Leopard Catamarans returns to Genoa, prepares world premiere of Leopard 43

Leopard Catamarans is turning Genoa into a signal, not just a stop. The builder is back on the Genoa Boat Show calendar for October 1-6, 2026 at Piazzale Kennedy, and its own lineup already puts the Leopard 43 and Leopard 46 PC on display there. That timing matters because the Leopard 43 is the boat Leopard is using to reset the sailing range, with a world premiere coming first at Cannes in September.

Edoardo Petrelli, one of Leopard’s two international sales managers, is now coordinating sales for Italy and several other countries, a clear sign that the brand is leaning harder into one of Europe’s most important catamaran markets. In practical terms, Genoa gives Leopard a visible Italian stage before Cannes, and the sequence reads like a deliberate rollout rather than a one-off show appearance.

The Leopard 43 is already in sea trials ahead of its Cannes debut, which is set for the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 8-13, 2026. Leopard describes the boat as the next evolution of the Leopard 42, and that is the key transition to watch. The 42 is out of production, so the 43 is not being positioned as a mild facelift. It is the new benchmark for buyers who want the Leopard sailing formula in a newer package.

The design changes point in that direction. Leopard highlights a 360-degree glass surface in the main interior living area, with no fiberglass joints between the hull and the upper deckhouse. The company also says the Leopard 43 integrates glass solar panels aft of the repositioned coachroof lounge, generating up to 1,365W of clean energy and removing the need for a heavy stainless solar arch. Add in the promised panoramic visibility, enhanced performance and modern indoor-outdoor living, and the 43 looks aimed at owners who want a cleaner deck layout without giving up real cruising utility.

That is where the show strategy and the model strategy start to merge. Leopard’s comparison materials and dealer descriptions also point to side steps for easier dock access, a redesigned coachroof lounge, a larger sail plan and slimmer hulls, which lines up with the way Petrelli talks about the boats as long-voyage cruisers that still sail well when fully equipped. With Robertson & Caine saying it has launched more than 3,000 catamarans since 1997, employs more than 2,600 people and has delivered more than 1,218 Leopard catamarans, even a single model change carries weight. Genoa is the first public marker, Cannes is the reveal, and the Leopard 43 is the boat that will show where the brand is headed next.