Whether it’s a hybrid flagship, a fast walk-around, or a reimagined sportscruiser, the 2026 roster has more character than most lineups in recent memory. Here are the hottest new yachts of 2026....
Guests
10
Cabins
5
Crew
5
The name is an unsubtle reference to one of the 100’s key features, its hybrid propulsion system. Unlike its rivals, the system isn’t an option; it comes as standard, a move that Pearl insists helps to make the technology more affordable as it’s - quite literally - built into the package.
Hybrid Hype
It uses a pair of MAN 2,000hp diesel engines teamed with the E-Motion hybrid system, comprising generators, a battery bank and electric motors, which seamlessly switch to run the boat as efficiently as possible depending on cruise and hotel demands.
As with most of these systems, it’s as much about boosting the ability to run the domestic side of the yacht without engaging the generators as it is about providing electric cruising ability. You can cover short distances on the electric motors, but don’t expect miles and miles of silent, emission-free cruising.
Pearl’s Approach
The rest of the package is typically inventive, with space for 5 guest cabins, including what Pearl describes as a second owner’s suite, and direct access from the main deck owner’s suite to the foredeck.
On deck, it boasts a hot tub on the flybridge pair of drop-down terraces in the cockpit and a tender garage that is large enough to carry both a Williams 445 Dieseljet and a Sea-Doo Spark jet-ski.
Expect Pearl’s usual eye-catching Kelly Hoppen-inspired interiors and a price that will make its rivals weep. One of the big ones to watch next year.
Guests
4
Cabins
1
There aren’t many key players who don’t have a fast walk-around day boat in the range, and Princess, with its new C48, is the latest to join the party.
In typical Princess fashion, it’s taken time to develop this model, which you can argue either leaves it behind the curve or enables it to capitalise on the knowledge of what rivals have already produced and spot a gap in the sector.
Grace & Pace
The C48, which is destined to launch at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, marks the conception of an entirely new range from the British yard: the Princess C Class. Fort Lauderdale is an apt launch venue, given the immense outboard power that the C48 will be available with - triple 600hp V12s for a top speed of nearly 55 knots. It will, by some margin, be the fastest boat that Princess has ever made.
Two Distinct Designs
Design is a three-way partnership between Princess’s in-house studio, Olesinski Design and, for the first time, Michael Peters, who was responsible for hull design and naval architecture. Peters is known for his high-performing offshore hulls, and the decision to partner with him on the project is a signal of intent for the range.
The C48 will come as the Open, with a more exposed main deck angled at warmer cruising environments, or the Princess C48 Deck Saloon outboard variant, which is fully enclosed and looks more like a traditional 50ft sportscrusier (it can also come as the C48 Deck Saloon inboard variant).
This is what sets the boat apart from many of its rivals because these two distinct versions will feel like totally different boats and allow the C48 to appeal to a wide range of markets. In the same vein, the boat will be available with inboard diesels (twin Volvo Penta D6 480hp), for territories that don’t have the cheap fuel of our American friends.
Below decks, there are two layout options. As standard, it comes with a convertible dinette forward with a double cabin amidships (best suited to the Open version, given you may want a protected seating area) or two cabins with a shared bathroom in between.
2026 is the year of the Azimut Seadeck flagship. We have already reviewed the Seadeck 6 and Seadeck 7, but the 9 is where the design elements we’ve seen on the smaller models come alive.
A prime example of this is the aft deck, or “Fun Island”, as Azimut dubs it, which for the first time has a hot tub. That’s a feature that really finishes off this space and gives it that extra pizazz that the smaller boats in the range can’t match. With the platforms down and the transformer platform in the water, the Seadeck 9’s aft deck is a seriously impressive entertaining area.
Eco Focus
The Seadeck range is designed to be Azimut’s more eco-conscious range, with the use of more sustainable materials in the build and an optional hybrid system from Volvo Penta, which integrates with the IPS engines and pods. That said, it’s still got three thumping great Volvo diesel engines with 1,000hp, which will push it to a claimed top speed of 29 knots.
Below deck, there is space for up to ten guests and four crew, though it sits right on the limit of owner operation. It’s a “small” 25m in that it should feel relatively manageable to run for an experienced owner, but most will no doubt run with crew on board. Accommodation comprises four cabins - three doubles and a twin - including a spectacular full beam owner’s cabin amidships.
Could 2026 be the year we see the best Seadeck yet?
