YARE 2026 will present the exclusive “State of the Industry” data with The Superyacht Group
The refit sector is confirmed as the main area of growth in the superyacht industry, accounting for 36% of the sector’s total business opportunities. Data for the 2020–2024 five-year period shows more than 20,600 refit operations on yachts over 30 metres, with 12% growth compared to the previous period and projections of further increase for the 2025–2029 five-year period. YARE 2026 – Yachting Aftersales & Refit Experience, scheduled from 11 to 13 March in the Tuscan yachting district, reaffirms its role as a permanent economic observatory of the sector, presenting the “State of the Industry Report” in collaboration with The Superyacht Group, the event’s principal international media partner.
Refit as the sector’s main growth driver
Analysis of growth areas in the superyacht sector shows that refit and maintenance of the existing fleet account for 36% of business opportunities, which combined with operational and support services (22%) reach approximately 60%, followed by new charter and ownership models (19%) and new-build projects (17%).Data for the 2020–2024 period records nearly 21,000 refit operations on yachts over 30 metres, with a 12% growth compared to the previous five-year period. The 30–40-metre segment recorded nearly 13,000 interventions, followed by the 40–60-metre segment with just under 6,000 operations. Projections for the 2025–2029 period indicate further growth, with more than 22,000 operations expected.
The Superyacht Captains Forum: where strategies for the next season are decided
The Superyacht Captains Forum, taking place on the morning of 12 March, represents the most significant analytical session of the event. With the participation of over 100 captains and 120 companies, a total of more than 600 stakeholders already registered from four continents, and the presence of Martin Redmayne of The Superyacht Group, the Forum will analyse the “State of the Industry” data and the outlook for the coming years. The Forum will devote considerable attention to direct dialogue between captains and shipyards: mutual expectations, operational tensions and room for improvement in the relationship between those who manage the vessel and those who work on it. A conversation that rarely takes place in public settings, and which at YARE 2026 will take the form of an open debate with an equal number of representatives on each side. Equally central will be the issue of the geographical competitiveness of the Mediterranean, with the main yachting clusters and international marinas invited to discuss the region’s positioning in a growing global refit market.
The 13 March Workshops: refit, sustainability and new skills at the centre of the debate
Closing the three-day event, the afternoon of 13 March (3:00–6:00 pm) will host four parallel workshops dedicated to an in-depth exploration of the main transformations under way in the sector. The format brings together captains, shipyards, suppliers and experts to address the operational, regulatory and strategic challenges of the industry from a practical standpoint, with particular focus on the refit segment.
Refit & Sustainability: extending the life of superyachts and reducing environmental impact
A central theme of the entire 2026 edition, the first panel addresses directly the link between refit and sustainability: how intervention choices on the existing fleet affect the environmental footprint, operational efficiency and long-term value of superyachts. The discussion involves shipyards, sector associations and operators on topics including systems optimisation, integration of sustainable materials, lifecycle planning and emerging operational practices.
Moderator: Alperen Direkci.
Professional development in yachting: skills, career paths and the realities of the sector
The second panel examines professional development at different career stages, both on board and ashore, with attention to the evolution of roles, the alignment between skills demanded by the sector and individual growth, and the building of resilient and sustainable career models over time.
Moderator: David Seal.
Navigating change: new fiscal and legal challenges in yachting
The sector’s fiscal and regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly, with new rules, interpretations and requirements affecting day-to-day decisions. The panel examines the most relevant developments for yachting: VAT and export regulations for shipyards and refit operations, contractual and employment frameworks for captains and crew, and the growing role of ESG standards in the international agenda towards 2035.
Moderators: Gianfranco Puopolo and Carla Bellieni.
AI in yachting: context, choices and real use cases
A structured session for captains and companies, designed to clarify where artificial intelligence creates value in nautical operations, where it introduces risks, and how it can be applied responsibly. The panel defines what constitutes correct use of AI in high-trust operational environments and translates the discussion into concrete, repeatable use cases for real-world workflows.
Moderator: Robin Weninger.
16 years of continuous refit market analysis
YARE is more than a networking event: since 2011, the year of its first edition, the event has built a database of more than 6,000 captains involved, over 2,000 participating companies and approximately 450 commercial agreements concluded in the six months following each edition. A community of more than 650 professionals each year, with a return rate above 70%.
