Why The Monaco Yacht Show Is THE Global Mecca for Yachting Fans
The Pursuits
Why The Monaco Yacht Show Is THE Global Mecca for Yachting Fans
Running this week from Sept. 23 to 26, this important, ultra-luxurious “boat show” – now in its 35th year in the toney coastal principality – is simply the most hands-on, exhaustive, and informative conclave in the yachting world.
So, picture around 120 superyachts (as well as yacht tenders and such), including about 43 brand-new builds, from no less than 63 shipbuilders awaiting your inspection…with an overall “fleet” value in excess of $5 billion.
Now picture all this happening along Monte Carlo’s stunning Port Hercule harbor (where monthly docking fees can run from just under $30,000 in an off-month to nearly $600,000 during big events like the Monaco F1 Grand Prix), and you’ll have a sense of just how big a deal the upcoming 2026 Monaco Yacht Show will be.
It’s no wonder that exclusive watchmaker Richard Mille is a key sponsor: many of its customers are likely yacht customers, too.
Charting a Course
As the former President of leading global yacht sales and charter broker Northrop & Johnson, industry veteran Daniel Ziriakus is more than qualified to chime in about this impressive event. He comments:
Monaco is still the one week where the whole market is in one place…owners, yards, brokers, captains. The vibe is less ‘boat show’ and more industry annual board meeting, with champagne
Ziriakus is currently the founder and Managing Partner of Miami-based Wallberg, a private investment firm.
The invitation-only Grand Opening Night gala hoists the sail the evening of the 22nd, with exhibits opening across five venues on the 23rd, including a new Designer Gallery to spotlight maritime design excellence. Three separate, luxuriously stocked lounges provide a handy place to relax and reload as you hit the decks over the four days of the event.
High Seas Highlights
Ziriakus points to don’t-miss opportunities from leading shipyards like the Netherlands’ Feadship, Amels/Damen, and Oceanco, as well as Germany’s Lürssen, for some visual thrills.
Feadship is bringing the 235-foot Vanish to its first show appearance since its 2021 build; Damen’s Amels 80 Pangea will make its global yacht show debut; and Lürssen is sailing its new 335-foot Nixie superyacht to Monaco.
In addition to those outstanding recommendations, the show will see a rare public arrival of the astounding 365-foot Leviathan vessel.
A year-old build from the Oceanco Dutch shipyards, this superyacht features a full-service dive center, oceanographic lab, and innovative tri-fold beach club deck. The massive vessel accommodates 22 passengers in 11 cabins (plus 33 crew) and shows exactly how well Oceanco can go big.
For a less monumental vessel (only 288 feet), many yacht fans are looking forward to getting a look at the Angelique, a new, dark-hulled build from Turkish shipyard Turquoise Yachts. While that nation’s maritime heritage dates back to antiquity, it began superyacht production in the late 1990s; as a result, many are still less than familiar with the quality its shipyards can produce.
Casting Off
If you are just now making up your mind to attend, don’t wait for the wind. No tickets are sold on-site; you’ll have to purchase access ahead of time on the show’s website.
Standard day passes start at about $460, all-access VIP day passes run about $3,800, and you may still be able to obtain a spot in the Prestige VIP Program (price on request) if you want to experience the show like an admiral.
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