Monaco once again became the meeting point for the international superyacht industry. Under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the 35th Monaco Yacht Show welcomed 30,678 visitors and 560 exhibitors to Port Hercule. 118 superyachts were on display carrying an estimated combined value of €4.5 billion, with an average length of 47.5 metres. One harbour offered prospective owners and their representatives an unusually direct way to compare vessels and engage with builders, brokers, designers and specialist suppliers. The harbour, usually filled with private yachts, takes on a different purpose during the Monaco Yacht Show. For one week, the vessels are presented to an international audience of industry professionals and prospective buyers, while the quays showcase the shipyards and the extensive network of companies behind them. From advanced marine technology and specialist equipment to gold, bespoke interiors, yacht management and food suppliers, the exhibitors reflect the breadth of an industry built around life at sea. The social calendar adds to the occasion, but the show’s primary purpose is commercial: bringing builders, suppliers and prospective clients together to explore new projects, exchange expertise and establish relationships that can extend well beyond the harbour. The significance of the 2026 edition extended beyond the numbers. At a time when demand for new construction remains substantial and delivery slots at leading shipyards are committed years ahead, the show offered something increasingly valuable: the opportunity to examine completed vessels, compare approaches to design and engineering, and consider what ownership might look like in a changing market.
A FLEET IN TRANSITION The scale of the fleet was unmistakable, but the yachts that commanded attention did so for different reasons. Each builder was in in the limelight. These vessels were not interchangeable expressions of size. Each represented a distinct approach to construction, design and the experience of life at sea. Collectively, they demonstrated the breadth of the contemporary superyacht market, from established shipbuilding traditions to new platforms.
OCEANCO "Leviathan", at 111 metres, made her Monaco debut following delivery at the end of 2025. Her interiors brought another dimension to the conversation, showcasing how the experience of a superyacht is shaped as much by its internal architecture and relationship with the surrounding environment as it is by its exterior profile. Her onboard facilities include a dive centre, laboratory, hospital and 3D-printing workshop. Communal areas are designed to encourage interaction between guests and crew, while low-maintenance materials support day-to-day operations. These are not incidental additions to a conventional luxury yacht: they reflect a vessel designed to serve a working research programme as well as accommodate life aboard
LÜRSSEN "Nixie" made her world premiere and the largest 2026 delivery, at 102.4 metres, exhibited at the show.. Her arrival underscored the continuing ambition of large-scale motor-yacht construction, where the integration of increasingly complex onboard systems must work together with state of the art engineering and spatial planning. “It has been a great experience collaborating with RWD,” says Tanja Peters, Project Manager at Lürssen. “The project demanded a high level of coordination across design, engineering and procurement, and the team approached each challenge with clarity, creativity, and a strong focus on finding workable solutions.” One of her signature elements is a semi-suspended, six-metre-wide glass swimming pool positioned aft on the main deck. Conceived as an architectural space rather than a standalone amenity, the pool extends over the swim platform, creating a striking connection between the yacht and the sea.
SANLORENZO Sanlorenzo presented Silver Fox, the first yacht in its 74Steel series and the largest built by the Italian shipyard to date. Designed by Zuccon International Project, with interiors by Studio Paolo Ferrari, she extends the yard’s residential approach to a 73.4-metre steel platform, with an emphasis on natural light, proportion and the relationship between interior spaces and the sea. The yacht’s glass-fronted pool and expansive beach club give the lower levels a strong connection to the water, while dedicated wellness facilities reflect the growing importance of onboard life beyond conventional entertaining. At 1,920 GT, Silver Fox is also a significant step up in Sanlorenzo’s scale of construction, demonstrating the yard’s ambition in the large-yacht market
RIVA "54Metri" is the largest yacht ever built by the Italian shipyard. Riva brought the marque’s unmistakable design language into the 54-metre superyacht category. Designed inside and out by Officina Italiana Design, the all-aluminium yacht retains the brand’s emphasis on clean lines and proportion while expanding into a different scale of onboard living. The owner’s suite occupies the full beam, giving the private quarters a scale that reflects the yacht’s move beyond Riva’s better-known open and coupé yachts
BAGLIETTO FAST50 brings the Italian shipyard’s high-performance heritage into a new 49.9-metre aluminium superyacht. Designed by Francesco Paszkowski Design, with interiors developed in collaboration with Margherita Casprini, she is conceived around speed without giving up the generous volumes expected of a yacht of this size. Four MTU engines give her a reported top speed of 30 knots, placing performance at the centre of the design rather than treating it as a secondary specification. “FAST50 was designed to reinterpret Baglietto’s high-performance heritage in a contemporary form, with speed, comfort and liveability at its core,” said Fabio Ermetto, Chief Commercial Officer at Baglietto, in the shipyard’s 3 June 2026 launch announcement. Her profile is lean, with the yacht’s aluminium construction supporting the performance brief. A full-beam owner’s suite and fold-down stern bulwarks bring a different emphasis to life onboard, extending the private quarters and opening the beach area towards the water. At the 2026 World Yachts Trophies in Cannes, FAST50 received the Best Fast Performance award—a fitting distinction for a yacht built around Baglietto’s long-standing association with speed.
