Sixty Six Years of Yachting Elegance
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ort Lauderdale’s waterways once again host one of the world’s most glamorous nautical gatherings. From October 29 to November 2, 2025, the 66th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) unites yachting enthusiasts, industry leaders, and luxury-lifestyle devotees from across the globe. This year’s edition carries extra significance: the newly redeveloped Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina makes its grand return just in time to mark FLIBS’ 66th anniversary.
A Heritage of Luxury on the Water
Now in its 66th year, FLIBS has evolved from a small 1959 boat exhibition into a city-wide celebration spanning seven show locations across Fort Lauderdale. From the Bahia Mar Yachting Center to the brand-new Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six, the show attracts more than 100,000 visitors and over 1,300 vessels. It remains, in the words of U.S. Boat Shows president Andrew Doole, “an unforgettable experience for everyone, from lifelong yachting enthusiasts to families discovering the marine lifestyle for the first time.”
The timing of Pier Sixty-Six’s reopening is serendipitous. Once a mid-century icon known for its rotating rooftop lounge, the marina has undergone a complete transformation and now anchors the event’s footprint. The Pier Sixty-Six Marina is entirely occupied by exhibits and yachts, while Pier South continues as home to Superyacht Village. The revival of this storied landmark, coinciding with FLIBS’ own milestone year, beautifully mirrors the city’s ongoing renewal as a global yachting and business hub.
Superyachts and Innovation
FLIBS 2025 dazzles with an armada of floating palaces. Leading the fleet is Casino Royale, a 242-foot custom superyacht by Tim Heywood and Winch Design featuring a spa, gym, cinema, and 5,000-nautical-mile range. Nearby, Hemisphere, the world’s largest sailing catamaran at 145 feet, pairs adventure with elegance, while the duo of Gene Machine and Gene Chaser demonstrates the fusion of luxury cruising and scientific exploration.
Innovation defines this year’s lineup. The Bluegame BGM75 introduces sustainable catamaran design, the 130’ Cheoy Lee Explorer readies for global expeditions, and the Italian AB 110 promises over 40 knots of adrenaline. Heritage remains equally celebrated through masterpieces like Heesen’s Ela (164′) and Feadship’s Hampshire (217′). Across all seven sites, FLIBS presents the entire boating spectrum, from sportfishers and tenders to the largest yachts on earth. Creating a marketplace that bridges craftsmanship and aspiration.
Beyond the docks, the atmosphere blends trade fair and fête. Seminars at Superyacht Village explore design, chartering, and sustainability, while waterfront lounges like the Goslings Island Bar and Stella Artois barge keep spirits high. Strolling the piers with a cocktail in hand beneath South Florida’s sun, guests sense why FLIBS is more than an exhibition. It’s a lifestyle ritual.
The Windward VIP Experience
For connoisseurs seeking refinement, the reimagined Windward VIP Experience epitomizes exclusivity. Priced at $439 per day, it includes complimentary parking at Superyacht Village, one-hour early entry, and seamless water transfers between show sites. Inside the Windward VIP Lounge at Hall of Fame Marina, presented with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, guests enjoy gourmet cuisine, a premium open bar, and luxury brand activations. It’s a serene enclave where yacht owners, designers, and collectors mingle over Champagne and bespoke jewelry showcases.
New for 2025, the Windward VIP Cabana Club offers shaded waterfront lounges and uninterrupted marina views, serving artisanal bites amid ocean breezes. Evenings bring live music and curated tastings by celebrity chefs including Hell’s Kitchen winner Ryan Martin and Chopped champion Dave White. Together, the VIP venues transform FLIBS into a culinary and social salon, where the conversation flows as freely as the rosé.
Economic and Cultural Powerhouse
FLIBS is more than spectacle. It’s an economic engine. According to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the event generates over $1.78 billion annually and sustains 100,000 regional jobs. Contracts inked along the docks ripple across shipyards from Europe to Asia, while Fort Lauderdale’s restaurants, hotels, and boutiques hum with international visitors. More than 1,000 exhibitors from 30 countries participate, cementing FLIBS as the global nexus of the marine world.
Legacy and Future
As twilight settles over the Intracoastal Waterway and the silhouettes of yachts shimmer in gold, FLIBS 2025 stands as both tribute and transformation. It celebrates 66 years of nautical grandeur while unveiling the reborn Pier Sixty-Six. A symbol of Fort Lauderdale’s enduring bond with the sea.
In the convergence of commerce, craftsmanship, and culture, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show remains a beacon of aspiration. It’s where tradition meets innovation, where billionaires and boatbuilders share the same horizon, and where luxury, in all its forms, continues to set sail.
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