The next edition of the Superyacht Design Festival will return to the alpine town of Kitzbühel on 1-3 February 2026.
The two-day programme will see some of the biggest names in design come together with experts from the wider luxury community for exciting discussions, presentations and workshops, plus a packed social programme and the famous Ski Cup. The event also hosts the Design & Innovation Awards, the Young Designer of the Year Award and the BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards, sponsored by Parkway England.
When and where is the Superyacht Design Festival?
The Superyacht Design Festival 2026 will take place in the charming medieval town of Kitzbühel in Austria, famous for its panoramic ski slopes and buzzing nightlife.
What is the event programme?
Set across several venues in the town centre, the three-day festival promises a dynamic mix of informative sessions and engaging entertainment, with numerous recommended hotels conveniently located nearby.
The speakers
Last year’s event brought together world-renowned keynote speakers, unveiled exciting new projects and offered exclusive insights from superyacht owners and leading designers. Presentation topics spanned cutting-edge innovations, from nuclear propulsion and next-generation composites to immersive onboard art experiences.
Tickets for the Superyacht Design Festival 2026
A limited number of special price early-bird tickets are still available for the Superyacht Design Festival 2026, priced at €1,299. Social-only tickets are also available, priced at €1,199.
Early-bird tickets include access to: The BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards and Festival Opening Cocktail; the two-day Conference and Festival Social; the Ski Cup and Après-Ski Closing Party and the event app with its agenda, plus speaker and sponsor information.
Social-only tickets include access to: The BOAT Design & Innovation Awards and Celebratory Cocktail Reception; the Festival Social; the Ski Cup and Après-Ski Closing Party and the event app with its agenda, speaker and sponsor information.
/ Speakers and talks
Speakers
Stewart Campbell
Editor-in-Chief
BOAT International Media
Stewart Campbell is the editor-in-chief of BOAT International, the world’s leading superyacht magazine. Before joining BOAT International he spent almost a decade working at various sector-leading magazines at London based publisher IPC Media.
Christopher Farrell
Commercial Director
Neptune P2P Group
Christopher completed a 10-year career in the Royal Marine Commandos as a Sniper, serving on operations in hostile environments around the world, including Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Monty
Halls
TV Presenter and Marine Biologist
Monty Halls is a former Royal Marines Officer, best known for his BBC series Great Escapes, where he lived on the West Coasts of Scotland and Ireland with his dog Reuben. Monty went on to present the multi-award-winning BBC NHU blue chip series Great Barrier Reef.
Max Bello
International Ocean Policy Expert
Mission Blue
Maximiliano Bello is an international ocean policy expert who has worked in the environmental arena for almost three decades to advance marine conservation priorities. He has worked with and for many international non-governmental organisations.
Speaker name
Speaker job title
Company
Writing is a medium of communication that represents language through the inscription of signs and symbols.
Speaker name
Speaker job title
Company
Writing is a medium of communication that represents language through the inscription of signs and symbols.
Speaker name
Speaker job title
Company
Writing is a medium of communication that represents language through the inscription of signs and symbols.
Talks
Talk 1
We define a displacement yacht as a vessel that always displaces its own weight of water when under power at full speed. Gross tonnage is the deciding entry qualification in the displacement classes. Because of this, the yacht’s gross tonnage as well as length overall must be given. This category will be divided into sub-categories once nominations have been received.
Talk 2
We define semi-displacement and planing motor yachts as vessels that displace less than their own weight of water when under power at full speed. This category will be divided into sub-categories once nominations have been received.
Talk 3
We define sailing yachts as vessels primarily powered by their sails. This category will be divided into sub-categories once nominations have been received.
Talk 4
This class is open to all yachts - motor or sail - over 30 metres that have undergone refits or rebuilds in the qualifying year. Commercial or other vessels that have been converted into yachts and re-entered service can also be nominated. With the agreement of the chairman, class boundaries may be redefined and classes may be amalgamated depending on the number of entries in each class.
Talk 5
The Voyager’s Award is presented to the yacht that, in the opinion of the judges, completed the most inspirational cruise in 2024. Cruises that began in 2023 can also be nominated. The owner or a person nominated by the owner (for instance the principal of a charter party but NOT a member of the crew) must have been aboard for a significant proportion of the cruise. The Voyager’s Award will be judged not only on the voyage but also on the way it is described in text, photos and other media.
Additional Talks
Additional talk 1
The Motor Yacht of the Year is presented to a class winner in the motor yacht categories that is considered by the judges to be the most notable yacht of the qualifying year. No entry is required, or is possible, other than by entering the respective yacht category.
Additional talk 2
Yachts For Science is an organisation which helps 'matchmake' marine scientists and researchers with superyacht owners and crew with the ultimate goal of helping science and conservation. Max Bello, Policy Advisor for Mission Blue and Bering Yacht's founder Alexei Mikhailov discussed how they collaborated on a key conservation project for the Dominican Republic this summer.
Additional talk 3
The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre reports global piracy and armed robbery incidents increased by 4 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022, reversing an overall downwards trend enjoyed over the past decade. Should superyachts be concerned? Where are the riskiest areas to have on your radar? And, is cyber-piracy a threat as the headlines suggest? In this panel discussion, Ben Williams, divisional director, Ropner Insurance, superyacht captain Daren Packham and Chris Farrell, commercial director of Neptune P2P gathered to discuss the reality of sailing to far-flung corners of the world, and what owners, captains and crew should do to ensure the safety of everyone on board.
/ The programme
The programme
Spanning multiple venues throughout the town centre, the festival offers three days of informative sessions and captivating entertainment.
