Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 2022 - The Ultimate Guide

By Nina Done 21 October 2022

From all the must-see superyachts to navigating the largest in-water boat show in the world, get the complete insider’s guide to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2022.

Dubbed the ‘yachting capital of the world’, the Floridian city of Fort Lauderdale will host the 5-day event from 26 - 30 October across seven show locations, with 2022 expected to be a bumper year, attracting a huge number of visitors, including prospective buyers, industry players and yachting enthusiasts.

FLIBS 2022 is preparing to welcome more than 1,300 boats, ranging from sportfishers, day boats, tenders and inflatables, to a spectacular showcase of gleaming superyachts, as well as hosting a wide range of standout exhibitions, educational seminars and exciting events, all taking place across the show.

How do I get around at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show?

FLIBS 2022 will open its doors on Wednesday 26 October at 12pm. The official opening hours are;

Wednesday 12pm - 7pm
Thursday to Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

A water taxi service is the best way to navigate each of the show locations and see everything that’s on display.

The service runs from 10am to 8pm on Wednesday and from 10am to 10pm Thursday till Sunday and costs $15 for an all-day ticket, or $65 for a 5-day pass. There is a pick-up and drop-off point at each location around the show.

Where are the show locations at FLIBS 2022?

A mere champagne cork’s pop away from South Florida’s sun-drenched beaches, the 63rd edition of FLIBS will take place across the following 7 show locations;

Broward County Convention Center (1950 Eisenhower Blvd)
Bahia Mar Yachting Centre (801 Seabreeze Blvd)
Pier 66 Marina (2301 SE 17th St)
Las Olas Marina (240 E. Las Olas Circle)
SuperYacht Village at Pier 66 South (2150 SE 17th St)
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina (1881 SE 17th St)
Hall of Fame Marina (435 Seabreeze Blvd)

As ever, the event will operate shuttle and water taxi services to and from all seven show locations.

What is the official FLIBS 2022 superyacht lineup?

Without doubt, the shining stars of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show fleet are the superyachts, with the majority to be found in the Superyacht Village.

Promising another stellar line-up, over 150 yachts have so far confirmed their attendance at this year’s show, including a number of charter yachts and exciting new debuts from some of the biggest names in the industry to tease show-goers.

Among the yachts that will be on display is the ever-popular 172ft (52m) Palmer Johnson charter yacht DB9 who will be showing off her sharp, golden-hued profile and resplendent foredeck swimming pool. She will be berthed near the sleek 208ft (64m) Benetti yacht MOCA, a family-friendly platform that has proved popular choice since her debut onto the charter market in 2021.

There will also be a number of standout debuts at the show, including the 164ft (50m) Heesen superyacht Ocean Z, who will undoubtedly wow onlookers with her striking masculine exteriors inspired by classic automotive design elements, along with a slew of state-of-the-art amenities.

Another stellar yacht set to debut at FLIBS 2022 is Overmarine's award-winning Mangusta Ocean 50 yacht MAVERICK, which hit the water this summer.

Overmarine's Mangusta Ocean 50 yacht MAVERICK

With rakish good looks – inspired by “the ultra-modern architectural style of a Miami villa” – and impressive 68 sq meter beach club, this 164ft (50m) motor yacht is guaranteed to set heart’s a flutter at the show.

Also marking her debut at this year's show is the brand-new 122ft (37m) yacht ROKET ONE from the Emirati yard Gulf Craft, who arrives fresh from a star turn at the Monaco Yacht Show in September where she wowed show-goers with her beautiful Cristiano Gatto-designed interiors and innovate layout.

Jacuzzi on board charter yacht ROCKET ONE

Up-coming highlights at FLIBS 2022

Featuring an impressive display of debut yachts, interactive presentations, exhilarating water toy demos and an exclusively curated VIP experience, not to mention a raft of mouthwatering culinary options, FLIBS 2022 looks set to be another memorable show. We’ve listed some of the highlights not to be missed at this year’s event;

Superyacht Village

Home to the show’s most luxurious superyachts, this exclusive marina presents show-goers with the opportunity to step aboard the yachts and meet with world-renowned yacht builders and designers ready to show-off their latest projects and interactive exhibits.

You’ll also find a range of accessories on display, including helicopters, personal submarines, prestige cars and water gadgets.

This area also plays host to the SYV restaurant and bar that overlooks the marina, where you can grab a bite to eat or indulge in a glass of champagne as you enjoy the stunning views over the waterways.

Superyacht Village is located at Pier Sixty-Six Marina South – adjacent to the southeast corner of the 17th Street Causeway bridge.

AquaZone

Promising to be “bigger and better than ever before”, the AquaZone, located at the Broward County Convention Center and covering an area of over 44,000 square feet, features a wide array of water sports toys, tenders and other innovative marine products and nautical gadgets on display.

The AquaZone also has live demonstrations taking place in the 40,000-gallon pool, where show-goers can try out the various toys being showcased to gain upfront and personal experience of these products. A team of dedicated professionals and athletes will also be on-hand to explain how they work.

Windward VIP

Champagne in bucket at Superyacht Village area at FLIBS

Offering an exclusive VIP experience, premium ticket holders will have access to a range of extras, including early entrance to the show, array of VIP entertainment and exclusive concierge services for private viewings and appointments.

In addition, VIP show-goers will have access to the Windward VIP Club, located in the heart of the show in the Captain’s Lounge at Bahia Mar, offering a premium bar, gourmet dining and glorious views across the marina; the perfect haven for those that want to enjoy the finer things in life whilst at the show.

Fort Lauderdale Concors

The 2nd annual Fort Lauderdale Concors offers a cosmopolitan curation of classic and iconic cars, collector sneakers, fine art, fashion and live music all rolled into one hedonistic evening, served up with an array of indulgent cocktails and canapes to be enjoyed as the sun sets in a blaze over this unique confluence of art.

This event will be taking place on Friday 28 October at 5pm in the Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six.

Culinary Experience

Headed up by experienced Executive Chef Vagn Nielsen, visitors to FLIBS 2022 can experience a veritable trove of culinary delights on offer, with everything you can imagine to tempt your tastebuds; from fresh stone crab claws and oysters to hand-crafted burgers and authentic street tacos, and everything in between.

Other popular FLIBS dining hangouts include Coconuts at 429 Seabreeze Boulevard; a perennial favorite among regular attendees of the show, who come to enjoy the prime social and networking scene, just as much as the superb seafood dishes on offer.

A bucket of crab claws on ice at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

Another regular hot spot for lunch is the Anglers’ Lounge in the Broward County Convention Center, specializing in Key West-style tapas against a backdrop of beautiful panoramas.

If it’s refreshments you're after, the show also has you covered, with a raft of up-scale beverage experiences planned, incorporating specialty cocktails, fine wines and a dizzying array of craft beers. Head to Gosling’s world-famous floating cocktail barge, or visit the various satellite bars available across the show.

There are also a number of educational seminars and interactive presentations from industry professionals taking place across the 5-day event, from talks on tuna fishing and wreck diving, World Oceans' Day tips on clean boating and wildlife conservation to US Sailing talks about the Olympic trials in Ft. Lauderdale and the US Sailing Teams' path to the Olympics, and much more.

Need more information?

If you want to make the most out of your experience at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, consider attending with a yacht charter broker; they will be able to guide you and help make your show experience as smooth and seamless as possible.

You can view the complete lineup of luxury yachts at FLIBS 2022.