Palm Beach Boat Show 2026: What Catamaran Buyers and Charterers Must Know

Sunreef Yachts arrives at the Palm Beach International Boat Show with a teaser and a promise. Artur Poloczanski, the brand's director of PR and corporate communication, has already flagged that Day 1 will bring announcements: "We'll kick off by making some buzz, as we have big news to share." For multihull buyers and charterers making the trip to West Palm Beach this March, that alone is reason enough to put stand IW 555 on Flagler Drive at the top of the itinerary.

The 44th edition of PBIBS runs Wednesday, March 25 through Sunday, March 29, 2026, organized by Informa Markets on behalf of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County. The show occupies the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront along Flagler Drive and the Intracoastal Waterway, with key zones at Palm Harbour Marina and Clematis Street. Scale is not a problem here: over 1,000 boats are expected on display, with more than 600 exhibitors and an anticipated 55,000 visitors. Last year, the docks held more than $1.2 billion in yachts and accessories, and the expectation for 2026 is that figure holds or climbs.

The catamaran case: why multihull buyers belong here

Moravia Yachting's insider guide, published March 16, 2026, frames PBIBS explicitly around prospective buyers, brokers and charter operators with a focus on where catamarans and multihulls are involved. The message is well-timed. The most concrete catamaran presence confirmed for this year is Sunreef Yachts, whose Sunreef 80 Ecosailing will be on the water at stand IW 555, directly on Flagler Drive. The 80 Ecosailing is the brand's signature blend of space, stability and custom design, and the team at the stand will be on hand to discuss the Sunreef charter fleet and upcoming cruising destinations alongside the display vessel itself.

Stand hours matter if you're coordinating a visit: Sunreef opens Wednesday at noon and runs until 7:00 pm; Thursday through Saturday the stand opens at 10:00 am and closes at 7:00 pm; Sunday hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Appointments can be booked in advance, and given Poloczanski's hint about Day 1 news, getting to IW 555 early on Wednesday could pay dividends.

When to go: the day-by-day read

Not all five days are equal, and for serious buyers or charter operators working against a schedule, choosing the right day matters as much as choosing the right vessel.

Wednesday is the pick for private showings. Crowds are lightest on opening day, brokers and reps are fresh and at full attention, and the dock hasn't yet hit the energy spike that builds by the weekend. Thursday carries strong momentum with still-manageable foot traffic and is the ideal day for focused appointments. Friday shifts into a different register: the atmosphere is social, the balance between access and energy is at its best, and it is the prime day for broker networking. Saturday is the show's busiest day, a vibrant environment with longer wait times for premium vessels. If you need a second look at something, or want to follow up on a conversation from earlier in the week, Sunday offers a more relaxed pace, though some exhibitors will have begun winding down by then.

Richard Shead, partner and sales and marketing manager at Burgess, offers a practical framework: "Take your time, there is a lot to see. Identify what you want to see first, ideally in the morning, then indulge yourself with some of the more weird and wacky exhibits."

What else is on the water

Beyond the multihull focus, the broader inventory at PBIBS is worth understanding for anyone calibrating expectations. Kerry Iler, sales broker at IYC, puts it plainly: "The inventory and selection of boats coming to Palm Beach has exploded since the pandemic and made it into one of the premier destinations on the global boat show circuit. There's been a lot of competitively priced, large-inventory boats listed relatively recently but not easily accessible; I'm excited to get clients on board these boats to assess their condition and see them firsthand."

At the superyacht end, the Superyacht Show Palm Beach at Palm Harbour Marina functions as a dedicated showcase within the broader show. Confirmed attending yachts include the 78-meter Lurssen Rocinante (built 2008, refitted 2024), the 77-meter Feadship Boardwalk V (2021, updated 2025), the 75-meter Admiral Yachts Kensho (2022), the 74-meter Amels Casino Royale (2018), and the 72-meter Tankoa S701 (2018, refitted 2023). Josh Marshall, sales broker at IYC, describes the draw succinctly: "The unparalleled quality of the large yacht inventory and the atmosphere on the docks."

Fraser Yachts provides another data point on the broader market appetite heading into the show. Mike Busacca, EVP and chief commercial officer, notes that "Fraser kicked off 2026 with 12 superyacht sales in 12 days, an unprecedented run and a strong signal of the continued confidence we're seeing in the market. PBIBS is always an important moment for us to build on that energy."

Worth Avenue Yachts adds a local dimension: cofounder Michael Mahan notes that "the show coincides with the grand opening of our newly renovated flagship office in West Palm Beach," adding that he believes "this area will only continue to grow as a cultural and economic hub."

The atmosphere on the docks

PBIBS has a reputation for being what Susan Phipps, senior charter assistant at Northrop & Johnson, describes with characteristic efficiency: "I love the pace of the show, not so crowded and easy to roam around." That tone of relaxed refinement is part of what distinguishes it from the full-throttle pace of a Fort Lauderdale or Monaco. The show is large by any measure, but the West Palm Beach waterfront absorbs it gracefully.

Where to eat between dock walks

The area around Flagler Drive offers enough dining range to cover client dinners, quick breaks, and everything in between. For upscale evenings: Elisabetta's Ristorante delivers lively Italian and works well for client dinners; Pistache French Bistro offers a fresh, light menu suited to midday or evening; Hullabaloo provides a casual rooftop setting with strong energy. For a classic Palm Beach experience, Buccan is consistently one of the most sought-after reservations in town, and Café Boulud inside The Brazilian Court Hotel handles elegant French cuisine. When the schedule demands a fast reset between dock visits, Grease Burger Bar is the straightforward call.

The practical quick-reference

For anyone building a show itinerary now:

• Dates: March 25 to 29, 2026
• Location: Flagler Drive and the Intracoastal Waterway, downtown West Palm Beach; Palm Harbour Marina for the Superyacht Show
• Sunreef Yachts: stand IW 555, Flagler Drive; Sunreef 80 Ecosailing on display; Wed 12pm–7pm, Thu–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 10am–5pm; appointments available
• Organizer: Informa Markets / Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County
• Scale: 1,000+ boats, 600+ exhibitors, 55,000 visitors expected, $1.2B+ in inventory

The 44th edition arrives with a buoyant market behind it and a multihull presence worth tracking from the first hour of opening day. Whatever Sunreef plans to announce at stand IW 555 on Wednesday morning, the Sunreef 80 Ecosailing will be there to make the case in physical form.