Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026

What is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, known as FLIBS, was established in 1959 and began as a neighborhood show managed by volunteers. It is owned today by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets, and the organiser describes it as the largest in-water boat show in the world.

The 2025 edition, by the organiser's closing figures, drew more than 100,000 visitors to more than 1,300 vessels and 1,000 exhibitors from over 50 countries, spread across nearly 90 acres of docks and halls, with an estimated economic impact of $1.78 billion.

What is new for 2026?

The 67th show runs from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The organiser's ticket launch announcement adds a floating pickleball court at Las Olas Marina, with a tournament for yacht crew, and moves the Windward VIP Cabana Club to Bahia Mar. VIP guests now have two destinations, at Superyacht Village and Bahia Mar, with a tender between them. A new map, powered by MarineSource, lets visitors search boats, products and exhibitors before they arrive.

The boat list is still growing, but the organiser's 12 October announcement names the 305-foot Oceanco Draak, the Pearl 100 Hybrid and four world premieres from Viking and Valhalla: the Viking 70 Convertible, 64 Sport Coupe and 50 Sport Coupe, and the Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht. It expects the show "will likely see over fifty debuts", so treat any count as provisional until the doors open.

How is the show organised?

FLIBS sells one ticket for six locations, each with its own kind of boat. Pick the sites that match what you came to see before you buy:

• Bahia Mar: the widest range, from centre consoles to superyachts, plus accessories and electronics.
• Hall of Fame Marina: brokerage and new-build yachts.
• Las Olas Marina: brokerage yachts from about 60 to 200 feet, and the new pickleball court.
• Pier Sixty-Six North: brokerage vessels over 100 feet.
• Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South: the largest yachts, tenders and water toys, and VIP hospitality.
• Broward County Convention Center: smaller boats, fishing and diving gear, electronics, seminars and family activities.

A ticket gets you into the show, not onto every boat. The FAQ says boarding is at each exhibitor's discretion, so serious buyers usually arrange visits with brokers in advance.

When is it, and what are the hours?

Windward VIP guests enter early through Superyacht Village, from 11:00 on Wednesday and 09:00 from Thursday to Sunday.

Where is it held?

The six sites sit along the Intracoastal Waterway between Las Olas Boulevard and 17th Street: Bahia Mar at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard, Hall of Fame Marina at 435 Seabreeze Boulevard, Las Olas Marina at 240 East Las Olas Circle, Pier Sixty-Six at 2301 SE 17th Street, Superyacht Village at 2150 SE 17th Street, and the Broward County Convention Center at 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard. The convention center says it is 2 miles from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport.

How do tickets work?

Tickets are sold online only, and there is no box office at the show. The organiser lists these prices:

• Adult one-day general admission, $48: one day, Thursday to Sunday.
• Adult two-day general admission, $80: any two days, Thursday to Sunday.
• Wednesday Preview, $73: any one day, Wednesday to Sunday.
• Two-day Preview and general admission, $105: any two days, Wednesday to Sunday.
• Child, ages 6 to 12, $19: one day; under-6s enter free with an adult.
• Windward VIP, $459: one day with both VIP clubs, food and drink, early entry, transport between sites and parking at Superyacht Village.

Active military members and veterans can request one free general admission ticket. The August announcement limits it to Sunday 1 November, while the FAQ now says any day, so confirm the day when you apply.

How do I get there and get around?

Free shuttles and golf carts link the sites, running from an hour before opening to an hour after closing. The purple shuttle links the Convention Center and Bahia Mar, the green shuttle loops from the Convention Center to Superyacht Village and Bahia Mar, the blue shuttle runs from the West Marine Center, and the red shuttle meets Brightline trains at Fort Lauderdale station.

The Water Taxi is the scenic option, at $15 for a day or $65 for all five days, free for children under five and included in Windward VIP. From the airport, Broward County Transit route 1 leaves from Stop G at the Rental Car Center, and free shuttles connect the terminals to Tri-Rail at Dania Beach. You cannot arrive in your own boat: the show has no visitor docking.

Where can I park?

The organiser's advice is to park at the Convention Center and start there: its garages have more than 3,000 spaces at a flat $40 a day, with shuttles, golf carts and the Water Taxi to every other site. Some older pages still show $20, but the dated 2026 parking page says $40. The organiser also lists the Las Olas Marina garage at 240 Las Olas Circle, Beach Place at 17 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard and the Brightline station garage at 101 NW Second Avenue; city garages take payment through PayByPhone. Windward VIP includes self-parking at Superyacht Village, first come, first served.

What can I bring, and what should I wear?

The FAQ sets no bag size limit, but every bag is searched at the entrance and there is nowhere to store belongings.

• Bring: comfortable clothes and walking shoes that come off easily, because many boats ask visitors to remove their shoes before boarding.
• Not allowed: firearms and other weapons, and drones.
• Not allowed: bicycles, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards and hoverboards, powered or not.

There is no dress code. Expect sun, heat and long walks along the docks, and plan the day by site rather than trying to cover all six.

Children, service animals and accessibility

Children under six enter free and children aged 6 to 12 pay $19. The Convention Center runs crafts, face painting and marine and Halloween activities, and free children's fishing clinics run there on Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 and 14:00, with a rod and reel for each child.

Pets are not allowed; the organiser's FAQ admits "only ADA certified service animals". The Convention Center has accessible parking and a covered, air-conditioned connection into the building, and the Water Taxi operator lists an accessible ramp at Stop F4 beside it. Accessibility at the individual marinas and on board boats varies, so contact the organiser before you go if you need step-free routes.

Who goes, and what do first-timers get wrong?

FLIBS is both a public show and a trade fair. Its owner calls it a premier consumer event and a major business-to-business platform, with visitors from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia alongside boating families from across the United States.

First-timers usually make the same few mistakes. They buy general admission for Wednesday, when it is only valid from Thursday; they assume the Water Taxi is included, when it costs extra outside VIP; they expect to board every yacht, when exhibitors decide; and they try to see all six sites in one day. Choose two or three sites, start at the Convention Center, and let the shuttles do the rest.