The Show Turns 85 — And Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
The 2026 Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show wrapped up its 85th anniversary run on February 15th, and if the energy on the water was any indication, the boating industry is heading into the season with serious momentum. Over five days at Miami Beach’s Convention Center, Pride Park, and Collins Avenue, thousands of boaters got their first real look at what’s coming in 2026 — and it was worth every minute.
A New Layout That Actually Made Sense
The biggest buzz before the show even opened was the layout overhaul — and it delivered. This year marked the most significant restructuring since 2018. Yachts returned to Collins Avenue as the Miami Beach Yacht Collection, occupying Indian Creek between 44th and 47th Streets with powerboats and motor yachts up to 125 feet. The Convention Center and Pride Park handled on-land exhibits, engines, electronics, and anything under 49 feet. And for the first time, a dedicated Sailor’s Cove at IGY Yacht Haven Grande gave sail and catamaran enthusiasts their own space.
The result? Less walking in circles, more time actually looking at boats. If you’ve been to the show in recent years, you noticed the difference immediately.
Mercury Marine Set a New Record — And It Was Hard to Miss
Walk through the on-water section and you couldn’t help but notice Mercury everywhere. The brand claimed 84% of all outboard engines in the on-water portion of the show — a 15-point jump over 2025. At the Convention Center, Mercury held 50% share, and over 60% across the entire event. That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by accident. Mercury’s engineering continues to set the standard, and dealers across South Florida are stocking up accordingly.
Boats Worth Getting Excited About
A thousand vessels spread across multiple locations made it easy to get overwhelmed, but a few standouts kept coming up in conversation. The Boston Whaler 290 and 330 Outrage debuted with Brunswick’s new WhalerStep™ Hull Technology, engineered to minimize bow rise and improve handling in rough South Florida water. Aquila Catamarans brought two world premieres — the 50 Sail and 45 Sport — as part of an eight-boat lineup. Sea Ray’s SLX 360 continued to draw crowds following its CES debut earlier this year.
Builders like Azimut, Ferretti, Riviera, Viking, and Sunseeker all showed up with strong lineups. The premium end of the market is clearly healthy.
Electronics Worth a Second Look
For those of us who pay attention to what’s on the helm, Simrad and B&G both unveiled new multi-function displays at the show. The Simrad NSO 4 and B&G Zeus SRX complete their lineups with the new NEON Android-based operating system. If you’ve been considering a navigation upgrade, these units are going to be hard to overlook once they hit dealer shelves.
What It Means for the 2026 Season
The Miami Boat Show has always been an early indicator of where the industry is headed, and 2026 is pointing in a positive direction. Retail sales are trending upward, manufacturers are investing in real innovation, and South Florida’s boat buyers are showing up ready to spend. Whether you’re in the market for a new boat, planning a repower, or looking to upgrade your electronics and audio, the products shown in Miami this month will be landing at shops like ours over the next few months.
Have questions about anything you saw at the show, or want to talk through what outboard or electronics upgrade makes sense for your boat? Give us a call — we’re ready to help you make the most of the 2026 season.
