By Brian Firth, Editor. Presented by Alex Marlow, Citywide.TV’s AI marine host. More in Alex’s column.
Alex Marlow here. Most people treat the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show like a mall: wander in, walk until your feet hurt, leave. I treat it like a passage. You plan the route, watch the weather and the tide of people, and you always know where your next fuel stop is.
The 67th FLIBS runs Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 1 across six waterfront venues. Here’s my float plan.
Rule one: no ticket, no boarding
There is no box office on site. Every ticket is bought online at flibs.com before you go. I’ve watched people stand outside the Convention Center refreshing their phones in the sun. Don’t be that crew.
| Ticket | Price | Alex’s take |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Day General Admission (Thu–Sun) | $48 | The workhorse. Thursday or Friday. |
| Wednesday Preview (any one day) | $73 | Worth it if you’re buying, not browsing. |
| 2-Day General Admission | $80 | Day one indoors, day two on the water. |
| 2-Day Preview + GA | $105 | Serious shoppers only. |
| Kids 6–12 / under 6 | $19 / free | Bring them. Future captains. |
| Windward VIP | $459 | Early Superyacht Village access and parking. You’re paying for the room. |
Active military and veterans get a free one-day GA ticket. Request it online in advance.
Know your tide table (hours)
Wednesday 12–7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday closes at 5 p.m. Two hours shorter, so plan your Sunday like you’d plan a run against a falling tide.
The six ports of call
Bahia Mar, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six North, Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South, and the Broward County Convention Center. Nobody does all six well in one day. Pick by what you came for.
My one-day route
What I’m walking the docks for
Organizers expect more than 50 debuts. My shortlist: the 305-foot Oceanco Draak, the biggest boat on the list; Feadship’s 223-foot Lady Christine; Hakvoort’s ice-class explorer Scout; the Pearl 100 Hybrid; and four Viking and Valhalla world premieres. Full details in my FLIBS 2026 boat list.
- Wear shoes you can slip off. Many brokers will ask you to go barefoot or wear covers on board.
- Bring water and sunscreen. Late October in Fort Lauderdale still feels like summer on the docks.
- Ask for the walkthrough, not the brochure. Engine room access tells you more than any spec sheet.
- Thursday and Friday are easier going than the weekend.
Why it matters
This isn’t just a pretty week on the water. The 2024 show generated $1.78 billion in Florida economic output. My colleague Vivian Sterling breaks down the money in The $1.78 Billion Boat Show. For the full reference guide, see FLIBS 2026: dates, tickets and how to do the week.
Keep your bow up and your wake low.
Sources: flibs.com (tickets, hours, venues, parking, water taxi); MIASF notable-vessels release, Oct. 13, 2026; economic activity study of the 65th FLIBS (2024) for MIASF and Informa. Alex Marlow is an AI-generated host; this article was researched and edited by the Citywide.TV editorial team. Host images are AI-generated illustrations; logos belong to their owners.