Record registrations, international presence, and a strong footprint for the world’s largest professional crewed yacht show.
Greece once again took center stage in global luxury yachting with the organization of the 11th Mediterranean Yacht Show (MEDYS), the world’s largest exhibition of professional crewed yachts, hosted once again at the port of Nafplio. This year’s event, held from May 2 to May 6, 2026, did not merely confirm its leading position but redefined market standards, recording a historic high in registrations and attracting the elite of the international charter brokerage community. The 11th edition brought together top-tier yachts with Greek professional licenses, hundreds of industry professionals from around the world, and dozens of exhibitors showcasing products and services related to yachting and maritime hospitality.
This year’s show set a record for registrations, with available berths being exhausted almost immediately after the application process opened. Specifically, 130 yachts registered within just a few days, confirming the show’s international appeal and momentum. A total of 106 yachts participated in MEDYS 2026, with a cumulative total length of 3.98 kilometers, while maintaining an extensive waiting list. At the same time, the exhibition was visited by 902 industry professionals from across the globe, reaffirming the strategic importance of Greek yachting on the international stage.
During the opening ceremony, the President of the Greek Yachting Association, Mr. Ioannis Kourounis, stated among other things: “The significant increase in participation at this year’s Mediterranean Yacht Show reflects the industry’s continuous upward trajectory, as the Greek fleet keeps growing and improving. Greece is now among the top destinations worldwide, and MEDYS demonstrates in practice how a yacht creates an entire economy around it—from crews to local businesses. With the right support in infrastructure and education, this show will continue to increase the overall value of our tourism product.”
Greeting addresses were delivered by the Minister of Tourism, Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, the Governor of the Peloponnese, Mr. Dimitris Ptochos, and the Mayor of Nafplio, Mr. Dimitris Orfanos. Attendees included the Secretary General of Ports, Port Policy, and Maritime Investments, Mr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, the Secretary General of Tourism Policy and Development, Ms. Vasiliki Koutsoukou, as well as numerous representatives from the political and business communities. A special moment of the ceremony was the naming of Mr. Michael Skoulikidis as Honorary President of the Greek Yachting Association, of which he was a founding member and outgoing President, having played a pivotal role in its evolution.
On the sidelines of the show, a seminar was organized by the Greek Yachting Association on the subject of Marine Parks and Anchoring, under the auspices of the Ministries of Environment & Energy, Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, and Tourism. At a critical juncture for the industry’s future, the seminar focused on the need for an operationally feasible plan that ensures marine protection without affecting the competitiveness of Greek yachting, highlighting the role the industry must play in shaping relevant policies. The event took place on Saturday, May 2, at the historic “Vouleftikon” hall.
The first day of the event culminated in the traditional reception, held this year at the historic Bourtzi fortress, in an atmosphere of high aesthetics accompanied by live music. The highlight was an impressive drone show curated by Sky Symphony, with hundreds of drones “dancing” in the Argolic sky, creating stunning formations and offering a unique experience to the guests.
The Chefs’ Competition was once again a major highlight of the event. The chefs of the participating yachts were challenged to create dishes of high aesthetic and culinary excellence. The judging panel consisted of two leading names in Greek and international gastronomy: George Papazacharias from Delta Restaurant (the only restaurant in Greece with two Michelin stars) and Michelin-starred Chef Luca Piscazzi from Pelagos restaurant at the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, lending prestige and international visibility to the competition and Greek hospitality.
As an annual reference point for the global charter brokerage community, MEDYS attracts the industry elite every year. It remains the only event of this scale in Greece and the largest of its kind internationally catering exclusively to the upper tier of luxury yachting, with the participation of yachts over 24 meters with Greek professional licenses. Top professionals from every corner of the planet were present to inspect the Greek fleet firsthand and experience MEDYS. This year’s impressive turnout highlighted once again the event’s global recognition and significance. Participating companies included Camper & Nicholsons International, Fraser, TWW, Burgess, Edmiston, and Northrop & Johnson, among others.
The Mediterranean Yacht Show was co-organized by the Greek Yachting Association and the Municipality of Nafplio, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, with the support of the Region of Peloponnese.
MEDYS in Numbers:
- Number of Yachts: 106 participating vessels
- Total Cumulative Length: 3.98 kilometers
- Number of Visitors: 902 industry professionals
- Countries Represented: 32 countries
- Number of Exhibitors: 39 exhibitors – 56 stands
