The Southampton International Boat Show has been running since 1969, and this year's edition is coming to its final hours. It has taken over Mayflower Park at Town Quay (SO14 2AS) since Friday 18 September, and today, Sunday 27 September, is the last day, with the gates closing at 16:30 instead of the usual 18:00. If you have been meaning to go and have not yet made it down, this is the final window.
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The scale of the thing is hard to overstate. There are more than 700 marine brands and over 500 watercraft on display, with more than 400 brands confirmed well ahead of the show. The big names are all here: Sunseeker, Princess Yachts, Jeanneau and Beneteau, alongside Fairline, whose Targa 58 GTO flagship is being revealed here, and whose Targa 47 Open made its world debut earlier in the year. Absolute Yachts is showing the 60 FLY and the Navetta 53, 58 and 62 in collaboration with Approved Boats, while Suzuki and Yamaha, and The Wolf Rock Boat Company, are also part of the line-up. Premier Marinas is on stand W28, with guest speakers throughout the week.
It is not just about looking at boats, though. The on-water experiences are a big part of the draw, with 'Try a Boat' sessions, diving and paddleboarding from sailing boats, motorboats, RIBs and accessible vessels. There are several stages and hubs to work your way around: the Boating Stage, the Wooden Boat Stage with its Afloat display, and the Sail Hub, which carries The Ghostship and Sailing Solice. The Key Yachting J/70 Invitational Cup, a regatta for 12 teams, took place yesterday, and live music has been playing at the Shipyard throughout the ten days. The RNLI is the Show Charity of the Year, and there is a Guinness Bar sponsored by MDL Marinas for when you need a break.
A couple of industry moments landed late in the week: Oliver Weaver was announced as the winner of the 2026 Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition on 25 September, and the British Marine Training Academy officially launched at the show on the same day. The Shipyard area, which stays open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, is where the evening entertainment has been centred.
On price, standard adult tickets start at £29 15s, and children aged 15 and under go free, so it is an easy one to bring the family to. Premium tickets from £149 add lounge access, lunch and a few extra perks, and RYA members get a discounted day rate of £20 against the usual £33, with a cap of nine discounted tickets per order. Getting there is straightforward: Southampton Central station is 1.9km away on CrossCountry and South West Trains, the Quayconnect and U1C buses run to Telephone House and the THREE line to Friary House, and there are roughly 4,000 parking spaces near the venue off the A33. Southampton International Airport sits 8.3km away if you are coming from further afield. With the gates closing at 16:30 today, it is worth planning your visit for the morning.
Published Date
27 September 2026
