MIBS 2026

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As is often the case in Miami, the show layout has changed once again. This year, sailing multihulls were grouped together at Sailors’ Cove, at the IGY Marina on McArthur Causeway. This is now where you’ll find the main players in the sailing industry… even if they were fewer in number than in previous years. In just 30 minutes, my dock walk was complete.

Those who did attend, however, came in force. Fountaine Pajot took the front line with four boats on display — including the new FP44 — along with two Dufour models, the only sailing monohulls at the show. Leopard Catamarans, Bali (with three models), and Excess (the 11 and the 13) completed the line-up among the major brands. Other notable appearances included the world premiere of the Aquila 50 Sail, the striking Balance 502 delivered straight from South Africa, as well as HeySea, Catana, HH, Outremer, and Vision Yachts. On the charter side, the usual key players were present: The Moorings, Sunsail, Dream Yacht Charter, Navigare, and WayPoint Charters.

After a particularly smooth and efficient shuttle transfer — worth mentioning, as that hasn’t always been the case in Miami — I headed to Collins Avenue to explore the power multihulls. Unfortunately, they are neither numerous nor grouped together in this section of the show, meaning a fair amount of walking is required. Still, the visit was worthwhile, with the new Aventura 38 MY, the TH33 now showcased on the Jeanneau stand, and a refreshed Leopard 53PC (videos coming soon). While the selection of powercats on Collins remains limited, major players such as Aquila, Sunreef, YOT, Prestige, Canados, Moon Yacht, and Wama were also on display.

Meanwhile, the Convention Center was buzzing on opening day, particularly in the center console segment. A few catamarans, including WorldCat and Caymas, showcased sleek and sporty lines. Equipment manufacturers were also well represented, although the presence of “green” technology players appears far less significant than at European boat shows.

I’m delighted to be in Miami to announce the Multihull of the Year nominees and discover several world premieres — but please, MIBS, give multihulls a little more space!

Gwen Dorning