The Genoa Boat Show debuted in 1962 and has since become a cornerstone of the European yachting season. Annually, it draws over 120,000 visitors and displays over 240 boats along its pontoons.
Showcasing the best of Italian maritime tradition alongside international innovation, the Genoa International Boat Show brings together shipyards, designers, and marine brands for a dynamic celebration of yachting culture. With its mix of sailing yachts, motorboats, superyachts, and water sports equipment, the show is both a vibrant marketplace and an unmissable lifestyle experience for professionals, enthusiasts, and newcomers alike.
What to Expect at the Genoa Show
Visitors to the Genoa International Boat Show can expect to experience one of the largest and most diverse boating events in the Mediterranean. As Italy’s premier nautical showcase, the show covers every sector of the marine industry, from sailing yachts and motor yachts to inflatables, water sports gear, and cutting-edge marine technology. It’s a major platform for world premieres, Italian debuts, and innovative design concepts, attracting industry leaders and enthusiasts from around the globe.
Main highlights of the show include:
- An impressive mix of sailing yachts, motor yachts, RIBs, powerboats, and luxury tenders.
- From monohull and multihull to rigid and semi-rigid models.
- Over 1,000 boats on display both on the water and ashore.
- Five specialized exhibition areas, including sailing, yachts & superyachts, boating discovery, tech trade, and living the sea.
- More than 1,000 brands represented.
- Extensive opportunities for sea trials and hands-on demonstrations.
Taking place each September over six days, the event blends Italian maritime heritage with the latest global innovations, offering a perfect mix of business networking, lifestyle experiences, and on-the-water excitement.
The Show Layout
The layout of the Genoa International Boat Show features a multi-specialized format spread over 200,000 sq/m of land and water, with 85% of the space outdoors. The event encompasses five distinct shows, each with its own identity.
Sailing World
Dedicated to sailing enthusiasts, this area of the Genoa International Boat Show brings together an extensive selection of sailing yachts, from nimble dinghies and day sailers to grand cruising monohulls and performance multihull yachts. It’s the perfect place for those inspired by wind power, offering the chance to step aboard models suited for everything from regatta racing to long-distance bluewater cruising.
Yacht & Superyacht Area
A showcase of luxury and innovation, this section features the finest motor yachts and superyachts, many of which are built by Italy’s world-renowned shipyards. From sleek flybridge yachts to imposing charter-ready superyachts, visitors can explore the very best in high-end yachting, complete with bespoke interiors and cutting-edge design.
Boating Discovery
A dynamic hub dedicated to new technologies and sustainable innovation, Boating Discovery highlights start-ups and forward-looking marine solutions. Here, visitors can discover the future of boating, from alternative propulsion systems and eco-friendly materials to next-generation electronics that are reshaping life on the water.
Tech Trade Show
This sector is dedicated to marine equipment and components, making it a vital stop for industry professionals. Exhibitors include suppliers of engines, electronics, rigging, and safety gear, offering the latest advancements in performance, efficiency, and reliability for both yacht builders and private owners.
Living the Sea
More lifestyle-oriented, this area celebrates the broader culture of life on the water. From water sports gear and dive equipment to apparel and luxury accessories, it’s a vibrant space where visitors can immerse themselves in the leisure side of the nautical world and gather inspiration for their next coastal or charter adventure.
Tickets and Access
The Genoa Boat Show caters to all yacht enthusiasts, accommodating various budgets and interests. Day passes start at €23 when prebooked online, with reduced rates available for visitors under 25.
Yachts on Show
The Genoa International Boat Show presents a spectacular array of yachts for sale that exemplify exceptional Italian craftsmanship and design. Present both on-water and ashore, visitors can explore motor yachts, superyachts, sailing yachts, RIBs, powerboats, inflatables, and luxury tenders, all drawn from Italy’s legendary shipyards and beyond.
The European boat show serves as a prime venue for industry professionals, brokers, and enthusiasts to engage with the cutting edge of naval design and engineering, through sleek monohulls, spacious multihulls, high-performance inflatables, and elegant superyachts.
Over the years, the event has hosted numerous global and Italian premieres. Some of the notable debuts that have been showcased at the show include:
- Maiora Exuma 35: This 35.20 m composite yacht, known for its light-filled interiors, expansive flybridge, and high-performance triple-MTU hydrojet propulsion, made its global debut at the 64ᵗʰ edition of the Genoa International Boat Show in 2024.
- Sanlorenzo SX112: Premiered at the 2020 Genoa Boat Show, the SX112 is a captivating model from Sanlorenzo’s crossover SX line. The striking yacht is a fusion of an elegant flybridge and explorer-style functionality.
Genoa Boat Show Highlights
The event is characterized each year by special events, sporting competitions, conferences, technical seminars, and the latest in international boating. It attracts industry professionals, boat buyers, and yachting enthusiasts alike.
The Genoa International Boat Show annually hosts the Design Innovation Awards, a prestigious event by the Italian Marine Industry Association, recognizing excellence in watercraft design. Judges, comprised of journalists and industry insiders, assess entries across various categories, including cruiser sailing boats, regatta sailing boats, motorboats, RIBs, superyachts over 24m (79ft), superboats over 10m (33ft), multihulls, accessories, and equipment.
The Show has embraced the future with a transformation initiated in 2020, led by architect Renzo Piano. This ambitious project has shaped the new Levante Waterfront into a cutting-edge platform designed to showcase the pinnacle of the global nautical industry. Complete with navigable canals, a spectacular island framing the Blue Pavilion, and modern exhibition docks, the show continues to offer a unique and unparalleled experience for both visitors and exhibitors alike.
Hospitality at the Genoa International Boat Show
Set within and around the iconic Blue Pavilion along the picturesque Genoa waterfront, the show offers a variety of culinary experiences to complement the showcase of boats for sale.
One of the highlights is the Blue Restaurant by Razzo, a pop-up establishment from a celebrated contemporary restaurant located in Turin. Open for aperitifs, lunches, dinners, and available for exclusive private bookings, it serves creative seafood appetizers, pasta, crudi, and a curated selection of wines and cocktails, all delivered with refinement and flair.
Another standout is Ermana – Cucina di Pesce, located on the E-dock, where Chef Emanuele Frecceri (a fisherman himself) prepares fresh-caught seafood directly on board. Dishes span from traditional fritti and fish crudi to Ligurian pasta with fresh sauces, all served with local sparkling wines amidst a 360° view of the boat show.
Genoa VIP Experience
For those seeking elevated hospitality and tailored networking environments, the Genoa International Boat Show’s Business Lounge, nestled on the mezzanine of the Blue Pavilion, delivers a chic and functional space for private meetings and exclusive events. Open daily from mid-morning until early evening, and available for private evening events, the lounge supports seamless professional engagement in an oasis of calm.
Meanwhile, the VIP Lounge offers a sensory-rich, cultural immersion experience. Designed by Jean Nouvel, its design philosophy shifts annually, recently celebrating “Nature tells Design”, and includes thematic art installations, design talks, wine and caviar tastings, artisanal pastries, and cocktails. It becomes a backdrop for meaningful connections among yacht owners, international delegations, designers, and cultural figures.
Interested in visiting the forthcoming edition of the Genoa International Boat Show? Start planning ahead and take a closer look at the models available by viewing all new and pre-owned yachts for sale worldwide through YachtBuyer MarketWatch, verified to exclude fake listings.
