Sanlorenzo’s first 50Steel, the 164ft Almax, was the biggest vessel at this year’s Venice Boat Show, with the AB 100 from Next Yacht Group also among superyachts in a 300-boat display within the Arsenale.

Ferretti Group staged the world premieres of the Ferretti Yachts 940 and Pershing GTX70 in a seven-boat line-up that included a Pershing 8X (84ft), wallywhy100 (70ft), Riva’s 68’ Diable and Dolceriva (48ft), plus an Itama 45RS.

Azimut displayed a Fly 68, Fly 53 and Magellano 66, Pardo exhibited its flagship GT75, Astondoa showed an As8 (83ft) along with its 677 Coupe and 377 Coupe cruisers, while a Sunreef 80 catamaran was the largest sailing yacht on display.

Groupe Beneteau brands including Beneteau, Lagoon and Jeanneau had strong displays at the five-day event, as did the likes of Bavaria, Solaris and Grand Soleil.

X Shore was among electric boat exhibitors, while Frauscher’s 850 Fantom Air and the Dhamma Blue, powered by zero-carbon hydrogen, were among eco-friendly yachts at the show, which hosted the fifth edition of the E-Regatta, organised by Assonautica.

The event again attracted about 30,000 visitors, which organiser Vela said included a “notable rise in international attendance”, citing visitors from Germany, UK, France, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, Netherlands and Poland, as well as the US.

Fabrizio D’Oria, COO of Vela and the Venice Boat Show, said: “The active participation of exhibitors, sponsors and partners is key to making the Venice Boat Show not just a display but a dynamic hub for business and growth. The 2025 edition showed a marked improvement in quality, both in terms of the audience and the presence of industry leaders.

“Top brands such as Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Ferretti Group and Groupe Beneteau attended with their CEOs, underscoring the show’s importance as a space for high-level networking and B2B engagement.

“Sea trials drew strong interest, highlighting the professional and specialised nature of the audience. The public’s participation in scheduled events was also exceptional, confirming the show’s deep ties to Venice’s maritime heritage.”

FLYING START

The event is promoted by the City of Venice and organised in collaboration with the Italian Navy – and Venice’s maritime and military heritage was to the fore during the opening ceremony, one of the most spectacular in the yachting industry.

A flyover by the Frecce Tricolori – the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic demonstration team – and a dramatic splashdown by Navy raiders, descending from helicopters into the Arsenale’s waters, were highlights of the spectacle.

Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate, was the special guest at a ceremony that also included Luigi Brugnaro, the Mayor of Venice; Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto region; Roberto Dattola, Chief Inspector Admiral of the Italian Navy; and Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE Agency, the show’s international promoter.

After the event, Mayor Brugnaro stated: “The Venice Boat Show has once again proven to be a key event for the maritime industry and a unique platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration on nautical issues. With its centuries-old connection to water and seafaring, Venice is the ideal place to champion innovation, sustainability and tradition.

“Despite recent global uncertainties affecting the market, shipyards reported a notable rise in sales during the show, a clear sign of recovery and renewed energy in the sector. The event leaves behind a valuable legacy of relationships, ideas and vision, which must be nurtured with responsibility and continuity.”

Since its inception, the show has aimed to become a key meeting point for the industry and a key promoter of the ‘Eastern Mediterranean’ or Upper Adriatic regions, as Mayor Brugnaro explained.

“Our historical trade routes reached Istanbul and beyond, even Odessa. That is our reference point: to become the gravitational centre for all maritime activities across the Adriatic, Ionian and Central-Eastern European regions. A water gateway between the West and East of the Mediterranean, drawing in shipyards, operators and enthusiasts from the Balkans, Middle East and Asia.”

PACKED CALENDAR

As well as the opening ceremony and E-Regatta, the show had a packed calendar of events. The Nastro Rosa Tour, a mixed-crew sailing event, departed from Venice for the first time, heading toward Genoa. Among the participants were competitors from the Regatta of Nations and the Italian Microclass Championship, Luca Rosetti and his Maccaferri Futura project, Dan Lenard’s Vela Code initiative, and Raymarine ambassador Giancarlo Pedote.

MUVE (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia) launched ‘MUVE Yacht Projects 2025’, a university competition focused on sustainable navigation. Students from the University of Trieste, Polytechnic University of Milan and La Spezia’s Promostudi Campus submitted innovative, energy-efficient and environmentally conscious boat designs. Five standout projects were selected from each institution.

The Compagnia della Vela unveiled the schedule for Veleziana Sailing Week, and the Yacht Club Venezia presented the Venice Hospitality Challenge, with both events taking place in October. The show also hosted the conclusion of the 72nd Raid Pavia Venezia, with the awards ceremony – honouring record-setting winner Guido Cappellini – marking the final event of the five-day show.

Offering a busy calendar of conferences, workshops, regattas, presentations and on-water trials, the Venice Boat Show again entertained a diverse and engaged audience, with organisers announcing over 3 million views on the show’s official media channels.

“This edition confirms Venice as an increasingly important hub for global boating,” said Alberto Bozzo, Vela’s Director of Market Development and Sales, and the show’s Commercial Director.

“The commercial enthusiasm of shipyards and operators from countries like Croatia, Poland, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Hungary demonstrates our appeal and ability to drive investment and innovation. The Venice Boat Show is now a strategic platform for the future of the maritime industry.”

The seventh edition of the Venice Boat Show will be held from Wednesday-Sunday, May 27-31, 2026.

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