Fort Lauderdale calls itself the “Yachting Capital of the World”, and for five days every fall, it proves it.
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (better known to regulars as FLIBS) returns October 28 to November 1, 2026, for its 67th run. It’s officially the largest in-water boat show in the world, packing the city’s waterfront with everything from multi-million-dollar superyachts and sleek center consoles to cutting-edge marine tech.
The show itself is incredible, but getting around the event takes some planning. FLIBS isn’t hosted in just one building, but rather across seven locations that draw a six-figure crowd and take over the city during one of South Florida’s busiest fall weekends.
This guide covers Fort Lauderdale boat show transportation from every angle: the 2026 dates and hours, the show locations, how the official shuttles work, and where a private chauffeur makes your days easier.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026 at a Glance
Event: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), 67th edition
Dates: Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1, 2026
Headquarters: Bahia Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
Transportation hub: Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard
| Day | Show Hours |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct. 28 (preview day) | 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Keep in mind that tickets are sold exclusively online. There’s no box office at the gates, so you’ll want to grab yours before you head out.
To put the sheer scale of the event into perspective, recent shows have drawn well over 100,000 visitors and featured 1,000+ exhibitors displaying more than 1,300 boats on the water!
The FLIBS Show Locations
FLIBS covers roughly 90 acres and three million square feet of exhibit space, connected by six miles of floating docks. Here is what you’ll find at the main locations:
| Location | What’s There |
|---|---|
| Bahia Mar Yachting Center | Everything from center consoles to superyachts, plus accessories and electronics |
| Broward County Convention Center | Vessels up to 50 feet, fishing boats, accessories, electronics, and retail |
| Superyacht Village | The largest yachts at the show |
| Pier Sixty-Six North | Brokerage vessels of 100 feet and up |
| Las Olas Marina | Brokerage yachts from 60 to 200 feet |
| Hall of Fame Marina | Brokerage and new-build yachts, plus the Windward VIP Club |
One ticket covers the show locations, and the official show maps on the FLIBS website are the best way to plan your route each day.
Plan Your FLIBS Days by What You Want to See
Since the show is massive, the easiest way to plan your rides is to start with what you want to check off your list. Each spot has its own vibe, so where you get dropped off each morning depends entirely on what you want to see.
- Shopping for a Superyacht or Large Brokerage Yacht
Start your day at Superyacht Village and Pier Sixty-Six North. That’s where the show’s largest vessels and brokerage yachts of 100 feet and up are docked. Las Olas Marina is another great spot featuring brokerage yachts from 60 to 200 feet.
- Looking at Fishing Boats, Runabouts, and Gear
The Convention Center is your base. It’s your one-stop shop for fishing boats, runabouts, cruisers, jet skis, marine accessories, fishing equipment, and dive gear all under one roof.
- Seeing a Bit of Everything
Make Bahia Mar your main hub. As the show’s headquarters, it offers the biggest variety, packed with everything from center consoles to superyachts, along with plenty of electronics and accessories.
- Making a Day of It in VIP Style
The newly expanded Windward VIP Club at Hall of Fame Marina offers a premium open bar, gourmet food, luxury pop-ups, and private restrooms, making it a natural anchor point for a long day at the show.
Note: The FLIBS is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets. Be sure to check their official website closer to opening day for updated maps and transportation details.
Why Getting Around FLIBS Takes Planning
The Show Is Spread Out
With six miles of docks across multiple marinas, FLIBS is not a show you can simply walk end to end. Most people end up using a mix of walking, shuttles, and water taxis to move between locations.
Parking Fills Up
The official parking hub at the Convention Center offers more than 3,000 spaces at a flat $20 per day, plus dozens of city and private garages around Fort Lauderdale for overflow. While that sounds like plenty of room, a six-figure crowd arriving over five days, going in and out of those garages at peak times, takes patience.
The Calendar Adds Extra Traffic
In 2026, the show’s Saturday falls on Halloween, October 31, which brings extra evening crowds around Fort Lauderdale. Daylight saving time also ends early on Sunday, November 1, the show’s final day, so clocks fall back an hour that morning.
Let someone else handle the garages and the traffic while you focus on the yachts.
Official Shuttles and Water Taxis: How They Work
FLIBS runs a complimentary transportation network of shuttle buses and water taxis linking the show locations, with golf carts covering some routes as well. The Convention Center is the main hub, so many attendees park there and ride to everything else.
For a lot of visitors, that network works well once they are inside the show. The gaps are getting to the show in the first place, the lines at peak hours, and everything that happens outside show hours.
Where a Private Chauffeur Fits In
Door to Door, No Garage Required
Your chauffeur picks you up at your hotel, residence, or the airport and drops you at the show location you want to start with, whether that’s the Convention Center hub or the docks at Bahia Mar.
Your Own Schedule
Yacht viewings, broker meetings, and sea trials rarely line up with a shuttle timetable. With a private car, the day runs on your appointments, not on a loop schedule.
Hands Free on the Docks
Brochures, spec sheets, purchases, and bags stay in the vehicle, so you can climb aboard and walk the docks without carrying anything.
