Sardinian nautical industry at major international boat shows

September marks the opening of the international boating industry’s commercial year, with three major global events: the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Genoa International Boat Show, and the Monaco Yacht Show. In addition, every two years in La Spezia, the first cycle of trade fairs concludes with Sea Future, an event dedicated to the defense sector, where professional boating is also represented within the city’s Naval Arsenal.

The Regione Sardegna and CIPNES participated in all four events to support the region’s boating industry and to present the opportunities that Sardinia offers to companies interested in investing in the territory, both within and beyond the boating sector. In particular, during the Genoa International Boat Show, the project for the 5th edition of the Sardinia Boat Show was previewed as part of the traditional press conference dedicated to regional trade fairs organized by Confindustria Nautica.

At the first event of the season, the Cannes Yachting Festival (September 9–14), Sardinian shipyards including Sea Water, Novamarine, G-Tender, and Maori, as well as SACS, Pirelli, Valdettaro Group, the Rete dei Porti della Sardegna, and numerous professionals involved in international relations development were present. Notably, the stand of the Regione Sardegna and CIPNES Gallura became a true B2B meeting hub for professionals and Sardinian companies. Cannes provided an important opportunity to strengthen relationships with companies already active in Sardinia and to establish new ones for projects under development. During the event, a press conference was held at the Regione Sardegna – CIPNES Gallura stand, where CIPNES President Livio Fideli presented the internationalization programs of Sardinia’s boating industry promoted by the Region, along with ongoing initiatives to support the sector. These include the naval engineering degree course in Olbia, the international school for superyacht crew families and professionals wishing to reside in the city, as well as training initiatives at both intermediate and basic levels aimed at developing new professional skills within the extensive boating supply chain. During the same conference, the Sardinia Boat Show was also presented as a key promotional tool for the Sardinian industry and as an opportunity to showcase boating products more broadly, with the next announcement scheduled for the Genoa International Boat Show, where the location and dates of the 5th edition were officially confirmed.

Following the first event of the season came the Genoa Boat Show, the most important boating industry exhibition in the world. From September 18 to 23, the Ligurian capital hosted the 65th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, featuring innovations from national and international shipyards, sea trials, direct interaction with manufacturers, and conferences on technical, regulatory, and cultural topics. For industry professionals, Genoa is “the” must-attend event—both as the home show of the world’s leading boating industry and as a cornerstone of the international exhibition calendar. It is where generations of boating enthusiasts and professionals have gathered for 65 years to discover innovations, particularly from Italian shipyards, as well as from international players with growing commercial interests in the Italian market. For companies operating in Sardinia, Genoa is an essential event: alongside Sea Water, Novamarine, G-Tender, and Marino, as well as SACS-Pirelli, numerous service providers, shipyards such as Valdettaro Shipyard, dealers, and professionals were present. It was also the occasion to officially announce the dates of the next edition of the Sardinia Boat Show, during the traditional press conference organized by Confindustria Nautica, attended by representatives of all supported regional events.

From May 7 to 10, 2026, once again at the Marina di Porto Rotondo, the 5th edition of the island’s boating exhibition will take place, an event that continues to attract increasing interest from both industry professionals and enthusiasts year after year. During the Genoa Boat Show, a dedicated press conference was also held at the Regione Sardegna – CIPNES Gallura stand, attended by Regional Councillor for Industry Emanuele Cani, Mayor of Olbia Settimo Nizzi, Rector of the University of Cagliari Francesco Mola, CIPNES President Livio Fideli, and General Director of CIPNES Gallura and President of UniOlbia Aldo Carta. The discussion focused on Sardinia’s boating industry and the opportunities the island offers to companies seeking to operate within a well-established supply chain supported by numerous initiatives aimed at attracting both Italian and international professionals. Topics also included education, with existing and upcoming degree programs in Olbia, training initiatives for maritime professions, and research and technological development projects in boating, particularly those aimed at reducing environmental impact.

At the conclusion of the Genoa Boat Show, the CIPNES Gallura team continued to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Yacht Show (September 24–28), an event particularly dedicated to large yachts. Despite its focus on superyachts, Sardinian shipyards such as Novamarine, Maori, Valdettaro Shipyard, and Nautic Assistance, along with numerous operators including brokers, marinas, and technical service providers, were present in the Principality.

In 2025, the cycle of major boating-related trade fairs concluded with the Sea Future exhibition in La Spezia, a biennial event focused primarily on professional and military boating. For several years, Novamarine has showcased both in-water and on-land its special vessels designed for law enforcement and military applications. Other companies distinguished by their research activities and interest in Sardinia’s efforts to attract new technologies and industrial investments were also present. Among them, Sealence, with its innovative propulsion systems and electric powertrain solutions, stood out in a context quite different from the previous fairs.

After four consecutive trade shows, the overall impression is that, despite a market slowdown observed during the year, the sector remains in good health overall. However, the segment below 80 feet is experiencing greater difficulties compared to large yachts, due to ongoing international political uncertainties. Rising costs in recent years—transport, fuel, raw materials, and all components involved in boat production—even for smaller vessels, have widened the gap between the purchasing power of the middle class and the cost of boats. With few exceptions among emerging shipyards, a fully equipped seven-meter boat ready for navigation often exceeds €100,000. Nevertheless, Italy remains the world’s leading producer of yachts over 30 meters, which largely offsets the decline—partly physiological after the post-pandemic boom—in the small boat segment. It is hoped that this segment will soon regain momentum, as it has always been fundamental for the industry as a whole and as a training ground for future owners of larger vessels.

Sardinian shipyards—Sea Water, G-Tender, Novamarine, Maori, Marino, and SACS-Pirelli—continue to benefit from an increasingly international and loyal customer base. Their vessels are often found in ports far from the island and, in some cases, serve as tenders or limo-tenders for large yachts.

The four trade fairs attended by the Regione Sardegna and CIPNES Gallura, two of which featured dedicated stands, anticipate the next events where industry professionals will continue promoting the Sardinia Boat Show and the Sardinian boating sector, with the goal of internationalizing local products and attracting new investments. The next appointment will be METS in Amsterdam in November, dedicated to the global marine equipment supply chain, followed in January by Boot Düsseldorf, where Sardinia will be present with a dedicated stand, and finally Dubai, where another stand will serve as a hub for Sardinian boating and a meeting point for those interested in the many development initiatives promoted by the Region.

Angelo Colombo – Journalist and Head of the Sardinia Boat Show