Salone Nautico Venezia 2026 (Venice Boat Show)

Salone Nautico Venezia 2026: Venice’s boat show in its most iconic maritime venue

Salone Nautico Venezia 2026 (Venice Boat Show) is officially scheduled for May 27 to May 31, 2026 in Venice, Italy, hosted in the spectacular historic Arsenale di Venezia, where boats are displayed on the water inside the city’s lagoon-side shipyard setting. It’s one of the most atmospheric boat shows in Europe, combining yacht premieres, tech and sustainability showcases, sea trials, and a uniquely Venetian cultural backdrop of canals, islands, and maritime history.

Venice is not just a beautiful city. It is a maritime idea, built on shipbuilding, navigation, trade, and a lagoon that still shapes everyday life. That’s why Salone Nautico Venezia feels different from a standard exhibition hall boat show. At the Arsenale, vessels sit where they belong, floating in water inside one of the most historically important naval complexes in Europe.

The event is positioned as a “Great Event” by the City of Venice, and it consistently attracts boating professionals, sailing lovers, design fans, and travelers who simply want to experience Venice from a new angle. If you are planning a spring trip to Italy, these five days offer a perfect reason to pair classic Venice sightseeing with a modern, future-focused maritime exhibition.

Confirmed 2026 dates and venue (plus what’s officially stated)

The City of Venice’s Venezia Unica events listing confirms the Venice Boat Show returns from May 27 to May 31, 2026. The official Salone Nautico Venezia site confirms the show takes place along the quays of the Arsenale, and notes it is promoted by the Municipality of Venice and organized by Vela Spa in collaboration with the Italian Navy.

What “Arsenale” means for your visit

The Arsenale is not a generic venue. It is a waterfront world of docks, quays, and historic structures that gives the show its signature look and feel. Expect a setting that is visually dramatic, walkable, and full of those Venice-only views where masts, modern hulls, and ancient brickwork share the same frame.

A quick history and why the Venice Boat Show stands out

Salone Nautico Venezia is designed to feel immersive, not just informative. The official site describes it as one of the main international exhibitions in the sector and highlights scale figures such as 270 exhibitors, 300 boats, and a 55,000 sqm water basin, pointing to a major show footprint rather than a niche gathering.

It also highlights a program beyond static displays, mentioning five days of presentations and thematic congresses, water trials, and sporting regattas, which signals that visitors can expect a mix of learning, hands-on experiences, and on-water action. Even if you arrive as a curious traveler rather than a buyer, this variety makes the event easy to enjoy for a full day.

What you’ll see at Salone Nautico Venezia 2026: boats, innovation, and water experiences

The Venice Boat Show is the kind of event where you can switch between design admiration and practical boating questions in the same afternoon. According to the official site, the show features a blend of motor and sailing segments, plus catamarans and new concepts in onboard livability. It also notes that 15 world premieres are scheduled to be on display along the Arsenale quays, adding excitement for visitors who love spotting what’s new before the rest of the market sees it.

Highlights to build your day around

• New boats and world premieres, especially if you enjoy comparing hull styles, deck layouts, and design ideas.
• Thematic congresses and presentations, a good fit if you care about propulsion trends, materials, or sustainable boating.
• Water trials, which bring the show to life by moving from “look” to “experience.”
• Sporting regattas, adding a sense of motion and competition inside a city already famous for waterborne tradition.

Venice, the lagoon, and local flavor: turning a boat show into a full travel experience

Calling Venice an island destination is not a stretch. The historic center functions like a compact archipelago of neighborhoods separated by canals, and the lagoon is dotted with islands that make perfect day trips. Visiting the Venice Boat Show can be the anchor for a week that feels both urban and coastal.

Pair the show with classic Venice landmarks

Before or after your Arsenale visit, you can explore nearby lagoon-side areas and iconic viewpoints. Because the boat show sits in a maritime setting, it naturally connects with Venice’s identity as a city shaped by shipbuilders, sailors, and naval power, making sightseeing feel more meaningful.

Add island time in the Venetian lagoon

If you want a quieter counterbalance to show crowds, schedule one lagoon-island afternoon. Many travelers pair Venice visits with lagoon exploration, and it complements the boat show beautifully because you shift from “boats on display” to “boats as daily life.”

Practical travel tips for Salone Nautico Venezia 2026

Best time to visit during the five days

If you prefer less crowding, aim for a weekday visit early in the show run. If you enjoy peak energy and the widest mix of visitors, the weekend dates tend to feel livelier.

What to wear and bring

• Comfortable walking shoes, because even a waterfront venue involves a lot of walking on stone paths and quays.
• A light layer, since lagoon breezes can shift quickly in late May.
• A phone power bank, because the Arsenale setting is extremely photo-friendly.

Plan your Venice logistics smartly

Venice rewards early starts. Arrive near opening, enjoy the boats with space to breathe, then take a long lunch away from the busiest routes before returning for late-afternoon talks or on-water activities.

Ticket pricing and entry costs: what’s verified right now

The official sources retrieved here confirm the dates and identify the Arsenale as the venue, but they do not provide a verified 2026 ticket price or 2026 pricing tiers in the visible text. Because ticket costs can change year to year and may include online discounts, concessions, or timed entry, it’s best to check the official Salone Nautico Venezia ticketing page once 2026 sales go live, then book as soon as your travel dates are fixed.

Verified Information at a glance

Item: Confirmed details

• Event name: Salone Nautico Venezia 2026 (Venice Boat Show)
• Event category: International boat show and maritime exhibition, with presentations, congresses, water trials, and sporting regattas.
• Confirmed dates: May 27–31, 2026
• Confirmed venue: Arsenale (Arsenale di Venezia), Venice, Italy
• Official promoters/organizers: Promoted by the Municipality of Venice; organized by Vela Spa in collaboration with the Italian Navy.
• Verified scale indicators (from official site): “270 exhibitors,” “300 boats,” water basin of “55,000 sqm,” plus “15 world premieres” scheduled.
• Pricing: 2026 ticket prices not confirmed in the retrieved official text; verify on official ticket channels closer to the event.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect reason to visit Venice when the city feels sunlit and alive, set your sights on May 27 to 31, 2026, step into the Arsenale’s waterfront corridors, and let Salone Nautico Venezia guide you through the future of boating in a place where the sea has always been part of the city’s soul.