Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2026: dates, tickets & boats to see

ABG brands: what is actually confirmed

These are current-edition published announcements/listings, not a guarantee that each boat will be available to board. Confirm the final boat and appointment with the exhibitor.

No attendance is assumed for Nord Star, Quarken, XO or any other ABG brand that is not explicitly confirmed above.

What is new for adventure-boat buyers?

Axopar has announced U.S. premieres for the 38 SunTop and 38 CrossTop. Nimbus is bringing its 42-series variants together, including the U.S. premiere of the Sport Weekender 42. Saxdor’s 460 GTC is making its Fort Lauderdale debut—not its first U.S. appearance. These are manufacturer announcements, not ABG sea-trial verdicts. Source: Axopar: announced FLIBS 2026 boats and U.S. premieresSource: Nimbus: FLIBS 2026 lineup and display locationSource: Saxdor: six-model FLIBS 2026 announcement

Use the new-model displays to answer a practical question: how much protection do you need when the weather stops cooperating? Compare the enclosed variants against their more open siblings with the same crew aboard. Look at seated visibility, movement to the bow, ventilation and how the social spaces work when doors or terraces must remain shut.

Which FLIBS boats should you compare?

Newly announced show models may not yet have an ABG model review. A link to a brand guide is background research; it is not a substitute for checking the exact hull, engine package and options on display.

Dates, hours and tickets

All times are local to Fort Lauderdale. The organizer’s gate hours above take precedence over differing hours on individual exhibitor pages. Source: FLIBS organizer: 2026 schedule and locations

The organizer directs visitors to buy tickets online and says there is no show-site box office. Check the live ticket selection for day restrictions, children, VIP access and transport inclusions. The official FAQ also describes complimentary admission for eligible military personnel and veterans through its request process. Source: FLIBS organizer: tickets, boarding and visitor information

Six venues: plan the boat list before the route

The current organizer overview identifies Bahia Mar, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South, and the Broward County Convention Center. Use the live official maps rather than an older seven-location description. Source: FLIBS organizer: 2026 schedule and locations

For this ABG shortlist, Bahia Mar and the convention center deserve the first attention. Axopar explicitly lists boats at both. Do not assume that seeing the brand’s dock display means you have seen every variant available elsewhere in the show. Keep one saved list with each boat, the displaying dealer, its venue and a confirmed appointment time.

The organizer provides complimentary shuttle and golf-cart connections; water-taxi access has its own ticket arrangements. Confirm the current transportation schedule and inclusions before committing to back-to-back appointments at different locations. Source: FLIBS: shuttle and golf-cart information

ABG’s two-pass FLIBS plan

First pass: eliminate poor fits. Choose three or four priority boats rather than trying to tour every model. Take comparable photographs of the helm view, side decks, cabin entry, head and boarding point. Ask whether the display boat has optional equipment that changes its usable space.

Second pass: revisit the finalists. Ask for a written specification, an itemized delivered-price proposal and the identity of the dealer who would service your home port. Compare the actual build sheets: a sunshade, cabin arrangement or propulsion change can make two examples of the same model meaningfully different.

Before leaving: agree who will arrange any sea trial and where it will take place. A dockside walkthrough tells you about access and layout; it does not establish rough-water performance. Use Boat Finder to narrow the mission and the comparison tool for the models already in ABG’s database.

After FLIBS: keep the shortlist moving

A regional show can be a better second conversation when your question becomes local service or delivery rather than a launch announcement. Fort Myers in November has an announced Axopar connection. Miami and Palm Beach are later South Florida planning opportunities, but their 2027 ABG-model lineups still need confirmation.

Questions buyers are asking

Sources and verification

Checked October 13, 2026. Organizer information governs dates and gate access; manufacturer or dealer announcements support model listings. Announced boats can change before the event. ABG is an independent buyer guide, not the show organizer.

• Source: FLIBS organizer: 2026 schedule and locations
• Source: FLIBS organizer: tickets, boarding and visitor information
• Source: FLIBS: official 2026 exhibitor directory
• Source: Axopar: announced FLIBS 2026 boats and U.S. premieres
• Source: Saxdor: six-model FLIBS 2026 announcement
• Source: Nimbus: FLIBS 2026 lineup and display location
• Source: Wellcraft: FLIBS 2026 models
• Source: FLIBS: shuttle and golf-cart information