Superyacht Australia has successfully participated in the Palm Beach International Boat Show for the first time, hosting a South Pacific Pavilion from 25 – 29 March at the internationally renowned event in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Recognised as one of the premier yachting events in the United States, the Palm Beach International Boat Show attracts more than 55,000 visitors annually and showcases over 800 vessels, alongside hundreds of marine exhibitors representing the global marine industry.
Superyacht Australia hosted the South Pacific Pavilion in partnership with Tahiti Tourisme, promoting the region’s world-class cruising destinations together with Australia’s extensive superyacht refit, repair and marine service capabilities to an international audience.
The South Pacific Pavilion brought together a strong delegation of Australian marine businesses, highlighting the depth of expertise and services available across the country’s superyacht industry. Participating Members included 3 Beaches, Echo Yachts, Invest Gold Coast, Main Beach Superyacht Marina, Marine Structures, Quality Marine Clothing, Southport Yacht Club, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef, The Superyacht People, Torrens Luxury Collection and Yachtsmen International.
Chris Blackwell, Chair of Superyacht Australia and Head of Sales and Marketing, Echo Yachts, commented on their attendance at the show: “This year’s 2026 Palm Beach International Boat Show was a fantastic event — well timed and ideally positioned for the Australian superyacht industry to attend, alongside the industry’s most prestigious companies and brands. It proved to be a strong platform for Echo Yachts to promote our world-class custom superyacht new-build and refit services in Australia, with many valuable connections made.”
Highlights for the week included Manoa Rey, Market Development and Segments Manager, Tahiti Tourisme and Cameron Bray of The Superyacht People presenting at the YATCO Destination Forum and Superyacht Stage respectively, sharing insights into chartering and cruising across the Islands of Tahiti and the South Pacific, a major drawcard for yachts operating in the region. In a memorable moment ahead of the show, a number of Australian businesses met Australia’s Great White Shark, Greg Norman, who later visited the South Pacific stand to learn more about the growth and capabilities of Australia’s marine industry.
Strong interest was shown by several yachts exploring alternatives to returning to the Mediterranean, with some outlining plans to attend upcoming major events on the U.S. West Coast, including the LA Olympics and FIFA World Cup, before continuing their cruising itineraries throughout the Pacific.
Cameron Bray of The Superyacht People, commented on their attendance at the show; “Palm Beach proved one of the most successful boat shows ever for The Superyacht People, proven by the opportunity to present a seminar to industry about charting in the South Pacific, alongside meeting captains and owners looking to bring their yachts into the region for the coming years and working as a consortium with other South Pacific companies to identify opportunities for each other. We extend a huge thank you to Superyacht Australia and Australia’s Gold Coast for coordinating an amazing show – the shift from FLIBS to Palm Beach has been the right decision.”
On Friday afternoon, Superyacht Australia hosted ‘Down Under’ drinks on the South Pacific stand, attracting an impressive turnout of attendees, including international industry professionals alongside captains and crew. Guests enjoyed a taste of Australia, with the bar serving iconic Bundaberg Rum.
Several networking events were attended throughout the week, providing valuable opportunities to strengthen international relationships. Highlights included the International Superyacht Society (ISS) Leadership Series, where Australia’s Kristina Agustin, Founder of Southern Sky AI, moderated an AI-focused panel discussion, followed by a session exploring nuclear-powered yachts.
Australia’s Gold Coast also supported key industry functions, sponsoring both the ISS Members Reception and the United States Superyacht Association (USSA) Networking Drinks. Additional events included the Arrow Opening Party, a Volvo Penta function featuring the launch of the IPS Professional-powered Palm Beach 107 by Australia’s Mark Richards, and industry discussions at the YATCO Lounge, including conversations around the upcoming LA Olympics.
Participation in the Show provided an important opportunity to promote Australia as a premier destination for superyacht cruising, maintenance and marine services, while strengthening relationships with international yacht owners, captains, brokers and industry stakeholders.
David Good, CEO of Superyacht Australia, commented, “Palm Beach International Boat Show is now our key boat show in the US/Caribbean region. We are proud to host the South Pacific stand alongside Tahiti and showcase our beautiful region. We found the quality of attendees at this year’s show very strong and fall attendees agreed it was the correct choice to move from the Fort Lauderdale show to this one due to the quality of enquiries.”
Superyacht Australia’s presence at the show reflects the continued growth and global engagement of Australia’s superyacht industry, with the South Pacific Pavilion offering visitors a central hub to learn more about cruising opportunities, infrastructure and marine expertise across the region.
