Napoli Boat Show: in March 2026 boats take to the water in the Gulf of Naples

In the Italian boating calendar for 2026, a new date is already marked in red: 18–22 March. These are the days chosen for the first edition of the Napoli Boat Show, an event conceived with a clearly different approach compared to traditional boat shows. The core of the exhibition is not the quay, but the sea itself. And the venue – Marina di Stabia – becomes an integral part of the format.

Explaining the vision behind the project is Enrico De Gregorio, Commercial Director and driving force of the initiative, who sees NBS as a show capable of combining boating, territory and real navigation experience.

PressMare – Why create a new boat show in an area already rich in established events?

Enrico De Gregorio – The idea comes from the desire to build something different. Not just a meeting place between supply and demand, but a context in which all experiences related to the sea and boating can be lived. Boaters do not use their boats in the same way: some go out for the day and return in the evening, while others use their boats for longer cruises. In our opinion, this approach was missing in Naples.

We want to create what we call a “boating living room”, where boats are accompanied by everything that represents life at sea: a style, a culture, a way of interpreting time and space for those who sail.

PM – Why did you choose Castellammare di Stabia?

EDG – Because Marina di Stabia is the only marina in the area that is truly sheltered and fully serviced. It is one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean and can accommodate superyachts. It is a location away from congestion, easily reachable from Naples airport and the railway station in just over half an hour. It also has a helipad, which makes it possible to organise very efficient short visits.

PM – What role will this first edition play in the NBS development path?

EDG – For us it is an edition zero. It serves to introduce ourselves and to give a preview of what future editions may become. This does not mean it will be a minor edition: we are aiming for a high number and high quality of boats, but above all for a selected audience. In addition to organic attendance, we will directly invite visitors who are genuinely interested.

We know we are entering a very crowded calendar, but it was important to establish a first milestone already this year, in order to grow and structure ourselves more solidly starting from the next edition.

PM – The experiential aspect is central to the project. How will it take shape?

EDG – First of all through sea trials. Bookings will be managed by the exhibitors, who will be able to organise outings in a rational way. We provide convenient berths, easy manoeuvring conditions, and a marina with a high-level technical assistance service.

But the experience already starts at the entrance: dedicated reception, organised parking for visitors and exhibitors, and then a touch of charm. On Friday evening, for example, from 6:30 pm onwards, there will be the Sunset NBS, with live music, an informal moment to share the day and create relationships.

Alongside the convivial aspects, we are planning initiatives dedicated to start-ups in the sector, meetings with key boating industry players and representatives from the sports world.

PM – How do you imagine the Napoli Boat Show in five years’ time?

EDG – We see it as a consolidated event, chosen on merit by exhibitors and visitors. For exhibitors, this means having successfully positioned ourselves within the international circuit, creating synergies and partnerships capable of opening the event to the Mediterranean basin, which is the natural geographical projection of Marina di Stabia.

Over time, we will also identify specific initiatives to support exhibitors, helping them in a market that is rapidly changing its logic and needs.

For visitors, we envisage a show appreciated for the quality of the boats, the atmosphere and the social moments integrated into the event. We are in a tourist area that is unique in the world: Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and Ischia are just a few minutes away. Top-level chefs, music, folklore and flavours will complete the experience. The goal is to make the Napoli Boat Show not just a boat show, but a true event.

What to know about the Napoli Boat Show

The Napoli Boat Show will take place from 18 to 22 March 2026 at Marina di Stabia, with a “ready-to-sea” approach: every boat on display is ready to sail. Sea trials become a structural part of the format, with dedicated slots and logistics designed for quick tests, comparisons and dynamic demonstrations.

The Gulf of Naples is not merely a backdrop, but an operational infrastructure: Capri and Ischia as natural reference points, the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento as a scenic frame, Mount Vesuvius in the background. A setting that directly influences the quality of the relationship between shipyards, dealers and owners.

Among the first brands to confirm their presence are Riva, Cranchi, Saxdor and G-tender, reflecting a positioning that looks both to the premium segment and to the more performance-oriented one.

Marina di Stabia offers: 900 berths – Moorings for superyachts up to 100 metres – A dry dock with a 200-ton travel lift – A private helipad

These facilities allow smooth management of all types of vessels: motor yachts, sailing yachts, RIBs, catamarans and superyachts, as well as accessories and services.

Activities will also extend to the Yacht Club of Marina di Stabia, with: An Innovation Dock dedicated to sustainability and innovation – Networking meetings for operators and stakeholders – Evening events, gala dinners and sunset after-shows

The Napoli Boat Show is therefore conceived as a project that focuses not on quantity, but on the quality of the experience. A deliberately experimental first edition, yet already structured to become, in the medium term, a reference point in the national and Mediterranean panorama. If the sea is truly the element that distinguishes boating from any other sector, NBS chooses to bring it back to the centre. Not as a background, but as the main protagonist.

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