The Southampton International Boat Show will run for eight days in 2027 instead of ten, British Marine has confirmed, with the 58th edition set for September 18 to 25, 2027 at Mayflower Park. The organiser says the shorter format is meant to ease the practical and financial demands of exhibiting and to support a stronger, more varied exhibitor line-up.
The announcement came as this year’s show closed on Sunday, September 27, with total attendance of 91,160. British Marine had been expecting more than 90,000 visitors over the ten days, as set out in PBN’s Southampton International Boat Show 2026 preview. The show’s own exhibitor information gives 2025 attendance as 91,300, which puts this year roughly level.
What the 2026 Show Delivered
More than 500 watercraft were on display, including more than 25 world, UK and show boat debuts, alongside 20 launches of new marine technology, equipment and gear. Over 110 talks, workshops and demonstrations ran across the ten days, and British Marine says up to 8,000 people got out on or under the water during the show.
On the powerboat side, Fairline gave the Targa 58 GTO its British debut, Honda Marine and Highfield Boats staged the UK debut of the ADV9 on a shared stand, and BRP chose Southampton for the European launch of the 2027 Sea-Doo RXT-X 350 and Sea-Doo Spark Trixx 110. PBN covered Suzuki Marine’s plans for the show earlier this month.
Earle Stanner, Chief Executive Officer of British Marine, pointed to a sale on the opening morning:
“One of the moments that really stood out for me was hearing that an exhibitor had completed the first boat sale within the first hour on day one. That set the tone for the show and was a great reminder of why Southampton International Boat Show matters so much to the industry, bringing businesses and customers together in a way that can turn conversations into real commercial opportunities.”
What Exhibitors Said
Oliver Southwell, Chief Executive Officer of Fairline, said retail sales at the show came in ahead of the company’s own forecasts:
“Southampton has exceeded our expectations this year, with retail sales completing at the show ahead of our internal forecasts. Footfall and customer engagement were consistently strong every day, which reflects both the investment Fairline has made in the show and our new position on the pontoons, one we look forward to keeping for years to come.”
Annie Reed, Chief Commercial Officer of Princess Yachts, which recently confirmed its audited 2025 turnaround results, said:
“We have already achieved sales as a direct result of the Show, with a number of promising conversations continuing. It has been a strong event for us, enabling us to engage directly with customers here in the UK and we came away encouraged by the quality of interest and the opportunities ahead.”
Paul Richards, Company Director of Sussex Marine, said the Sea-Doo dealer has already signed to return in 2027:
“The level of interest, customer engagement, new contacts and sales has been outstanding and has far exceeded our expectations.”
Not every comment was framed purely around sales. Luke Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of Rooster Sailing, thanked the British Marine team for delivering the show in what he described as still-challenging market conditions. Guy Adams of Wessex Marine said the show’s more focused size this year suited the current marketplace and had gone down well with visitors and clients.
Why the Show Is Moving to Eight Days
British Marine says the 2027 format was developed with its Exhibitor Advisory Group. The new dates run Saturday to Saturday, so next year’s show keeps two Saturdays but has only one Sunday, where the 2026 edition ran from a Friday to the following Sunday.
Stanner explained the thinking:
“The 2027 format has been developed closely with our Exhibitor Advisory Group, reflecting what businesses need from the show. Moving to eight days is part of that evolution, helping us create a format that delivers greater value for exhibitors and opens the door to more brands.”
Mayflower Park has been confirmed as the show’s home for at least the next three years. Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker have all committed to exhibit in 2027, with more brands expected to be announced as plans develop.
Scott Millar, who was named Sunseeker’s Chief Executive Officer in July, confirmed the Poole builder’s attendance:
“As a British brand that was born on the south coast more than five decades ago, supporting our home market matters enormously to us. But it’s not about simply turning up because it’s expected, it’s about backing an industry that continues to innovate, evolve and inspire.”
British Marine says further details of the 2027 show will be announced over the coming months.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
