Southampton is about to turn its waterfront over to boats again. The Southampton International Boat Show, Britain's biggest festival of boating and the UK's flagship boating and watersports event, returns to Mayflower Park at Town Quay from Friday 18 to Sunday 27 September. It has been running since 1969, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the larger ones, with more than 700 marine brands and over 500 watercraft on display, including more than 250 boats moored in the purpose-built Show Marina.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Southampton and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
The names you expect to see are all there: Sunseeker, Princess Yachts, Fairline, Jeanneau and Beneteau. For anyone following the new boats, there is a fair amount of first-look material. The Fairline Targa 58 GTO makes its UK debut at stand M710, with prices from £1,742,000; the Highfield ADV9 also has its UK debut at stand P48, from £165,000 including VAT. At the other end of the scale, the Mini Fisher MF Classic makes its world debut at stand A60 from £9,500 including VAT. Other debuts include the Nord Star NS49+SCY Flybridge, the Cockwells Duchy 45, the Levi Trentuno and the Boatworld Carbon Pro 330 and Cruiser 320, all making their world or UK first appearances here. If you are more into kit than hulls, the tech and equipment section runs through the Icom IC-M430 VHF, the ZGYRO fully electric stabiliser, Honda Marine outbounds and the Sea Scooter UK Sublue Vapor Pro underwater scooter.
It is not all about looking at boats you cannot afford, though. There are Dive, paddleboard and Try a Boat experiences, the Key Yachting J/70 Invitational Cup on 26 September, the Sail Hub at The Ghostship and Sailing Solice, and three stages for talks and demos: the Boating Stage, the Wooden Boat Stage, which is back for 2026, and the Wooden Boat Stage Afloat. Live music runs across all ten days at The Shipyard Stage, with the RNLI as the Show Charity of the Year.
On the practical side, the show opens at 10:00 and closes at 18:00 daily, with The Shipyard staying open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and a 16:30 close on the final Sunday. Adult tickets start at £29, with children aged 15 and under going free. Peak prices on Fridays and Saturdays are £33, off-peak Sunday to Thursday £29, and any two days £41. Concessions are £23 peak and £20 off-peak, and local seniors living in the SO14 to SO19 postcodes get in free. RYA members get a further discount, with a single-day adult ticket at £20 instead of the £33 peak price. Premium tickets, with fast entry, lounge access and a served lunch, start at £149.
Getting there is straightforward. Mayflower Park is at Town Quay, SO14 2AS, accessible by car via the M3, M27 and M271. Official parking can be pre-booked at Dock Gate 8 on Herbert Walker Avenue for £30 a day, and there are over 4,000 spaces at Westquay nearby. By train, Southampton Central is a ten-minute walk away, and the Quayconnect, U1C and THREE buses all serve the area. The show is organised by British Marine, the trade association for the leisure marine, superyacht and small commercial marine sector, with the Royal Yachting Association as a key partner.
Published Date
11 September 2026
More information
