Annapolis Powerboat Show Returns to City Dock This Thursday
Date: October 6, 2026For immediate release | October 6, 2026 | Annapolis, MD – The countdown is over. The Annapolis Powerboat Show opens Thursday, October 8, bringing thousands of boating enthusiasts, industry professionals, and curious visitors to downtown Annapolis for four days of boats, gear, education, and waterfront fun.
Running through Sunday, October 11, the show transforms City Dock and Annapolis Harbor into one of the country’s largest in-water showcases of powerboats, with more than 400 boats expected along the docks and hundreds of exhibitors throughout the show grounds.
“This is the moment when Annapolis becomes a boating town in the truest sense,” said Sheila Jones, Annapolis Boat Shows General Manager. “The docks are full, the boats are ready, and there is something happening everywhere you turn. Come shop for your next boat, get out on the water, learn something new, or simply enjoy a great fall weekend in Annapolis!”
Among the boats drawing attention this year is the world premiere of the Askari 65, a 65-foot long-range cruiser making its first public appearance at the Annapolis Powerboat Show. Built by Askari Yachts in Cape Town, South Africa, and designed by Du Toit Yacht Design, the aluminum vessel is designed for extended offshore cruising and brings a distinctive new option to the show’s lineup of center consoles, cruisers, fishing boats, trawlers, and motor yachts.
On the evening of the show’s opening Preview Day (Thursday, October 8), there will be a celebration as the Annapolis Powerboat Show Block Party takes over Market Space. The free event gives showgoers and the Annapolis community an opportunity to keep the opening-day excitement going with live music, food, drinks, and a festival atmosphere in the heart of downtown Annapolis.
Throughout the four-day event, visitors can step aboard new and premiering boats, meet manufacturers and dealers, explore the newest marine electronics and boating gear, and find everything from apparel and accessories to services designed to make time on the water more enjoyable. The show also offers opportunities to experience boating firsthand, with on-water demonstrations and sea trials giving attendees a chance to get out on the water and see what today’s boats can do.
Education remains a major part of the show, with free seminars covering boating skills, safety, technology, fishing, cruising, and other topics throughout the weekend. Hands-on activities and family-friendly programming also give younger visitors a chance to engage with the boating lifestyle and learn more about the Chesapeake Bay.
With City Dock continuing to evolve as part of the City’s resiliency project, visitors will also experience changes to the show footprint this year, including new exhibit and gathering areas. The result is a show that offers plenty to see both on the docks and throughout downtown Annapolis.
The show runs Thursday, October 8 from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Friday, October 9 from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and Sunday, October 11 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets are $32 (military $22 on Sunday, October 11), tickets for children 7-15 years of age are $10, and kids 6 and under are admitted free. For more information and tickets, visit annapolispowerboatshow.com.
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Annapolis Boat Shows
Founded in 1970, Annapolis Boat Shows is the producer of the world’s first and largest in-water sailboat show and a leader in premier marine events. The company hosts four annual shows on the Chesapeake Bay — including the Annapolis Sailboat Show, Annapolis Powerboat Show, Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point, and Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show — that draw tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from around the world. Guided by its mission to foster a thriving boating community, Annapolis Boat Shows promotes accessibility, education, community, and sustainability while setting the standard for marine events worldwide.
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Media Contact
Ryan Gullang
ryan@annapolisboatshows.com
(410) 268 8828