Evenings in Fort Lauderdale
Boat show week is famous for its dinners, client events, and after-hours parties. Your chauffeur takes you from the docks to dinner on Las Olas Boulevard or the beach and gets everyone home safely afterward.
Getting to FLIBS From FLL, Your Hotel, or Miami
FLIBS is one of the most airport-friendly events in South Florida. The Broward County Convention Center sits about 2 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, roughly a 10-minute drive.
That means visitors can go from the terminal to their hotel, or straight to the show, in minutes. Our airport transfer service covers pickups at FLL as well as Miami International.
Staying in Miami? The show is roughly 25 to 30 miles north of Downtown Miami, typically 35 to 50 minutes in normal traffic, and our FLL to Miami transfer guide covers drive times along that corridor.
For buyers and exhibitors staying all week, a daily round trip between Miami and Fort Lauderdale with a dedicated chauffeur removes the stress of I-95 traffic at rush hour.
Who Books Private Transportation for FLIBS
International Buyers
FLIBS draws visitors from around the world, many of whom are shopping for a yacht on a tight schedule. A chauffeur who knows the area keeps viewing days efficient, and our bilingual English and Spanish chauffeurs help international guests feel at home.
Brokers and Charter Teams Hosting Clients
When a client arrives to tour a yacht, the experience starts at pickup. A polished private ride gives you uninterrupted time together and sets the tone before anyone steps aboard.
Exhibitors and Industry Teams
With 1,000 exhibitors, FLIBS is a working week for much of the marine industry. Our corporate transportation service handles multi-day schedules and multiple vehicles for teams moving between hotels, booths, and client dinners.
VIP Ticket Holders
Guests heading to the Windward VIP Club at Hall of Fame Marina often want the rest of the day to match the experience, from a smooth arrival to a late dinner afterward.
Groups and Families
For a group attending together, one vehicle keeps everyone together and takes the driving and parking off the table.
Buying, exhibiting, or hosting clients at FLIBS? Keep your week on schedule.
A Sample FLIBS Day With a Private Chauffeur
Every day is built around your plans, but here is how a buyer’s day might flow.
Morning: Your chauffeur collects you from your hotel and drops you near the docks as the show opens, ahead of the midday crowds.
Late morning: You spend time at Superyacht Village and Pier Sixty-Six North for scheduled viewings with your broker.
Afternoon: You move on to Bahia Mar and Las Olas Marina, using the show’s water taxis between docks while your chauffeur holds your bags.
Evening: Your chauffeur meets you at your last location and takes you to dinner, then back to your hotel at the end of the night.
Choosing a Vehicle for Boat Show Week
The right vehicle depends on who’s traveling with you and how you’ll spend the week.
An executive sedan works well for a solo buyer or a couple moving between viewings.
A luxury SUV gives a broker and a few clients room to talk comfortably between locations.
A Mercedes Sprinter carries up to 14 passengers, which suits exhibitor teams, client groups, and friends attending together.
For meetings and dinners beyond the show, our executive car service keeps the same standard all week.
Tips for Boat Show Week
Buy your FLIBS tickets online in advance, since there is no box office at the show.
Book your transportation early. Boat show week is one of the busiest weeks of the year in Fort Lauderdale, and the best vehicles go fast.
Plan each day around the show maps. Grouping nearby locations saves time and keeps you from crisscrossing the show.
Arrive early on weekdays. Wednesday is a preview day that opens at noon, and the other days open at 10:00 AM.
Remember that Sunday closes earlier, at 5:00 PM, and that clocks fall back an hour that morning when daylight saving time ends.
Dress for the docks. Boat-friendly shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen make long days on the water far more comfortable.
Tell us your show days, hotel, and plans, and we’ll take care of every ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026?
FLIBS runs Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1, 2026. Wednesday is a preview day from noon to 7:00 PM, Thursday through Saturday run 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday runs 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Where is the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show held?
The show is headquartered at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center on Seabreeze Boulevard and spans multiple waterfront locations, including the Broward County Convention Center, Las Olas Marina, Hall of Fame Marina, Pier Sixty-Six, and Superyacht Village.
How far is the boat show from FLL airport?
The Broward County Convention Center, the show’s transportation hub, is about 2 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, roughly a 10-minute drive.
Is there parking at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show?
Yes. The Convention Center offers more than 3,000 spaces at a flat $20 per day, with shuttles and water taxis to the other locations, and many city garages nearby also take show traffic.
Are there shuttles between the show locations?
Yes. FLIBS runs complimentary shuttle buses and water taxis between its locations, with the Convention Center as the main hub.
Can you drive us between Miami and the boat show each day?
Absolutely. We provide daily round trips between Miami and Fort Lauderdale for buyers, exhibitors, and guests staying in Miami during the show.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can. FLIBS is one of the busiest weeks of the year in Fort Lauderdale, and vehicle availability tightens quickly.
Make FLIBS Week Effortless
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the year’s biggest gathering on the water, and it’s far more enjoyable when the garages, the traffic, and the late-night rides are handled for you.
Book your chauffeur ahead of time, arrive wherever your day begins, and end every evening at dinner instead of in a parking line.
Call or text us at (786) 808-1059 to plan your Fort Lauderdale boat show transportation.