ARES YACHT At 62 metres, Simena was the largest new sailing yacht on display at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, bringing sailing performance and advanced naval architecture into a line-up otherwise dominated by motor yachts. Built by Türkiye’s ARES Yachts, with exterior design and naval architecture by Taka Yacht Design and interiors by Design Unlimited, she combines a clipper bow, teak decks and varnished sipo mahogany with a steel hull and composite superstructure. Her ketch rig carries 1,671 square metres of Doyle sails across a 59-metre mainmast and a 48-metre mizzen. During sea trials, Simena reached 16 knots under sail in 20 knots of wind at a 100-degree wind angle, demonstrating the performance potential of a yacht whose traditional silhouette is backed by contemporary engineering. A hybrid propulsion system extends her capabilities under power. A 220 kW electric motor allows near-silent cruising at up to eight knots, with a reported range of 6,000 nautical miles; her MAN diesel engine delivers a top speed of 14 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles at nine knots. Her four-star SEA Index rating, independently verified by Lloyd’s Register, adds an independently assessed environmental dimension. “SIMENA’s exterior is inspired by the elegance of classic sailing yachts, interpreted at a much larger scale and with modern proportions.” — Tanju Kalaycıoğlu, Founder, Taka Yacht Design.
THE CASE FOR REFIT One of the more consequential developments at MYS 2026 was the attention given to what happens after a yacht has been delivered. Fifteen of the yachts exhibited had undergone refit within the preceding three years. This offers a useful perspective on a market in which leading shipyards have new-build slots committed through 2028 and 2029. Upgrading an existing vessel can be a compelling alternative for owners unwilling to wait several years for a new commission Refit is not simply the replacement of equipment or the restoration of finishes. The vessel itself dictates the scope of the work. This can change onboard systems, improve operational efficiency, introduce new capabilities which result in extending a yacht's life.
Oceanco's "Draak", measuring 93 metres, represented a different proposition. Rebuilt in 2026 to support scientific expeditions for Inkfish, she demonstrated how an existing yacht can be transformed to serve a purpose beyond conventional private cruising. Her presence made refit and reinvention the center of conversation. Draak provided the most striking example of this idea at the show. Her transformation for scientific expeditions demonstrated how a vessel's future can be shaped by a substantial change in purpose, not merely by the passage of time. The commercial significance is also growing. The refit market has developed into a substantial industry in its own right, spanning shipyards, specialist engineers, equipment manufacturers and yacht-management services. In announcing its next initiative, Informa Prestige confirmed that The Future of Refit, a dedicated event for superyacht refit and maintenance, would launch in Monaco from 31 March to 2 April 2027. In the wake of sustainability across all industries the message was clear: the future of yachting will be shaped not only by what is built, but also by what can be renewed.
DESIGN AS AN EXPERIENCE The show also gave design a more prominent collective presence through the new Designer Gallery, bringing 14 design and naval architecture studios together in a continuous exhibition space. This validated the industry collectively as this format acknowledged that yacht design is no longer adequately understood through exterior lines alone. Naval architecture, interior environments, materials, lighting, circulation and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces all contribute to the experience of a vessel. An immersive three-dimensional experience complemented the exhibition, providing another way to explore design concepts and yacht environments. The most successful designs must reconcile competing requirements: privacy and openness, generous accommodation and efficient use of space, visual ambition and the practical demands of life at sea. The challenge is particularly pronounced at the largest scales, where every decision involves a complex interaction between aesthetics, engineering and operation. This year in Monaco, these considerations were visible across the fleet. The design conversation was not about a single prevailing style, but about the multitude of ways a yacht can respond to the expectations of its owner and the use conditions.
