FLIBS 2026 at a glance: The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs October 28 through November 1, 2026, across seven marinas connected by six miles of floating docks. More than 100,000 people attend over the five days. Tickets are sold online only, with no on-site box office. The fastest way to move between venues, entertain clients, or watch the show from the water is a private charter, which is what this guide covers.
FLIBS spreads across nearly 90 acres of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront. Getting from Hall of Fame Marina to Pier Sixty-Six on foot burns half a day you don’t have. A private charter solves the one problem the show map can’t: how you actually move between venues, host clients, and get on the water instead of standing in a shuttle line.
Lauderdale Charters runs VIP transport, tender service, and hospitality charters for FLIBS week every year. Here’s the full breakdown: when it runs, where each venue sits, what to look for on the water, and how to book before the calendar fills.
When Is the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in 2026?
FLIBS 2026 runs October 28 through November 1, five days total, marking the show’s 67th year as the largest in-water boat show in the world.
The show always lands in late October or early November, right after peak hurricane season and just ahead of South Florida’s winter boating rush. That timing matters for charter planning: it’s also the start of the busiest booking stretch of the year for Fort Lauderdale’s charter fleet, so calendar availability tightens well before the show opens.
| Detail | 2026 Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 28 to November 1, 2026 |
| Length | 5 days |
| Edition | 67th annual |
| Ticket sales | Online only, no on-site box office |
| Estimated attendance | 100,000+ visitors |
Where Is the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Held?
FLIBS is held across seven connected venues along Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront: the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, the 17th Street Yacht Basin, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, and the Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South. Six miles of floating docks link the marinas together, but the venues are spread far enough apart that walking between all seven in one day isn’t realistic on foot.
The 7 FLIBS Venues at a Glance
| Venue | What You’ll Find There | Best Reached By |
|---|---|---|
| Broward County Convention Center | Main exhibitor halls, marine electronics, gear vendors | Land or water transfer |
| Bahia Mar Yachting Center | Mid-size yachts, sportfish boats, dealer displays | Water transfer or short walk from Convention Center |
| Hall of Fame Marina | Windward VIP Club, yacht displays | Water transfer |
| Las Olas Marina | Center consoles, day boats, watersports gear | Water transfer |
| 17th Street Yacht Basin | Yacht brokerage displays | Water transfer |
| Pier Sixty-Six Marina | Superyacht viewing, marina-front vendors | Water transfer |
| Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South | The show’s largest yachts, invitation boardings | Water transfer, often broker-coordinated |
General admission gets you into most venues, but boarding a specific yacht for sale, especially in the Superyacht Village, is typically by broker invitation. That’s exactly where a private charter or tender service earns its keep: it gets your group to the right dock at the right time instead of routing through general foot traffic between venues.
What Are the Best Boats to See at FLIBS 2026?
The standout vessels at FLIBS depend on which venue you’re at. Superyacht Village is where the show’s largest and newest yachts sit, often with world premiere debuts unveiled during the week. Bahia Mar and the 17th Street Yacht Basin carry the bulk of the mid-size yacht and sportfish inventory. Las Olas Marina leans toward center consoles, day boats, and watersports gear, which draws a different crowd than the superyacht side of the show.
Exhibitor lineups and specific yacht debuts for 2026 get confirmed closer to the show dates, so this section will be updated with the current year’s featured builders and notable launches as that information is released. What doesn’t change year to year is the layout: if you want to see the largest yachts, plan your route toward Pier Sixty-Six South first, since that’s where crowds concentrate hardest as the week goes on.
A charter built around the show’s layout, rather than a fixed shuttle route, is the practical way to see the vessels that matter to you without spending the day walking six miles of dock to get there.
Want Your Own Boat for Show Week? Meet the Lauderdale Charters Fleet
The yachts on display at FLIBS aren’t available to rent. They’re there to be sold, toured, or viewed by invitation. If you want your own boat on the water during show week, whether that’s a private charter between venues or a day out once the show floor closes, Lauderdale Charters runs a separate fleet built for exactly that.
| Vessel | Guests | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 45 ft Flybridge Yacht | Up to 13 | Flexible half-day or full-day charters |
| 55 ft Azimut Yacht | Up to 13 | Full-day charters, sunset cruises |
| 27 ft Aqua Patio Pontoon | Up to 13 | Sandbar trips, group outings on a tighter budget |
| 40 ft Tiki Party Barge | Ask at booking | Larger groups wanting an onboard bathroom |
Every charter comes with a USCG-licensed captain, so no boating experience is needed from your group. See the full yacht charter fleet or the pontoon boat rentals for current availability during FLIBS week.
VIP Water Transportation During Boat Show Week
Between the show’s seven venues, the fastest way across the water is a private boat, not a rental car stuck in Fort Lauderdale’s show-week traffic. A VIP transport charter picks your group up at one marina and drops them at the next, so you spend your time looking at boats instead of looking for parking.
This works well for:
- Brokers moving clients between multiple yacht viewings across venues
- Exhibitors shuttling staff or press between the convention center and the marinas
- Groups who want to cover all seven locations in one day without walking the full stretch of dock
We run these transfers on a private schedule you set, not a fixed shuttle loop, so your group moves when you’re ready, not when a bus fills up.
Tender Charters for Exhibitors and Brokers
If you have a yacht on display at FLIBS, getting clients, crew, or supplies to and from the vessel is a daily logistics job during show week. A tender charter handles that: shore-to-yacht runs scheduled around your show hours, not a public dock timetable.
