Southampton Boat Show 2026 announces stage programme

Southampton International Boat Show 2026 has announced a programme of more than 110 talks, panel discussions, demonstrations and workshops across its Boating Stage and expanded Wooden Boat Stage.

The annual show returns this year to Mayflower Park from 18 to 27 September.

Jasmine Hill, event director of Southampton International Boat Show, says: “We’ve designed the programme to give experienced boaters genuine depth, help newcomers find their route onto the water and allow every visitor to get closer to the people, ideas and craftsmanship shaping the marine sector.

“The two stages offer a genuine celebration of a vibrant and evolving industry, reflecting the strength of its community and the confidence shaping its future.”

Stage programme highlights at SIBS 2026

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will discuss his sailing career, including becoming the first person to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation and establishing the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Tom Cunliffe will present The View from the Backstay – Confessions of a Yachtmaster Examiner on 25 and 26 September. His sessions will cover experiences from his seafaring career and his route to becoming a Yachtmaster Examiner, including stories from before electronic navigation became commonplace.

Geoff Holt MBE will present Accessible Oceans, looking at inclusive design, customer experiences and practical innovation aimed at making boating more accessible. Mike Golding OBE will join the Royal Yachting Association for a careers panel before the RYA Yachtmaster of the Year Awards, with the session examining the opportunities created by marine qualifications.

Further speakers on the Boating Stage include Monty Halls on 21 September, Jazz Turner on 24 September and Vendée Globe skipper Pip Hare on 26 September.

The RNLI engineering team will discuss technology and innovation in lifesaving. Marine biologist Dr Daniel Moore will examine the effects of human activity on deep-sea shark populations and how the boating community can contribute to scientific research.

Powerboat racing will also feature on the programme. Joe Sturdy and Ben King will discuss Team Brady and the E1 electric raceboat series, while Miles Jennings will look back at the history of the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes Marathon Race during his 50th consecutive year in powerboat racing.

World powerboat champion Shelley Jory-Leigh will host a Q&A with Andark Diving & Watersports founder Andy Goddard and managing director Miriam Goddard to mark the company’s 50th anniversary. The discussion will cover the family-run business’s development over five decades, along with the challenges and successes that have shaped it and its plans for the future.

The Boating Stage will also host the Young Journalist of the Year Award, Superyacht UK Young Designer Competition Awards and The Yacht Harbour Association’s Marina of the Year Awards.

Craftsmanship brought to life on the Wooden Boat Stage

The expanded Wooden Boat Stage will again be led by the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, the Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association and Women in Boat Building. Its programme includes demonstrations, workshops, interviews and panel discussions focused on wooden boatbuilding.

Demonstrations will cover steam-bending, wooden sign carving, paddle-making and ropework. Other sessions will focus on traditional deck laying, sailmaking, figurehead sculpture, marquetry, epoxy application, hand-tool techniques and half-model yacht making.

Spirit Yachts representatives Adrian Gooderman, Brenden George and Tom Smith will discuss modern wooden yacht construction and the development of the Spirit P50. Boatbuilder Stephen Dennett will examine how traditional yards can operate in a modern market, while Bob Sykes of Sykes Timber will discuss timber sourcing and material management.

Wooden Boat Festival director Barb Trailer will provide an update ahead of the event’s 50th festival in 2027. Simon Crawford of Marineware will lead a maintenance discussion, while National Historic Ships UK director Hannah Cunliffe will chair a session on alternative ownership models for historic vessels.

Boat Building Academy director Will Reed will demonstrate how to make a wooden trug using traditional hand tools in one hour. Tutor Mike Broome will present half-model yacht making, while tutors, students and young boatyard workers will discuss training, apprenticeships and careers in the sector.

New for 2026, the Wooden Boat Stage Afloat will allow visitors to board a collection of historic and classic vessels in the marina. The boats include the restored J Class tender Gelyce, Hannah Stowe’s 1907 gaff cutter Larry and Dunkirk veteran Guide of Dunkirk.

The Shipyard will also host the Maclean Brothers on 24 September for a talk and book signing about their 139-day row across the Pacific Ocean.