The sixth edition of the Venice Boat Show ended today, following its opening on Thursday, May 29. The Arsenale was brought to life with over 300 boats, 270 exhibitors, and approximately 50 conferences, meetings and debates.
This year’s edition registered over 30,000 visitors – primarily Italian, 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 inception. 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 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.
Mayor Brugnaro reiterated: “Our historical trade routes reached Istanbul and beyond, even Odessa. That is our reference point: 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. Our focus is already on the future: the seventh edition will take place from Wednesday, May 27 to Sunday, May 31, 2026 — and I’m proud to say that funding is already secured for the next two editions. On behalf of the entire city: thank you all.”
The Show’s opening ceremony featured Mayor Luigi Brugnaro, Veneto Region President Luca Zaia, Chief Inspector Admiral of the Italian Navy Roberto Dattola, and ICE Agency President Matteo Zoppas. Underlining the event’s strategic importance was the presence of Senate President Ignazio La Russa.
A flyover by the Frecce Tricolori and a dramatic splashdown by Navy raiders, descending from helicopters into the Arsenale’s waters, added to the spectacle.
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 active participation of exhibitors, sponsors, and partners is key to making the Boat Show not just a display, but a dynamic hub for business and growth – stated Fabrizio D’Oria, COO of Vela Spa and the Venice Boat Show – The 2025 edition showed a marked improvement in quality — both in terms of the audience and the presence of industry leaders.
Top brands such as Azimut, Sanlorenzo, Ferretti, and the Beneteau Group attended with their CEOs, underscoring the Show’s importance as a space for high-level networking and B2B engagement. Sea trials drew strong interest, highlighting the professional and specialized nature of the audience. The public’s participation in scheduled events was also exceptional, confirming the Show’s deep ties to Venice’s maritime heritage”.
Nearly 2,000 people contributed daily to the smooth running of the Show — including staff from exhibiting companies, Vela Spa organizers, and those managing logistics, mooring, setup, transportation, security, cleaning, catering, and hospitality.
The Show’s official social media channels registered over 3 million views. An organizational machine that also lives off the great experience in managing major Venetian events.
The ICE Agency continued its vital support, helping internationalize the event by bringing delegations of buyers and industry professionals to Venice, reinforcing the Show’s commercial impact and strengthening Italy’s ties with strategic international markets.
“This edition confirms Venice as an increasingly important hub for global boating – said Alberto Bozzo, Commercial Director of the Venice Boat Show – The commercial enthusiasm of shipyards and operators from countries like Croatia, Poland, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Hungary demonstrates our appeal and ability to drive investment and innovation. The Boat Show is now a strategic platform for the future of the maritime industry”.
The Show also welcomed athletes from various disciplines and featured presentations of lagoon-based initiatives. The Compagnia della Vela unveiled the Veleziana Sailing Week schedule, and the Yacht Club Venezia presented the Venice Hospitality Challenge — both taking place in October.
The Nastro Rosa Tour, a mixed-crew sailing event organized by Difesa Servizi, departed from Venice for the first time, heading toward Genoa. Among the participants were competitors from the Regatta of Nations and the Italian Microclass Championship, along with ocean sailor Luca Rosetti and his Maccaferri Futura, Dan Lenard’s Vela Code initiative, and Raymarine ambassador Giancarlo Pedote.
MUVE – the Venice Museum Foundation and MUVE Academy – launched “MUVE YACHT PROJECTS 2025”, a university competition focused on sustainable navigation.
Students from the University of Trieste, the Polytechnic University of Milan, and La Spezia’s Promostudi Campus submitted innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally conscious boat designs. Five standout projects were selected from each institution.
Also featured was the fifth edition of E-Regatta, organized by Assonautica, and the conclusion of the 72nd Raid Pavia-Venice, whose awards ceremony marked the final event of the Show.
With a full calendar of conferences, workshops, regattas, presentations, and on-water trials, the Venice Boat Show drew a diverse and engaged audience — opening new spaces for dialogue among professionals, institutions, companies, and enthusiasts alike.
