Napoli Boat Show, the boat returns to center stage on the water

Capri at the bow, Mount Vesuvius behind, the Gulf of Naples opening on the horizon. This is not a brochure fantasy, but the real setting where the Napoli Boat Show (NBS) will take place, the new nautical event making its debut from March 18 to 22, 2026, in the gorgeous setting of Marina di Stabia.

In an exhibition landscape often dominated by big numbers and crowded runways, the Napoli Boat Show focuses on a different identity, more targeted and clearly business-oriented. Not a general trade fair, but the first true “Boutique Boat Show” at the heart of the Mediterranean, designed around two fundamental assets: water and time.

Ready-to-Sea: sea trials as the rule

The “ready-to-sea” formula of the Napoli Boat Show is as simple as it is effective: every boat moored is ready to sail, available for sea trials by appointment and at the shipyards’ discretion, in order to ensure better planning and coordination of departures.

This way, the organizers deliberately choose to focus on quality over quantity: selective communication, ticketed access, and clearly defined positioning make it possible to attract owners and prospects with real decision-making power. The result is a less crowded dock but a more productive one, where time turns into meaningful discussions, targeted negotiations, and relationships built to last. The stated goal is to restore centrality to the meeting between shipyard and owner, in an orderly and functional setting.

In this context, leading brands such as Riva, Cranchi, and Saxdor have already confirmed their participation, together with other prominent names in the European boating market. This choice is no coincidence: the format favors those who consider sea trials a decisive step in the sales process.

Napoli Boat Show: a hub for the boating business

The Napoli Boat Show is not just an exhibition, but a meeting hub for shipyards, dealers, and owners, designed to encourage sea trials and business networking. “We want to create an event where the beauty of the location is not merely decorative, but functional to sales – says Enrico de Gregorio, Commercial Director of the Napoli Boat Show – Our mission is to offer exhibitors an organized setting, with resort-level technical services and a qualified audience, far from the confusion of mass tourism”.

The location also makes a difference. Marina di Stabia is not just a scenic backdrop, but a high-level logistical machine: designed by the studio of Massimiliano Fuksas, the complex combines technical efficiency and architectural quality, with 900 berths, moorings for megayachts up to 100 meters, a 200-ton travel lift, a dry dock, a private helipad, and a large dry storage area of approximately 60,000 square meters. For exhibitors, this translates into smoother management of setups, movements, and sea trials, with fewer unforeseen issues and additional costs. In practical terms, fewer logistical problems and more time to dedicate to clients.

Beyond the exhibition: the experience

The Napoli Boat Show will not be limited to the dock. The event will also come alive inside the Yacht Club, where talks dedicated to sustainability and innovation are planned—gathered under the Innovation Dock—along with networking moments, gala dinners, and evening events designed to foster relationships in a more informal atmosphere. The strength of the surrounding area completes the picture: Pompeii and Herculaneum just minutes away; Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast as a natural extension of the event; Capri and Ischia as iconic destinations for sea trials. The proximity to Naples International Airport makes the show easily accessible to an international audience as well.

The appointment is therefore set for March 18 to 22, 2026, at Marina di Stabia, where the Napoli Boat Show will transform every visit into a direct experience at sea, combining sea trials, networking, and the beauty of the Gulf of Naples into one grand stage for recreational boating.