The Palma International Boat Show closes its 42nd edition, marked by innovation and solutions to promote sustainability in boating
The event, organised by the Government of the Balearic Islands and BYBA, attracted almost 33,000 visitors, a 9.5% increase on the previous edition
The Marcial Sánchez Barcáiztegui Award recognised the career of businessman Jaume Vaquer, president of AENIB
Palma, May 4th 2026. The Palma International Boat Show has concluded another edition characterised by the innovation of the products on display and the various solutions aimed at promoting sustainability in boating. The nautical sector, increasingly aware of the need to protect the sea, has taken advantage of the showcase offered by the Palma fair to present electric motors, hybrid vessels and even electric jet skis or hydrogen-powered boats as alternatives to preserve the marine environment, with a notable presence of Balearic companies. Furthermore, the fair has reinforced its commitment to sustainable boating with a clear focus on sailing boats, promoting this mode as the most environmentally friendly option. It is worth noting that this year Palma has been the venue for Europe’s largest exhibition of large-scale sailing yachts. The event also featured a dedicated area focused on sustainability, where exhibitors showcased best practices, raised awareness among visitors, professionals and suppliers, and worked on measuring the carbon footprint, with the aim of moving towards certification as a sustainable event. At the same time, innovation in equipment also played a prominent role, highlighting the trends that will shape the future of the boating industry.
A total of 32,947 people, 9.5% more than at the previous edition, visited the Moll Vell and Marina Port de Mallorca venues, the highest figure in the last ten years. The organisers have given a very positive assessment of the event and highlighted that Palma has now established itself as a key event for the international nautical sector. As for the profile of the visitors, it is becoming increasingly specialised and professional, a factor that has facilitated the generation of high-quality contacts and created an optimal environment for business development. Furthermore, the fair closes with very favourable commercial prospects, with deals already underway and a volume of contacts that suggests sales in both the short and medium term. In this context, several national and international shipyards, as well as leading brands in the sector, have already expressed an interest in taking part in the next edition. It should be noted that the fair has attracted considerable media attention, with over two hundred accredited journalists from around the world.
One of the most moving moments of the event was the presentation of the Marcial Sánchez Barcáiztegui Award to businessman Jaume Vaquer, in recognition of his career as president of the Association of Nautical Businesses of the Balearic Islands (AENIB).
The Palma International Boat Show, organised by ADR Baleares of the Regional Ministry of Enterprise, the Self-Employed and Energy and BYBA, featured 310 exhibitors and 600 boats this year, 275 of which were at sea, spread across three distinct areas. Two of these, Shipyards & Equipment and Superyacht Village, were located at the traditional Moll Vell venue, whilst the Superyacht New Build Hub area was situated at Marina Port de Mallorca. The next edition of the fair will take place from 28 April to 1 May 2027.
