As the summer winds down, a season change is in the air. Autumn? Nope, it’s boat show season. You’d think the SAIL editors would all be catching their breaths after a busy summer on the water, but the next two months are actually the busiest stretch of our calendar. Cannes is already under way in France, and Annapolis and IBEX are right around the corner.
But the star this weekend is the Newport International Boat Show (Sept 11-14), which is one of the country’s best shows for sailors and one of my personal favorites since Newport is the ultimate sailor’s town and the weather is always sublime. (If you’re visiting for the show, why not add an extra day to your trip and make a stop at The Sailing Museum, Fastnet Pub, and other salty landmarks.)
The show kicks off tomorrow, which means that today will be a mad scramble to get tents, docks, and booths set up. The show sprawls over seventeen acres along Newport’s historic waterfront, and they’re expecting 40,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Sail and powerboats, new and brokerage, and every gear item and boat service imaginable will be on display. Over 450 boats are registered to be there, including LOAs from 15 to 90 feet and a few of SAIL’s Top 10 of 2026 nominees. Plus at IYRS (Newport’s famous International Yacht Restoration School), hands-on workshops will cover practical skills like gel coat repair or deep dives on battery tech.
On a more personal note, these shows are one of the few times a year where the SAIL team gets to meet our readers in person, and it’s honestly my favorite part of boat show season. If you see us down on the docks, come say hi. I’ll also be joining a few other industry pros at a networking event Friday afternoon, and all are encouraged to join.
So whether you want to brush up skills, window shop for a new (or new-to-you) boat, or just enjoy some time outside in a beautiful town with likeminded folks, Newport is the place to be this weekend.
For more information and to get tickets, click here.
