With a golden coastline and more than 300 miles of canals and waterways through the city, it’s no wonder that Fort Lauderdale has been dubbed the Yachting Capital of the World. The city is the perfect host for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), drawing over 100,000 visitors from over 50 countries.
The festival takes place this year from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3, spread over seven different venues. The show celebrates its landmark 65th year, bringing together every yachting enthusiast under the sun for fresh technology, education, the newest vessels on the market, and camaraderie.
Stunning Venues
The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center has long been the host site of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, thanks to its central location, sprawling space, and plenty of parking. It's amid a $1 billion renovation to provide an additional 350,000 square feet of exhibition space, technological upgrades, breathtaking waterfront views, and modernized décor fit for one of Greater Fort Lauderdale's biggest events of the year.
Here, attendees will have an up-close look at the latest fishing boats, cruisers, fishing gear, diving equipment, and other nautical must-haves. Check out the lineup of seminars and fishing clinics, too. Young sailors can enjoy the FLIBS Kids Corner for mermaid face painting, arts and crafts, and other fun.
The newly reimagined Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina’s southern property plays host to the Superyacht Village. On Nov. 1, car and marine enthusiasts come together for the Concours. Think art galleries, fashion, live music, cocktails, and passed bites on the waterfront with some of the hottest vehicles to take on land and sea.
These two venues are just the beginning, with events also taking place at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, 17th Street Yacht Basin, and Pier 66 Marina.
Impressive Tech
Over the 65 years that the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show has existed, the latest and greatest in boating technology has been a major draw. More than 1,000 exhibitors flock to Greater Fort Lauderdale, displaying more than 1,300 vessels including everything from tech-forward water toys to superyachts filled with the latest gadgets.
Keeping environmental conservation top of mind, the boat show’s Faster to Zero program aims to become a zero-waste and net-zero carbon business by 2030.
Luxury Experiences
Guests won’t go hungry while attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Corporate Executive Chef Vagn Nielsen brings his decades of international culinary prowess to provide dishes for all tastes, from stone crab claws and Greek gyros to street tacos and woodfired picanha. here are also ample selections of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes at more than 100 food concessions. Don’t miss Goslings’ Dark ‘N Stormy Island Bar, Anheuser-Busch Island Beer Garden, and Stella Artois Barge.
For an elevated experience at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, opt for VIP tickets. Ticket holders enjoy access to the Windward VIP Club located at Bahia Mar, allowing guests a chance to relax during the hustle and bustle from one seminar and demonstration to the next. Other perks include entering the boat show an hour early each day, premium open bar and gourmet food, free shuttle and water taxi service from all venues, and, with a bundled ticket, entry into the VIP Classic Cars Evening Event.
Ease of Travel
Navigating all seven host venues at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is easy— both by land and sea. The Broward County Convention Center is a hub with more than 3,000 parking spots. Here, guests can hop on golf carts or shuttles along four routes:
- To and from the convention center to Bahia Mar
- To and from the convention center to SuperYacht Village, then to Bahia Mar,
- To and from the Brightline Fort Lauderdale station to the Riverside Hotel
- To and from the West Marine Center to Bahia Mar (shuttle only)
A unique experience in Greater Fort Lauderdale is traveling by Water Taxi; the boat show is no exception. Three Water Taxi routes are available:
- To and from the Riverside Hotel and Bahia Mar
- To and from the convention center to SuperYacht Village, then to Bahia Mar
- To and from the West Marine Center to Bahia Mar