1 February
10.30 – 15.00
Optional early registration at the K3 Kitzkongress centre
We encourage guests to pre-register ahead of the main event to collect event badges and wristbands and to download the event app, which will keep you up to date with the latest information.
K3 Kitzkongress centre, Josef-Herold-Straße 12, 6370 Kitzbühel
17.00 – 18.45
Festival Opening Cocktail
Mocking - Das Wirtshaus, Hahnenkammstraße 8, 6370 Kitzbühel.
19:15 - 20:45
The annual BOAT Design & Innovation Awards, which include the Young Designer of the Year Award
K3 Kitzkongress centre, Josef-Herold-Straße 12, 6370 Kitzbühel.
2 February
08:00 - 17:00
Superyacht Design Festival, Day One
A full day of panels, presentations and masterclasses.
K3 Kitzkongress centre, Josef-Herold-Straße 12, 6370 Kitzbühel.
19:30 - 23:30
Festival Social at Rosi’s Sonnbergstuben
3 February
09:00 - 12:00
Superyacht Design Festival, Day Two
A morning of panels, presentations and masterclasses.
K3 Kitzkongress centre, Josef-Herold-Straße 12, 6370 Kitzbühel.
12:00 – 16.00
Ski Cup and Après-Ski Closing Party, hosted in association with Lürssen.
Zielhaus Red Bull, Hermann Reisch W. 16, 6370 Kitzbühel, Austria.
/ Organise your stay
We’ve secured exclusive rates at a selection of preferred hotels for Superyacht Design Festival attendees. Hotels tend to book up quickly during the festival, so we recommend securing your accommodation early.
Kitzbühel is easily accessible from Salzburg, Innsbruck and Munich airports. There are many direct flights to these airports at the height of the ski season. Booking your flights early and any additional required transportation is encouraged to secure the best rates and guarantee availability. See below the distance from each of the nearby airports.
© MAPBOX, © OPENSTREETMAP
© MAPBOX, © OPENSTREETMAP
74km from Salzburg Airport, approximately 1hr 10mins drive
97km from Innsbruck Airport, approximately 1hr 20mins drive
174km from Munich Airport, approximately 2hr 5mins drive
We strongly recommend you book transfers with world leader Ski Lifts, known for its reliability, punctuality and excellent customer service, which can get you to and from Kitzbühel safely and on time. BOAT International has negotiated discounted prices that you can book here.
/ The sponsors
The 2026 edition will be held in association with Metrica
We are thrilled to announce that Metrica as title sponsor for this year’s Superyacht Design Festival. Metrica will appear alongside event partners Kreative Metallform (KMF), Feadship, Oliveri, Lürssen, Benetti, ICE International and Videoworks, as well as trophy partner Lasvit.
With origins in a 17th-century workshop in Münster, Germany, Metrica has evolved into a global outfitter of superyachts, legacy-grade residences, and custom furniture. Across Germany, Austria and the United States, their master makers, engineers, and project managers unite craftsmanship with artistry to transform ambitious visions into lasting realities.
Metrica believes interiors are more than spaces - they are the backdrop to life’s most meaningful stories. From raw materials to refined finishes, they bring design, detail, and execution into harmony - an approach that has earned the trust of private clients, shipyards, architects and designers worldwide.
Metrica navigates complexity with precision, managing scope, budgets and timelines without compromise. What they bring to every project - their passion, skill, and care - goes further than what can be counted, calculated, or defined, creating interiors to be lived in, remembered, and passed on for generations.
Kai Dittmar, CEO, Metrica says, “We’re proud to be the 2026 title sponsor of the Superyacht Design Festival - the perfect stage to celebrate the artistry, innovation, and collaboration that define our industry. This is a transformative time for Metrica: rooted in generations of heritage, refined by innovation, and shaped by a commitment to creativity, craftsmanship, and quality. It marks the beginning of our next chapter.”
Stewart Campbell, MD of BOAT International adds: "We’re delighted to welcome Metrica as title sponsor for 2026. Their dedication to craft and innovation is what this special event is all about. I'm already looking forward to an edition that fosters dialogue, creativity and excellence in superyacht design.”
If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Luca Vasile.
“Supporting the Superyacht Design Festival comes at a transformational time for Metrica: rooted in generations of heritage, refined by innovation and shaped by a committment to creativity, craftsmanship and quality.”
Kai Dittmar, CEO, Metrica.
/ Previous editions' highlights
2025
The Superyacht Design Festival 2025 saw keynote and world-renowned designer Yves Béhar take to the stage to share thoughts and insight from the world of product design. Industry legend Andrew Winch took the audience on his colourful career journey and the owner and designer of 67-metre Kasper 7 shared the inspiration behind her creation. Meanwhile, Vripack’s Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix Hoekstra offered an exclusive first look inside the much-anticipated Project Zero. Presentations and panels on nuclear propulsion, immersive video, carbon fibre and kinetic art completed the mix.
2024
The Superyacht Design Festival 2024 took a closer look at AI and its repercussions on yachting, with a timely chat with British architect and AI expert Neil Leach. The day began with Biofabricate’s Amy Congdon and Winch Design’s Aino-Leena Grapin exploring the bold new world of biomaterials. Later, the audience was introduced to groundbreaking innovations, including game-changing solar glass and cutting-edge 3D-printed art. Owner Frédéric Jousset revealed his motivations for his game-changing floating art gallery, 46.5-metre ArtExplorer and Dickie Bannenberg ended the festival on a high note with a walk down memory lane.