From superyachts to sea-worthy surprises, this five-day spectacle may have you hooked
Each fall, Fort Lauderdale’s sun-soaked marinas shimmer with luxurious vessels, gleaming expertise, and world pleasure because the Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present—identified worldwide as FLIBS—returns to the “Yachting Capital of the World.” From October 29 by November 2, 2025, this iconic occasion transforms practically each waterway and dock within the metropolis right into a 90-acre floating market for boating lovers, business professionals, and curious vacationers alike.
Owned by the Marine Industries Affiliation of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets, FLIBS is acknowledged as the biggest in-water boat present on this planet. Final 12 months’s occasion drew greater than 100,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors from 52 international locations, with over 1,300 boats on show—starting from glossy superyachts to the most recent center-console fishing boats. Past the flicker, the present has a measurable financial wake: $1.79 billion in statewide affect, $709.7 million in Florida gross sales, and $85.8 million in state and native taxes, together with $24.5 million in Broward County alone.
“FLIBS is greater than the world’s largest in-water boat present. It’s an financial powerhouse for our area, producing greater than $1.78 billion in financial affect annually and supporting over 100,000 jobs,” stated Phil Purcell, President and CEO of the Marine Industries Affiliation of South Florida (MIASF). “The expansion and enhancements we’re seeing this 12 months, from the redevelopment of Pier Sixty-Six to the expanded luxurious experiences and marine business programming, reinforce Fort Lauderdale’s place as a worldwide chief in each boating and enterprise.”
“FLIBS has at all times been about delivering an unforgettable expertise for everybody, from lifelong yachting lovers to households discovering the marine life-style for the primary time,” added Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Exhibits at Informa Markets. “With the reopening of Pier Sixty-Six, thrilling new experiences just like the Windward VIP Cabana Membership, and the continued growth of our present footprint, 2025 can be a 12 months to recollect.”
Listed below are 10 the explanation why this worldwide showcase ought to anchor your South Florida journey plans this fall.
1. The World’s Largest In-Water Boat Present
FLIBS isn’t simply the largest—it’s in a league of its personal. The present spans seven prime waterfront areas throughout three million sq. ft of exhibit house, all linked by an easy-to-navigate community of shuttles, golf carts, and water taxis. Whether or not you’re exploring the sprawling Bahia Mar Yachting Heart, the reimagined Pier Sixty-Six Marina, or the awe-inspiring Superyacht Village, each dock showcases the most recent improvements in boating and marine life-style.
The variety of displays units FLIBS aside—luxurious yachts, sportfishing boats, marine gear, diving tools, and even designer attire and artwork. It’s the place shipyards unveil world and U.S. debuts, making it a real first take a look at what’s subsequent within the world marine market.
2. Seven Areas, One Seamless Expertise
FLIBS 2025 connects Bahia Mar Yachting Heart, Corridor of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South, seventeenth Road Yacht Basin at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, and the Broward County Conference Heart—every providing a definite vibe and objective.
Guests can simply move between venues because of the occasion’s built-in transportation system, which incorporates the present’s standard water taxi community gliding alongside the Intracoastal Waterway. The Broward County Conference Heart serves as the principle hub, full with 3,000 parking areas at a $20 flat charge and connections to each web site. It’s the best place to start your day on the docks.
3. A True Financial Powerhouse
The numbers inform a narrative of affect and scale unmatched by another marine occasion. $1.79 billion in statewide financial output, practically $710 million in Florida gross sales, and greater than 100,000 guests—49 p.c from exterior the state—gas tourism and native commerce yearly. Non-local guests and exhibitors alone spend an estimated $47.3 million, supporting hospitality, retail, and small companies all through South Florida.
For Fort Lauderdale, the present is greater than spectacle; it’s a cornerstone of the area’s id and prosperity.
4. The Windward VIP Expertise
For visitors looking for luxurious and ease, the reimagined Windward VIP Expertise returns to FLIBS 2025 with expanded facilities and two unique lounges, together with the uncommon comfort of complimentary self-parking at Superyacht Village on a first-come, first-served foundation.
Start your day amid essentially the most breathtaking vessels on this planet by stepping straight into the Windward VIP Lounge, the place connoisseur delicacies, a premium open bar, non-public restrooms, and distinctive sponsor activations create an environment of easy indulgence alongside the world’s elite yacht builders. From there, visitors can journey by water to Bahia Mar and proceed to the brand new Windward VIP Cabana Membership at Corridor of Fame Marina, an elegant waterfront retreat providing shaded lounge seating, mild bites, handcrafted cocktails, and uninterrupted marina views.
Offered in partnership with ONE Sotheby’s Worldwide Realty, the official Windward VIP Actual Property Sponsor, this elevated entry transforms your time at FLIBS from occasion to expertise—an immersion in service, surroundings, and class.
