After a long-awaited homecoming, Miami’s floating village of superyachts has re-docked on the beach, promising more convenience, innovation, and an unmistakable rush of high-stakes glamour.
BY RILEY KAMINER
Miami’s most splendid event on water is back. The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show (DBMIBS), scheduled for February 11–15, 2026, will return to Collins Avenue, reclaiming its place in front of the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc, where sun, luxury, and waves meet.
For Andrew Doole, the president of US Boat Shows at South Florida Ventures, this homecoming has been a long time coming.
“It took two years of working closely with the City of Miami Beach to move the show back,” he said. “The hotels are thrilled, the exhibitors are thrilled, and everyone’s ready to be back on the beach.”
It’s easy to understand why. The Collins Avenue setting has always defined the show’s glamour. About 350 boats will float along the turquoise strip, ranging from sporty 50-footers to 120-foot superyachts that look like they belong in a Bond film. Big names such as Ferretti, Sunseeker, Princess, and Azimut will line the docks, drawing both serious buyers and dreamers who come just to imagine themselves at the helm.
Inside the Miami Beach Convention Center, the show will spill across two floors, packed with builders, accessories, and demonstrations. Doole explained that what makes the event special is that the exhibitors are not just dealers. “Visitors get to meet the people who actually build these boats,” he said. “You can really see the level of craftsmanship that goes into every detail.”
This year’s layout also promises to be far more convenient. In previous editions, moving between the waterfront and the Convention Center could take almost an hour through traffic. Now, the two locations are a quick fifteen-minute ride apart, giving visitors more time to enjoy the actual show and less time stuck on any of the causeways.
Attendance is expected to reach around 100,000 over the five-day event. The crowd will include everyone from international buyers and designers to Miami locals looking for an excuse to spend the day surrounded by beautiful boats and even more beautiful people. With the move back to the beach, Doole expects to see a larger Latin American presence as well. “They always loved coming to the show when it was on the beach,” he said. “Now they’ll be back.”
Beyond the gleaming yachts, there will be plenty of action onshore. The Convention Center will host fishing and boating seminars, marine-tech demos, and kids’ fishing clinics. Families can explore, learn, and maybe start planning their own adventures on the water.
Of course, this being Miami, the real magic often happens after the sun goes down. Expect the Fontainebleau’s lobby to fill with captains, designers, and curious spectators swapping stories over cocktails. Oceanfront terraces will transform into impromptu networking spots, and it’s almost guaranteed that someone will host a party that becomes the talk of the weekend.
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is all about style, optimism, and that unmistakable energy that defines this city. Whether you’re buying, browsing, or just there for the people-watching, you’ll leave reminded that in Miami, the water isn’t a backdrop. It’s the main stage. | miamiboatshow.com
