It is more than just a boat show. The following is a selection of the most significant innovations presented at the Boot, an annual event that provides a key insight into how the sector is preparing to face the coming months. Some signs had already emerged from the boat shows in Cannes, Genoa, Fort Lauderdale, and Barcelona, but it is traditionally up to the German event to chart the course for the market.
The strategic importance of Boot Düsseldorf is confirmed, as always, by the numbers: the 2026 edition, scheduled for January 17-25, will occupy 17 pavilions, showcase around 1,000 boats, and feature 1,500 exhibitors from 68 countries. “Shipyards and exhibitors see the event as a catalyst for momentum and confidence in the market: the world’s number one show for yachts, boats, and water sports is eagerly awaited as an encouraging sign for the entire sector. This is what has emerged from discussions held in recent weeks with some of the most influential players in the industry,” explains Petros Michelidakis, General Manager of Boot Düsseldorf.
“The months following Boot 2025 have already shown the first signs of a moderate recovery in orders. We are still far from 2019 levels,” Michelidakis points out, “but the signs clearly indicate an improvement in the overall picture. In many countries, demand remains very strong, particularly for medium and large motor boats.”
This trend will also be supported by the numerous world premieres that will be in the spotlight along the indoor docks of the fair. The list is long, but among the most eagerly awaited debuts is undoubtedly the new BGX83 from Bluegame, which will be unveiled in a world premiere. Still on the subject of premieres, Evene Tenders—a brand launched in 2024 by Williams Marine Group—will present the new Origin 57 and Origin 71.
In the tender segment, which continues to prove particularly dynamic, the new 851 Speedster from Dutch shipyard Lowlander and the Hydra 460 from Slovenian shipyard Roto Nautica are also worth mentioning. The tender is a type of boat that also lends itself to the brand new Wellcraft 28, available in both T-Top and Explorer versions.
The theme of exploration remains one of the most evident common threads at the show and finds one of its most coherent interpretations in Axopar. The Finnish brand has announced its presence in Düsseldorf with the highly anticipated Axopar 38 XC Cross Cabin.
The explorer yacht concept has also inspired Marcopolo: the Italian brand will make its debut with two new models, the MP10 and MP12.
It is a short step from Italy to Finland, always in the name of boats designed for use that winks at adventure. This is the case with the Finnish shipyard Nordstar, which has chosen the Boot Düsseldorf stage to present its new 49+. Saxdor will also be there, returning to Düsseldorf with its new 460 GTC, ready to be unveiled in a world premiere.
And staying on the subject of big debuts, the Solaris Power 70, the new flagship of the Italian shipyard’s motor range, will also be attracting attention.
For Sunseeker, on the other hand, the Düsseldorf show will be the ideal showcase to raise the curtain on the new Manhattan 56, called upon to take up the mantle of the famous Manhattan 55, of which 103 were produced. Then there is the new Frauscher x Porsche 790 Spectre and the Sunfinder 50 and Sunfinder 38, two new entries from AIATA bearing the signature of a designer of the caliber of Jarkko Jämsén.
However, Boot Düsseldorf is not just synonymous with world premieres: the German exhibition also remains a privileged opportunity for Northern European customers—and Germans in particular—to discover and experience established models firsthand, thus confirming its status as one of the most influential events on the international nautical calendar.
Among these, the Azimut Fly 82 and the Sanlorenzo SD90 are particularly noteworthy. In this scenario, Boot Düsseldorf proves to be much more than a showcase: it is a privileged observatory on the state of health of the sector. Amid signs of recovery, strategic previews, and new design languages, the German show continues to serve as a compass for the international nautical industry, clearly indicating the direction in which the market seems to be heading. Stay tuned. In the coming days, we will tell you all about the other news coming out of the boat show.
Matteo Zaccagnino
