Genoa Boat Show strengthens position in the boat show calendar

After a record-breaking year in 2023, the Genoa International Boat Show (Salone Nautico Internazionale di Genova) has reported increased footfall and a rise in the number of sea trials (up 24 YoY) at its 64th edition in 2024. 

The event, which ran between 19 to 24 September, was a '"turning point" according to exhibitors. Andrea Razeto, President of I Saloni Nautici said: "The Genoa International Boat Show has represented a turning point following something of a less dynamic start to the season". He credited the positive feedback to the organiser's "tremendous efforts" to update the show's format.

The Genoa Boat Show is Italy's largest nautical event and has traditionally been a sweet spot in the market for the under-24-metre segment. However, this year saw Sorrentine shipyard Apreamare bring an international debut to the event with the 27.1-metre Maestro 88, christened Gipsy VI, while Sanlorenzo brought its hotly-anticipated 50-metre fuel-cell assisted Almax to the show.

"Our decision to debut the Maestro 88 in Genoa underscores the significance of the Genoa Boat Show as Italy's premier nautical event," said Cataldo Aprea, president of Apreamare. "We firmly believe in its importance, and by choosing this platform for our launch, we aimed to send a strong message of support to the entire Italian maritime industry."

Roy Capasso, the new head of sales for AB Yachts agreed that the show was a "fantastic surprise". "I didn't expect so much interest for boats of our size," he added.

Across all the products on display, there were more than 100 new products and 30 premieres. Italian yards were still in the majority of yachting exhibitors, although British builders Princess and Sunseeker both brought sizeable fleets of new yachts to the Ligurian coast, alongside Turkish yard Sirena and French-Italian group Beneteau.

The mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci, said that the show had "once again demonstrated its role as a leading event for the international yachting sector" and "confirmed its position as a global reference point for the sector".

The 2025 edition of the Genoa International Boat Show will take place between the 18 to 23 September 2025.