitors reported strong commercial outcomes, with Princess Yachts confirming multiple sales by the second day of the show. “We’ve always really liked being in Düsseldorf,” said Princess Yachts CEO Will Green. “If you wind the clock back, January was a really important show month. We had the London Boat Show almost back-to-back with Düsseldorf and often overlapping. Then London finished, so now it’s solely reliant on Düsseldorf to get people back into boating mode after Christmas.”

With rising international visitor numbers and a strengthening commercial marketplace, boot Düsseldorf 2026 further consolidated its position as a globally relevant industry platform. “boot 2026 thus bids farewell as a powerful catalyst, international industry meeting place and emotional highlight,” Berlemann concluded. “The business deals are made here in Düsseldorf.”

The next edition of boot Düsseldorf will take place on 23–31 January 2027.