5. Household-Pleasant Adventures and Academic Enjoyable
Regardless of its luxurious enchantment, FLIBS stays a family-friendly affair. The Blue Wild Youngsters Nook delivers a inventive playground full with Halloween- and marine-themed arts and crafts, face portray, balloon creations, and mermaid meet-and-greets that delight kids and oldsters alike.
Younger anglers can take part in Captain Don Dingman’s Youngsters Fishing Clinics, provided Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. and a couple of p.m., the place they’ll be taught hands-on abilities and conservation classes. These actions foster appreciation for the ocean whereas making the present approachable for each era of boater.
6. Studying, Discovery, and Business Perception
On the Broward County Conference Heart, attendees can immerse themselves in seminars and panels led by marine specialists. Matters vary from boat dealing with and fishing methods to environmental stewardship and cutting-edge expertise shaping the way forward for the business.
Academic experiences lengthen to Superyacht Village, the place discussions deal with constitution tendencies, design innovation, and sustainable yachting practices. Business leaders and captains share insider views on the whole lot from refit packages to the most recent propulsion programs, providing uncommon entry to skilled knowledge in an approachable setting.
7. Dwell Demos, Interactive Reveals, and AquaZone Motion
Fingers-on pleasure defines the FLIBS expertise. The AquaZone at Las Olas Marina, located between Docks A and B, capabilities as a floating playground for water lovers. Right here, visitors can test-drive the most recent EV toys and watersports gear, witness on-water demonstrations, and expertise interactive displays that merge expertise and adrenaline.
Throughout the present, exhibitors comparable to Suzuki Marine (Sales space #1223) and The Certified Captain (Cubicles #17-17A) host dwell demos and meet-and-greets, unveiling the most recent in outboard engines, marine tech, and unique branded gear. In every single place you flip, there’s movement, innovation, and inspiration.
8. Free Parking, Free Trip, and Unique Perks with West Marine
West Marine, the official Shuttle Bus Transportation Sponsor, provides comfort for guests this 12 months. Company can park without spending a dime at West Marine’s flagship Fort Lauderdale retailer and luxuriate in complimentary round-trip shuttle service to and from Bahia Mar Yachting Heart. Buses depart roughly each hour, starting one hour earlier than gates open and concluding one hour after closing.
Cease by the West Marine sales space (#511) or their retail retailer for giveaways, gear, and boat-show-exclusive promotions. It’s a considerate perk that enhances accessibility whereas spotlighting one of many business’s trusted retailers.
9. Keep in Model with Official Resort Companions
By means of onPeak, the present’s official lodge supplier, attendees acquire entry to the perfect charges with no reserving charges and versatile cancellation insurance policies. With taking part properties situated close to the marinas and conference heart, staying near the motion has by no means been simpler.
Whether or not you select an oceanfront resort or a downtown boutique lodge, the curated record of companion lodging ensures that each visitor—whether or not exhibitor, purchaser, or traveler—enjoys consolation and comfort worthy of the FLIBS title.
10. A Celebration of Business, Innovation, and Neighborhood
Past the gleaming hulls and champagne toasts, FLIBS represents the energy and innovation of the marine business itself. Owned by MIASF, a nonprofit that helps 149,000 regional marine jobs and drives $12.5 billion in regional financial output, the occasion serves as each a worldwide showcase and an area lifeline.
For Informa Markets, which produces the present, FLIBS exemplifies its mission to attach industries by experiences that spark commerce, creativity, and development. Collectively, these organizations be certain that the present not solely entertains but in addition sustains the ecosystem that makes South Florida the epicenter of sailing tradition.
The Fort Lauderdale Worldwide Boat Present is greater than a five-day exhibition—it’s a mirrored image of the approach to life, innovation, and financial vitality that outline South Florida. Whether or not you come to discover luxurious yachts, attend a seminar, take pleasure in household actions, or toast the sundown from the Windward VIP Lounge, the expertise is unforgettable.
If the ocean calls to you, that is the place to reply—on the docks of Fort Lauderdale, surrounded by craftsmanship, neighborhood, and the promise of recent adventures on the water.
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Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded model strategist and analyst who reviews on cultural shifts and tendencies in addition to noteworthy business change makers, movers, shakers and innovators throughout all classes, each B2C and B2B. This contains discipline specialists and thought leaders, manufacturers, merchandise, providers, locations and occasions. As Founder, Govt Editor and Producer of “The Luxe Record,” Merilee is a prolific enterprise, life-style, journey, eating and leisure business voice of authority and tastemaker. She retains her finger on the heartbeat of {the marketplace} in the hunt for new and modern must-haves and exemplary experiences in any respect value factors, from the inexpensive to the intense. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide through broadcast TV (her personal exhibits and copious others on which she seems) in addition to a myriad of print and on-line publications. Join along with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Fb www.Fb.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
***Some or the entire lodging(s), expertise(s), merchandise(s) and/or service(s) detailed above could have been offered or organized for free of charge to accommodate if that is overview editorial, however all opinions expressed are totally these of Merilee Kern and haven’t been influenced in any approach.***
