What to Expect at the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show
Date: July 24, 2026New layout, new boats, same great show.
The summer sailing season is in full swing, but the countdown is on. The 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show returns to City Dock October 15-18, bringing more than 150 vessels, over 500 all-sail exhibitors, and a reimagined layout to the heart of America’s sailing capital. Here’s what the docks will be buzzing about this fall.
A New Look for City Dock
It’s the same great show with a fresh footprint. As downtown Annapolis moves forward with the City Dock revitalization project, tents have been moved, expanded, and reoriented, and four new bars have been added throughout the show. Attendees will get a first look at the future of the city’s waterfront, drink in hand.
Premiering Boats
Annapolis has long been where manufacturers choose to debut their latest models, and 2026 is no exception. This year’s lineup includes the world premiere of the Knysna 550 and North American debuts from the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 and Vaan R4. With the largest exhibition of sailboats in North America, attendees can climb aboard everything from daysailers to bluewater cruisers, then talk specs with the people who build and sell them.
Learn the Ropes
Education is at the core of the show. The First Sail Workshop, presented by the American Sailing Association, pairs a 45-minute classroom overview with 90 minutes of hands-on instruction aboard a Beneteau First 22. Free seminars in the Yacht Basin cover topics for landlubbers and old salts alike, all included with admission. And for those ready to go deeper, Cruisers University returns October 12-16 at the Historic Inns of Annapolis with more than 80 classes taught by leading instructors.
Faces You Follow, Gear You Need
Cruisers Creating Content is back, giving attendees the chance to meet the sailing personalities they follow online at the CCC booth in the Yacht Basin. New exhibitors this year include the Endurance Weather Center from Weems and Plath and Backstay Offshore logbooks.
Fun for the Whole Crew
Young sailors can hunt for Dockside Ducks hidden around the show (find one, turn it in, win a prize, keep the duck) or pick up an EWE Spirit scavenger hunt card at the SpinSheet booth. Alumni can raise a glass at the College Sailing Reunion happy hour, sponsored by Sailing World, on Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m., where the school that sells the most tickets earns a $1,000 donation to its sailing team. And when exploring works up a thirst, the No Wake Zone in the Yacht Basin will be pouring Pherm Brewing’s Boat Show Brew alongside other regional beers, with a bar by Latitude 38 and mixers from Gray Wolf and Cane Mixers.
Tickets are available now at annapolisboatshows.com.