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Over 300 boats, 270 exhibitors, and approximately 50 conferences, meetings and debates brought to life the former shipyard of the Serenissima Republic for 5 days. The sixth edition of the Venice Boat Show took place in the old Arsenal from May29th to the June 2nd with over 30,000 visitors – primarily Italians, but also from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Slovenia, the United States of America, Croatia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Poland – making a notable rise in international attendance.
Sustainability and innovation remained central themes, as they have been since the Show’s start. These priorities reflect not only the event’s ethos, but also that of Venice itself, a city committed to shaping the global conversation on the planet’s future.
The Venice Boat Show logo and, on the background, the Almax 50-m long ship by Sanlorenzo. (© Vela Spa, 2025).
“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 – underlined Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor of Venice – 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”.
Promoted by the City of Venice and organized by Vela Spa in collaboration with the Italian Navy, the Boat Show once again confirmed its international relevance and growing appeal within the marine industry. Its vision is clear: to consolidate its role in the Eastern Mediterranean as a key meeting point for the sector — in one of the most iconic cities in the world.
Venice’s historical trade routes reached Istanbul and beyond, even Odessa. And this is the reference point of the Boat Show: 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. “Now our focus is on the future and funds has been already secured for the next two editions”, added the Mayor, announcing the seventh edition that will take place from May 27 to May 31, 2026.
The 2025 edition included numerous global premieres, such as the Pershing GTX 70, the Ferretti Yacht 940, and Pardo’s new 75. In sailing, the GS52P debuted. The sailing flagship was the luxurious Sunreef 80, while among motor yachts, the standout was the 50-meter Almax from Sanlorenzo — a stellar example of Italian design and innovation. Notably, innovation wasn’t confined to the high-end market: established brands like Lagoon, Pogo, Bavaria, Solaris, Grand Soleil, Jeanneau, and Beneteau also brought exciting offerings — including the debut of the First 30, a performance-oriented sailboat aimed at younger, competitive crews, designed by Sam Manuard and Lorenzo Argento. Strong emphasis was placed on electric, hybrid, and hydrogen propulsion. Notable examples included the Frauscher 850 Fantom Air, developed in collaboration with Porsche and powered by its Macan electric drivetrain; the Swedish electric boat brand X-Shore; and the Dhamma Blue, a hydrogen-powered vessel using zero-carbon hydrogen.
The sailing boats pier at the Venice Boat Show. (© Vela Spa, 2025).
The active participation of exhibitors, sponsors, and partners is the key to making the 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 attended with their CEOs, underscoring the Show’s importance as a space for high-level networking and B2B engagement. The Boat Show could once more count on the support of ICE Italian Trade Agency, helping internationalize the event by bringing delegations of buyers and industry professionals to Venice.
This edition confirms Venice as an increasingly important hub for global. The commercial interest of shipyards and operators from countries like Croatia, Poland, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Hungary demonstrates the appeal of the Venice Boat Show and ability to drive investment and innovation as a strategic platform for the future of the maritime industry.
Traditional boats at the Venice Boat Show. (© Vela Spa, 2025).
The Show also welcomed athletes from various disciplines and featured presentations of lagoon-based initiatives. At the same time a focus has been given to design involving younger generations. The Venice Museum Foundation and MUVE Academy – launched “MUVE Yacht Projects 2025”, a university competition focused on sustainable navigation. Students from the Universities of Trieste, Milan and La Spezia submitted innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally conscious boat designs.
View of the opening ceremony with the Choir of the La Fenice Theatre on the stage near the Enrico Dandolo submarine. (© Vela Spa, 2025).
HEAD IMAGE | Aerial view of the Arsenale, during the opening of the sixth edition and the passage of the National Acrobatic Patrol “Frecce Tricolori”. (© Vela Spa, 2025).