Yachts to see: Step aboard the superships of tomorrow at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

It’s anchors aweigh at the 67th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the most over-the-top and off-the-deck show yet.“Boats just keep getting bigger,” said Megan Lagasse, marina director at the show’s Superyacht Village and at Pier Sixty-Six.“That’s been the one constant in this business.”Running through Nov.

1, the world’s largest in-water boat show generates an astounding $1.79 billion in economic impact annually and supports some 100,000 jobs across South Florida.It’s also a heck of a spectacle for all who attend (single-day adult tickets start at $48; children under six attend free with a ticketed adult).

And you definitely don’t need to be shopping for a yacht to have a great day at FLIBS.“Walking the docks and stepping aboard some of the world’s most remarkable vessels is an experience in itself, and that’s the heart of the show for a lot of our visitors,” said Andrew Doole, president of Informa US Boat Shows, which produces the show.There is fun to be had at the floating pickleball court at Las Olas Marina and at the Broward County Convention Center, home to the FLIBS Kids Corner and Don Dingman’s kids fishing clinics.Those who bought into the Windward VIP Experience — an upgraded pass packed with perks — will get chow by Chef Ryan O’Sullivan of “Hell’s Kitchen” and Chef Dave White of “Below Deck” and “Chopped.”Getting around is part of the fun, too.Doole suggests hopping on the water taxi or taking a free shuttle connecting you to all six show locations.This year, the boat everyone is buzzing about is Oceanco’s Draak, clocking in at a wow-worthy 305 feet, making it the largest vessel at this year’s show.Launched in 2014 as a superyacht, “It’s been rebuilt from the inside out to support scientific research and deep-sea exploration as a companion to the yacht Leviathan,” said Doole.Instead of a floating penthouse, today’s billionaire yacht owner wants “a platform for diving, ...