Curated event

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026: dates, the seven venues and where to stay

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs from October 28 to November 1, 2026 across seven waterfront sites, from Bahia Mar and the Las Olas Marina to the convention center and Pier Sixty-Six. It is the largest in-water boat show in the world, and the beach and Las Olas hotels book out for the week.

  • Dates: October 28 – November 1, 2026
  • Venue: Bahia Mar Yachting Center and six further show sites, Fort Lauderdale
  • Organised by: Marine Industries Association of South Florida (owner) and Informa Markets (producer)
  • Admission: Ticketed
  • Checked: September 11, 2026
Quick answer

Buy tickets ahead, pick the two or three venues you actually want to see, and move between them by the show's water taxis rather than by car. Base on the beach side or along Las Olas if you are attending; base inland or elsewhere on the coast if you are not.

Schedule

Dated schedule for Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
DateWhat happens
Wednesday, October 28, 2026Opening day12:00–19:00
Thursday, October 29, 2026Thursday10:00–19:00
Friday, October 30, 2026Friday10:00–19:00
Saturday, October 31, 2026Saturday10:00–19:00
Sunday, November 1, 2026Final day10:00–17:00

Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.

Official tickets and registration · Tickets are sold through the show's official ticketing link.

The event

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets. The 2026 show runs from Wednesday, October 28 to Sunday, November 1 across seven locations, including Bahia Mar Yachting Center, the Broward County Convention Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina and Superyacht Village.

Hours are noon to 7 p.m. on the opening Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the final Sunday.

Moving between the sites

The show is spread along the Intracoastal and the beach, and its own water transport between sites is the way to see more than one. Roads around Bahia Mar and the convention center jam through the week.

If you are not attending, the same week is an expensive one to be on Fort Lauderdale beach; the rest of the Atlantic coast is unaffected.

Good to know

  • Beach and Las Olas hotels carry their highest autumn rates during show week; book early or stay further along the coast.
  • Tickets and site maps come from the organiser; check the water-taxi routes before choosing a base.
  • Late October is still warm on the coast; the docks offer little shade.

Where to stay for the boat show

Attendees want the beach or Las Olas; everyone else wants distance. This guide compares Florida's Atlantic coast, the Gulf and the Keys as bases, with live availability for your dates.

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Sources and transparency:Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: official site (2026 dates, hours, venues, organisers) (checked 2026-09-11)Not a paid listing.Editorial policyFull agenda