SUSTAINABILITY BEYOND THE PROMISE A core pillar for any industry today is sustainability. This is inclusive to the superyacht industry. The environmental impact remains a difficult subject, and the distinction between “aspiration” and “demonstrable progress” matters. The Blue Wake™ programme offered a more specific way to examine progress in yachting. The concept is” in partnership with the Water Revolution Foundation, it uses independent technical assessment to identify products, services and innovations supported by evidence of environmental impact.” At its 35th edition, MYS continued its environmental initiatives under Monaco's Mission for the Energy Transition pact, which the show signed in 2022. The pact focuses on mobility, waste and energy. The organisers have also developed programmes intended to reduce the environmental footprint of the event itself. In 2026, 60 solutions were validated. Five category awards and a special prize for a yacht recognised six recipients. The yacht prize went to Simena, a 62-metre sailing yacht by Ares Yachts. Her ketch rig is complemented by a parallel-hybrid propulsion system incorporating 220 kW electric motors, battery-supported silent operation and regeneration under sail. Her design illustrates how conventional sailing principles can work alongside modern energy systems. This does not, however, mean that every phase of operation is emission-free. Among the category winners, Amico & Co was recognised for its sustainable superyacht refit infrastructure in Genoa. The shipyard's measures include one megawatt of photovoltaic panels, shore power across its docks, energy-efficient sheds, on-site wastewater treatment and a waste-recovery system with 25 sorting categories. Other awards by the MYS 2026 recognised “recycled-monomer acrylic for yacht interiors, inverter heat-pump technology for marine HVAC, aluminium tenders assessed through life-cycle analysis, and the restoration of Posidonia seagrass meadows”. The programme's value lies in making individual solutions easier to assess. A yacht's environmental performance depends heavily on its propulsion system. Materials, energy consumption, refit infrastructure, maintenance and the protection of marine ecosystems all contribute to the broader picture. The show also continued its relationship with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, presented an annual donation of €55,000. Separately, Benetti's hybrid Dagger, a 67-metre B.Now, joined the fleet certified under the Yacht Club de Monaco's SEA Index, which assesses and compares yacht CO₂ emissions. These initiatives do not resolve the wider environmental debate surrounding superyachts. They do, however, provide concrete examples of where technical development and operational choices can be built and by demonstrating how these improvements translate into sustained reductions in environmental impact.
MONACO AFTER DARK: A HARBOUR TRANSFORMED Monaco has an unmistakable energy in summer, but during the Monaco Yacht Show, the atmosphere shifts. The familiar Mediterranean rhythm gives way to a shared sense of purpose: visitors arrive to see, compare and discover the world's finest yachts, gathered together against one of the most elegant waterfront settings in the world. The summer crowds have returned home, but the warm September afternoons and evenings still remain. Monaco shines brighter than possibly the entire year. Along the quays, yachting enthusiasts move from one vessel to the next, studying exterior lines, engineering, design and the latest innovations shaping the industry. Conversations turn to shipyards, new deliveries, naval architects and the possibilities of the next generation of yacht ownership. Every turn offers another discovery, another expression of craftsmanship, another reason to pause. It is not just whom is on which boat or party but rather the details of every vessel in the port. When night falls, the illuminated fleet takes on a different character. Monaco's historic waterfront and the lights of Monte Carlo, the buzzing restaurants and nightlife is still in full session and the yachts become part of a broader surreal setting in which maritime engineering meets the Principality's distinctive blend of elegance, ambition and social life. From the 111-metre Leviathan to the 62-metre Simena, the fleet on display in Monaco ranged from scientific exploration to high-performance sailing. The differences between these yachts were as revealing as their scale: each reflected a distinct approach to design, engineering and life at sea. MYS is an opportunity to see what is new, understand what is changing and encounter the vessels and people shaping the future of yachting. Monaco provides the setting; the fleet provides the substance. The 36th Monaco Yacht Show returns to Port Hercule from 22 to 25 September 2027.