The yachts make the headlines. The larger story, as the 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opens Wednesday, is how thousands of visitors and exhibitors turn a five-day event into business across Broward County and beyond.
The oft-cited $1.78 billion figure is an estimate of economic impact across Florida, not a count of ticket sales, yacht purchases or money deposited in Fort Lauderdale during show week. The figure is commonly associated with the 2024 economic-impact study; FLIBS also reported the same rounded amount in its recap of the 2025 show. Those estimates put the event’s reach in perspective, but they are not a forecast of what this week’s show will generate.
The 2026 show runs Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1, across six locations. Here is what the economic scale means on the ground, and what visitors need to know before they go.
What the $1.78 billion figure measures
The 2024 study, commissioned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, estimated about $1.78 billion in statewide economic impact associated with FLIBS. It also reported $823.5 million in participant sales and $84.1 million in state and local taxes. Those are distinct measures within a broader economic assessment, not amounts to add together.
In practical terms, the headline figure captures economic activity linked to the event across Florida. Some spending happens in Fort Lauderdale; other effects flow through businesses and suppliers elsewhere in the state. It should not be read as $1.78 billion in direct local revenue, or as a guaranteed result for 2026. The 2024 impact study and FLIBS’ recap of its 2025 show provide the basis for the commonly cited estimate.
FLIBS imagery from the show’s official website.
The money moves well beyond the docks
Visitors are a major part of that local footprint. Axios Fort Lauderdale, citing Visit Lauderdale, reports that nearly half of the show’s 100,000-plus attendees travel from outside Florida and spend an average of about $310 per day. That spending can support hotels, restaurants and other local businesses during a week when visitors are moving between show sites and surrounding neighborhoods.
The convention center is a major hub. The Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, which Broward County says is connected to the expanded Broward County Convention Center, adds an on-site lodging option for show visitors and exhibitors. Businesses across the area, from restaurants to transport providers, also serve people who are not spending their entire visit at a marina.
The show is spread across six venues: Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Las Olas Marina and Superyacht Village. With events and exhibits across multiple sites, visitors may need to plan for travel between locations, rather than treat the show as a single walk-through venue. The official 2026 maps include site maps and parking and transportation information.
Superyacht Village, one of the six FLIBS locations. Image from the show’s official website.
The boats still matter to the business story
FLIBS is marketed as the world’s largest in-water boat show. Organizers say more than 1,300 boats will be on display this year, with over 50 world and U.S. debuts. The range includes models from Viking, Valhalla, Prestige and Absolute, as well as the Pearl 100 Hybrid, listed among this year’s debuts by FLIBS.
The superyacht lineup is another draw. Boat International’s 2026 preview highlights Oceanco’s 305-foot Draak, the 223-foot Feadship Lady Christine and the 209-foot Hakvoort explorer Scout. They are high-profile examples of the vessels on view, but the show’s commercial reach extends across exhibitors and marine-industry businesses, not only the largest yachts.
Yachts at a FLIBS marina. Image from the show’s official website.
The venue itself is part of the local business landscape. Pier Sixty-Six is among the show locations, and the area is also undergoing longer-term waterfront development. South Florida Digest’s coverage of a proposed Pier Sixty-Six expansion provides additional context on plans for the site.
A few practical details for show week
The first FLIBS Preview Day opens Wednesday at noon. The official schedule lists the show open until 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. A floating pickleball court is also planned for Las Olas Marina, according to the show’s listings and Boat International’s preview.
Tickets are sold online through flibs.com; organizers say there is no onsite box office. Visitors should check the official site for current ticket information and use the 2026 maps to plan which locations to visit.
For Fort Lauderdale, the show is both a waterfront spectacle and a concentrated week of visitor activity. The $1.78 billion estimate is statewide and based on earlier impact reporting, not a prediction for this year. But the underlying pattern is visible every October: visitors move through the city, venues fill, and spending reaches businesses far beyond the boats tied up at the docks.
