Everything you need to know about the 2023 Superyacht Design Festival

BOAT is pleased to announce that the next edition of the Superyacht Design Festival will return to the Italian town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the heart of the Dolomitic Alps. The 2023 Superyacht Design Festival is set to take place from 8-10 February 2023, and tickets are available to purchase now. The event will see some of the biggest names in design come together with experts from the wider luxury community for two days of exciting discussions and a social programme, including the Design & Innovation Awards, the Young Designer of the Year Award and the famous Ski Cup.

The location

Known for its cobbled streets, chic boutiques and fantastic slopes, the Superyacht Design Festival was first held at the stylish winter resort of Cortina in 2019. Following a successful edition held in Milan in June, the Superyacht Design Festival 2023 will return to the slopes and will take place across a multiple venues within the town centre to create an informative, diverse and entertaining event, with many recommended hotels nearby.

Ticket information

The standard ticket price is €1,500 plus VAT and includes access to the whole programme: a two-day conference as well as all social events and the Ski Cup. 

The social tickets are sold out. 

The conference

The themes and topics for the conference and debate will include the following:

Day one

Drawing on fantasy: What can superyacht designers learn from Hollywood? Plenty! Marvel Studios' Art Director Cynthia Halley opens up her sketchbook of sci-fi and fantasy worlds from across the entertainment world – revealing the true secrets to powerful visual-storytelling and giving us a peek into the creative process behind some of the industry's most immersive world-building and show-stopping design.

Spray yourself a superyacht: Imagine a future where the furnishings of your room could be changed at the click of your fingers - or rather, the squirt of an aerosol can? Now this is no longer a pipedream thanks to Dr Manel Torres’ unique spray-on fabric, Fabrican.

Zero to hero: Game-changing innovations brought together in a fossil-fuel-free ketch, Project Zero is the product of a deep commitment to making sustainable marine travel and hospitality a reality. Vripack’s creative director Marnix Hoekstra reveals some of the cutting-edge work that went into the vessel, as well as the wider mission of Foundation Zero. 

The race for next gen fuel: The yachting industry is answering the urgent call to address environmental challenges, if only to meet emission regulations as a first step. The search for alternate fuels and power sources in on but with any new technology comes obstacles. So, how close are we to a solution and how steep is the hill left to climb? In this special alternative fuels roundtable, three pioneers present their current project and visions for the future, followed by a discussion and Q&A session moderated by BOAT US Editor and BOAT Design & Innovation co-chair Cecile Gauert.

The space puzzle: With a growing trend of people spending more time at sea post-pandemic, we explore whether the traditional GA is still fit for purpose. Recent launches have already started to shift the norms, with expanding master suites on smaller builds, specialist spaces for offices and classrooms, and ever-increasing ways to offer direct access to the water. Leading designers discuss the changes they have already put in place and debate how the division of space might evolve even further.

Two minds are better than one: How one owner and designer teamed up and spent six years creating Admiral’s 75 metre labour of love, Kenshō - with radical results.

Day two

Why superyachts are good for you: Professor Charles Spence from Oxford University’s CrossmodalResearch Laboratory gives compelling evidence on how ocean life boosts your well-being.

Why colour matters: A powerful tool in everything from branding to interior design, colour triggers more subliminal emotions in shoppers than text or photos. Global trend forecaster and colour consultant, Jane Boddy pinpoints key trends for the future.

Meet the legend: British designer Tim Heywood reflects on his award-winning 50-year career – including his signature style and inspiration for some of the largest and most iconic yachts in the business including the 147-metre Lürssen A and iconic 115-metre Pelorus.

The social programme

Wednesday 8, February

Early Registration
Location: Alexandra Girardi Hall
10.00 – 15.30
We encourage guests to pre-register ahead of the main event to collect event badges, wristbands and download the event app which will keep you up to date with the latest information.

BOAT International Design and Innovation Awards
Location: Alexander Girardi Hall
17.00 – 19.30
Dress code: Business, jacket no tie
The awards ceremony will take place after a reception at the Alexander Girardi Hall. This year’s achievements will acknowledge everything from the naval architecture, styling, innovation and engineering of today's superyachts, to the changing demands of owners and the increased portfolio of technology. The awards include a Lifetime Achievement Award honouring a designer who has made an indelible impression on the industry.

Cortina d’Ampezzo Town Party
Location: Museum of Modern Art
19.30 – 21.00
Dress code: Business casual
Following the ceremony guests will be invited to celebrate all the winners and the beginning of the Superyacht Design Festival at the Cortina Town Party in central Cortina d'Ampezzo. Guest will enjoy drinks, delicious traditional dishes and entertainment while honouring this year’s winners.

Thursday 9, February

Superyacht Design Festival, Day One
Location: Alexander Girardi Hall
08.00- 17.30
Dress code: Business casual

Festival Social
Location: TBC
19.30 – 23.00
Dress code: "Alpine chic"
Our brand-new Festival Social will bring guests together after the first day of the conference. The party will include a dinner and entertainment. Dust off your finest alpine chic and catch up on the day's events with old and new friends. Further details on timing and location will follow.

Friday 10, February

Superyacht Design Festival, Day Two
Location: Alexander Girardi Hall
09.00 – 12.00
Dress code: Business casual

Ski Cup and Après Ski Party
Location: Chalet Tofane
12.00 - 17.00
Dress code: Business casual, those participating in the Ski Cup need to ensure they have their skiing equipment and clothing with them

This year the Ski Cup & Après Ski Party, in association with Lürssen. If you would like to partake in the race, pre-registration is essential, to complete this please login here to modify your original registration and complete the questions in the 'options' tab.

The races that will take place include the Women's Giant Slalom ski, Men's Giant Slalom ski, Snowboarding Giant Slalom (women and men will race against each other in this category) and the Team Time ski time race. All entrants will receive a ski pass which will give them access to the lifts during the race which will be provided during the Ski Cup registration, on-site from 12.00 on 10th February.

If you would like to purchase additional ski passes, please refer to Dolomiti Superski here. (Please note this is a third-party company based in Cortina). BOAT has also secured preferential rates for ski hire, should you need to hire equipment please complete the following link. Prices can be found here.

Travel information

The Superyacht Design Festival will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, which is easily accessible from Venice Marco Polo, Venice Treviso and Innsbruck 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.

Travelling by road to Cortina d'Ampezzo

137 km from Venice Treviso Airport, approximately 1hr 48mins drive.
148 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport, approximately 1hr 53mins drive.
166 km from Innsbruck Airport, approximately 2hr 40mins drive.

Transfers

BOAT International is working with Ski Lifts, a leading ski resort transfer provider, to arrange transport to and from the airport. Click here to book. 

Recommended hotels

BOAT International has secured a number of preferential rates at partner hotels for attendees of the Superyacht Design Festival. With rates starting from €169 per night, all of the hotels listed are within close proximity to the event locations in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Click the button below to access all of our preferential rates.

HOTEL DEALS

Event partners

Hosting the Superyacht Design Festival would not be possible without the generous support of our event partners. We offer them our sincere gratitude and encourage you to read more about the 2023 event partners here.