Brokers use this to move prospective buyers from a general admission entry point straight to a yacht anchored in the Superyacht Village or Pier Sixty-Six, without routing through main foot traffic. Exhibitors use the same setup for crew changes, provisioning, and last-minute deliveries during the show.
Client Entertainment and Exhibitor Hospitality Charters
FLIBS week is also when a lot of relationship-building happens off the show floor. An exhibitor hospitality charter puts a private boat at your disposal for entertaining clients away from the crowd: a few hours on the water, a chance to talk business without shouting over a marina PA system, and a better backdrop than a hotel bar.
This fits well for:
- Dealers and brokers hosting a small group of serious buyers after a showroom visit
- Companies entertaining press or industry partners during the show
- Teams who want a private space to close conversations that started on the show floor
Watching FLIBS from the Water: Spectator Charter Options
You don’t need a broker badge to see FLIBS from its best angle. A spectator charter puts you on the water alongside the show, close enough to take in the yachts on display without fighting the entry lines at each venue. It’s a different way to experience the show: less walking, better views, and a boat under you instead of a bag of show programs.
This is a good fit for boat show visitors who want a break from the foot traffic, out-of-town guests who’d rather not navigate seven venues on their own, or anyone who wants to watch the show from a deck instead of a dock. If a full day on the water is a new experience for you, most guests do fine out there; FLIBS week charters mostly stay in protected intracoastal water rather than open ocean.
What Do FLIBS Tickets Include?
FLIBS sells tickets in a few tiers, and the tier you pick affects which venues and experiences are included.
| Ticket Type | What It Covers | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Entry to main show venues | First-time visitors, single-day plans |
| VIP Club Access | Private lounge, food and drink, premium viewing near yacht displays | Client entertaining, all-day attendance |
| Multi-Day Pass | Admission across more than one show day | Brokers, exhibitors, and buyers covering multiple venues |
Exact pricing changes year to year and is set by FLIBS directly, so check the official ticket page for current rates. None of the tiers include water transportation between venues. That’s a separate booking, and it’s the piece a charter fills in regardless of which ticket you hold.
How Far Ahead Should You Book a FLIBS Charter?
Book as early as your FLIBS schedule allows. FLIBS week is the busiest stretch of the year for Fort Lauderdale’s charter fleet, and boats booked for VIP transport, tender service, and hospitality charters get reserved months out by brokers and exhibitors who charter the same dates year after year.
Waiting until the week before the show opens usually means picking from whatever’s left, and weekend slots during the show, typically the busiest days on the docks, go first. If your plans are still taking shape, reach out anyway and tell us the dates you’re working with. We’d rather help you build a transport plan around a tentative schedule than have you find out in October that nothing’s left on the calendar.
FLIBS falls near the tail end of hurricane season, so it’s worth knowing what our weather policy covers before you lock in a date. Brief afternoon showers rarely cancel a charter outright.
If you’re weighing more than one operator for show week, here’s what actually separates one Fort Lauderdale charter company from another.
Contact Lauderdale Charters to reserve VIP transport, a tender charter, or a hospitality charter for FLIBS week 2026. Call us to check availability and lock in your dates before the show fills the calendar.
Fort Lauderdale Boat Rentals
Find the Right Charter for Your Occasion
Sunset cruise for two, a sandbar day with the crew, a birthday, bachelorette, or a corporate outing — we’ve got a boat sized and styled for it. Book during Fort Lauderdale Boat Show week and take up to 15% off any charter in the fleet. Browse below, or call us and we’ll match you to the right yacht or pontoon in minutes.
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Fort Lauderdale Boat Show FAQ
When is the Fort Lauderdale boat show in 2026?
FLIBS 2026 runs October 28 through November 1, five days total, making it the show’s 67th year.
Where is the Fort Lauderdale boat show held?
FLIBS is held across seven venues connected by six miles of floating docks: the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, the 17th Street Yacht Basin, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, and the Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South.
What are the best boats to see at FLIBS 2026?
The largest and newest yachts, including world premiere debuts, are typically in the Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South. Bahia Mar and the 17th Street Yacht Basin carry the bulk of mid-size yacht and sportfish inventory, while Las Olas Marina focuses on center consoles and watersports gear.
Can I charter my own boat during FLIBS week?
Yes. The yachts on display at the show are there to be viewed or sold, not rented. Lauderdale Charters runs a separate fleet, including yachts and pontoons up to 13 guests, available to book for VIP transport, hospitality, or a private day on the water during show week.
Do I need a broker to book a tender charter during FLIBS?
No. Brokers book tender service for clients often, but exhibitors and private groups can book directly with us for shore-to-yacht transport during show week.
Can a spectator charter get me close to the yachts on display?
Yes. Spectator charters route along the show’s waterfront, giving you water-level views of the vessels on display at each venue without requiring show tickets for every stop.
How many people can book a hospitality charter?
Group size depends on the vessel and gets confirmed at booking. Tell us your headcount when you reach out and we’ll match you with the right boat.
Does a FLIBS ticket include transportation between venues?
No. None of the FLIBS ticket tiers include water transportation between the seven venues. Getting between marinas is a separate booking, whether that’s the show’s own shuttle service or a private charter.
What happens if my FLIBS schedule changes?
Let our team know as soon as your plans shift. We’ll work with you on rescheduling within show week wherever availability allows.