After the unexpected turn of events 2020 offered, the yachting industry is optimistic that the coming year will be more promising for nautical events. While it is anticipated that it will take time for countries to open up and for foreign travel to pick up again, we are hopeful that we can look forward to a more exciting boat show calendar in 2021.
While 2020 was a very challenging time for live events, the year did begin with a hugely successful Thailand Yacht Show last January. We also enjoyed COVID-safe versions of the Cannes Yachting Festival, in September, and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) at the end of October. While the number of FLIBS exhibits were reduced, and the Superyacht Village cancelled due to the need for many superyacht owners and crew to quarantine on arrival in Florida, the show did go on. Not to mention, we attended a selection of events that had been moved online such as the Virtual Palm Beach International Boat Show in May and the Balearic Yacht Show, which went live in November.
2021 boat show calendar events that are postponed
Some yachting events that were due to have taken place at the beginning of the year have understandably been cancelled. The first to be rescheduled was the Miami Yacht Show, which should have been taking place this February but has now been pushed back to February 2022. Likewise both the Vancouver International Boat Show and the New York Boat Show have been postponed to the next year.
However, for now these events seem to be the only ones that have been moved, with many dates already in the boat show calendar for 2021.
Key events for the boat show calendar 2021
Kicking off the 2021 international nautical calendar is the Thailand Yacht Show, an event which has been less impacted by coronavirus than many others. The show will be held at the Royal Phuket Marina from 11th to 14th February, and will feature a busy schedule including a Buyers Meet Sellers initiative and a weekend of live music, entertainment and family-friendly activities.
Next up is the Dubai international Yacht Show, which will take place from 9th to 13th March. The 2021 edition of the UAE’s premier boating event is a replacement of the 2020 event, which was postponed twice last year due to COVID-19.
One of the first yachting events to take place in Europe in 2021 will be Boot Dusseldorf, which is planned for 17th to 25th April. Organisers promise a celebration of water sports with boats from a huge variety of classes as well as highlights such as a new glass diving tower.
Meanwhile back in Asia, the Singapore Yacht Show will take place at the magnificent ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from 22nd to 25th April. Considered the premier boat and yacht show in Asia, it provides a one-stop shop for all things yachting in an exclusive setting.
The MYBA Charter Show is currently still set to go ahead from 26th to 29th April in OneOcean Port Vell in Barcelona, whilst not far away across the Balearic Sea on the island of Mallorca, the next edition of the Palma International Boat Show is being planned for 30th April to 3rd May 2021.
Currently next on the boat show calendar for 2021 is the TYBA Yacht Charter Show, a relatively new event on the international nautical scene. It is the third event in the show’s history and organised by the Turkish Yachting and Brokers Association, will take place at Yalıkavak Marina from 1st to 4th May 2021.
The Newport Charter Yacht Show is planned to take place from 21st to 24th June 2021. This four-day event will be dedicated exclusively to yacht charter professionals, agents, owners, brokers and captains in the picturesque setting of Newport, Rhode Island.
The annual Cannes Yachting Festival is scheduled to take place as usual in September, as the yacht charter season draws to an end in the Mediterranean. This year’s dates are set from 7th to 12th September 2021, just weeks before the Monaco Yacht Show 2021 opens along the coast in the Principality’s Port Hercules. Last year’s 30th anniversary edition of the world’s most prestigious yachting event has been postponed until 22nd to 25th September 2021, when more than 125 superyachts and nearly 600 companies will converge in Monaco for four days. Based in the Principality, Relevance is particularly excited for the Monaco Yacht Show 2021.
The following month, organisers will be hoping that the 2021 edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, due to take place from 27th to 31st October, will be held under more relaxed conditions than last year’s show.
Dates yet to be announced for the boat show calendar 2021
A number of organisers appear to be undecided as to whether their events will take place this year, with dates yet to be announced. These include the Qatar International Boat Show, normally held in Doha in the spring, as well as the Superyacht Show, which organisers hope will take place in Barcelona this May. The East Med Yacht Show, held on the Greek island of Poros, has also not confirmed its dates for May 2021 yet.
Whilst there is still a fair amount of uncertainty surrounding yachting events this year, it is exciting to see that a large number of yacht shows look set to take place. We can’t wait to attend.