Guests
10
Cabins
5
Crew
7
2026 is a big year for Greenline. At Boot Düsseldorf, it will replace its very popular 40 with an all-new 42 but the more pressing matter is the launch of its first-ever superyacht, under the newly formed GX Superyachts moniker.
Hybrid Spirit
Hybrid propulsion is all the rage at the moment, but Greenline has been fitting hybrid powertrains to its boats for decades, and the GX42, which will launch in the autumn, takes that technology to the next level.
With a combination of traditional diesel engines, generators, batteries and solar panels, GX claims that the 42 has an impressive 100nm range at 6 knots on electric power alone and the ability to cruise at 12 knots when the diesel engines are called into play.
On a yacht of this size, there is plenty of space for solar panels, and these, combined with the large battery bank, should allow the yacht’s domestic appliances to be run for up to 48 hours in silence, which in many ways is more appealing to most owners/guests than its cruising efficiency.
Design Time
GX Superyachts is a new brand in uncharted territory, where competition is of the highest calibre, so hiring an experienced designer like Marco Casali to handle the interior was a sensible move. An interior comprising a main-deck owner’s cabin, four guest cabins on the lower deck, and space for seven crew members.
The exterior design is striking, especially at the aft end, where the butresses drop down to create an enormous waterside platform that links directly to a sunken beach club. Despite the need to account for all the solar panels at the top of the yacht, there is still space for a large sun deck with an array of seating areas and a hot tub.
One of the most fascinating launches of the coming year, that’s for certain.
Guests
5
Cabins
3
The second model in Beneteau’s revamped Beneteau Gran Turismo range will launch at BOOT Düsseldorf. This was a root and branch redevelopment for Beneteau’s sportscruiser range and for the design it brought in the big guns: Bill Dixon for naval architecture and Andreani Design for styling.
There is a passing resemblance to the Azimut Seadeck range, but this being a Beneteau Group product, it’s a more attainable price point.
New era for the GT range
It has some lovely retro flair in its overall design but the aft deck with its hydraulic platform, drop-down terraces and multii-function seating is thoroughly modern. It moves the traditional sportscruiser design on without joining the hoards of walkaround T-top designs that many other brands are producing.
There is a clear focus on outdoor living given the relatively compact galley and the small dinette that is arranged between the lower deck staircase and twin helm station. Below decks, the owner’s cabin is forward to allow for space amidships for a pair of guest cabins (a single and a twin), which share a bathroom.
With a pair of Volvo IPS650s (480hp) the GT50 should be good for a top speed of around 32 knots and a cruising speed in the mid-20s.
It’s an important boat for Beneteau that has been thrust into one of the most competitive sectors of the production market.
Guests
10
Cabins
5
Crew
6
A new model and a new identity for the Custom Line Saetta line (formerly known as the Custom Line planing range) in 2026. The Saetta (meaning ‘arrow’ or ‘dart’) boasts sleek exterior styling from SY Design and eye-catching interiors from the team at ACPV Architects.
If that all sounds like the usual marketing fluff, think again. The Saetta’s profile, sure enough, is sharp and pointy with a dynamism that hits at its impressive performance. With a pair of MTU 2,638hp MTU 2000s, this 40m yacht will top 20 knots and fast cruise at 19 knots if you want it to (yes, some people want to go that fast on a motor yacht this big). For those who don’t, it will nibble away at the fuel tanks for 1,000nm at 11 knots.
On Deck
Part of the reason for those sleek lines is the relatively small sun deck, which features a simple seating and sunbathing area. The bridge deck of the Custom Line yacht is where the action happens, with an extended upper lounge that connects seamlessly not only to the bridge deck aft but to the foredeck, which is home to a lovely seating area and the hot tub.
The packaging of this yacht is really smart and includes a semi-submersible tender garage with space for both a tender and jet-ski. This shares space on the lower deck with four ensuite guest cabins and the crew accommodation, while the main deck is home to a sweeping main saloon and impressive full-beam owner’s cabin forward.
The Takeaway for 2026 Buyers
Taken together, these yachts point to a year defined by stronger ideas and clearer intent from the major builders. Some lean into hybrid power, others chase outright pace, and a few rethink familiar segments with sharper layouts and more expressive styling. The common thread is confidence. None of these models feel cautious, and each arrives with a distinct point of view, which suggests that 2026 will be anything but quiet for buyers sizing up their next move.
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