BOAT International is delighted to announce that Feadship will return for the third consecutive year as the official sponsor of the Young Designer of the Year Award 2026. The highly regarded award has long been recognised as a platform for young, aspiring designers to showcase their skills and gain recognition within the superyacht industry.
The partnership between the renowned Dutch shipyard and BOAT International signifies a shared commitment to nurturing emerging talent and celebrating innovation in yacht design. Feadship's sponsorship of the award further solidifies its dedication to fostering creativity and excellence within the yacht design community. Known for its stellar craftsmanship, Feadship has consistently pushed the boundaries of yacht design and engineering, creating some of the world's most iconic and luxurious superyachts.
"As we enter the third year of our partnership with the Young Designer of the Year Award, Feadship is more committed than ever to championing the next wave of design talent," said Farouk Nefzi, chief marketing officer at Feadship. "This continued collaboration with BOAT International reflects our belief that young designers will bring fresh perspectives that will help shape the future of yacht design. By sharing our knowledge and passion with these young creatives, we hope to foster their growth and see them thrive in the superyacht world. It is our continued joy to empower the future of our industry."
The annual competition attracts some of the most promising talents from around the globe, offering them a chance to present their ground-breaking design concepts to a distinguished panel of experts. The winners are announced alongside the BOAT Design & Innovation Awards at the annual Superyacht Design Festival, with all the finalists invited to attend.
Now in its 19th year, past winners and finalists can be found working throughout the superyacht industry. Timur Bozca, winner in 2015, was responsible for the transformation of the 146-metre semi-submersible vessel OK into a superyacht in 2022.
Yihharn Liu, winner in 2019, is now a project manager at Winch Design. “Attending the BOAT International Young Designer of the Year gave me opportunities to meet more people in the industry and start to build a network,” she said.
Toby Moore, CEO of BOAT International, said he was also “delighted” at the partnership: “As we launch the 2026 Young Designer of the Year Award, we are delighted to mark the third year of our partnership with Feadship. This collaboration is about opening doors, encouraging bold ideas and creating real connections between emerging designers and the industry’s most influential figures. Feadship’s forward-looking approach and dedication to excellence perfectly complement our goal to nurture the next generation of talent. We can’t wait to see how this year’s participants will raise the bar once again."
Nominations for the Young Designer of the Year Award are now open. The winners will be announced at the Superyacht Design Festival 2026 in Kitzbühel on 1-3 February and there are limited early-bird tickets still available. For more information, please email the events team.
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