Annapolis Sailboat Show 2026: over 150 boats and the Knysna 550 world premiere

The Annapolis Sailboat Show will bring more than 150 boats and over 500 sailing exhibitors to City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 15–18, 2026. International debuts, training opportunities and a revised waterfront layout are central to this year’s preview.

Cover: archive photograph of the show. © Annapolis Boat Shows.

Knysna, Jeanneau and Vaan among the arrivals

The organizer announces the world premiere of the Knysna 550 and North American debuts for the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 and Vaan R4. Visitors will be able to board boats ranging from daysailers to offshore cruisers and discuss equipment and configurations directly with builders and dealers.

City Dock’s redevelopment has required tents to be moved, expanded and reoriented. The revised plan adds four bars around the venue and reorganizes the shoreside spaces and access to the floating docks.

Learning to sail and preparing to cruise

The First Sail Workshop, presented by the American Sailing Association, combines a 45-minute classroom introduction with 90 minutes of practical instruction aboard a Beneteau First 22. Yacht Basin seminars are included with show admission.

Cruisers University runs October 12–16 at the Historic Inns of Annapolis, with more than 80 classes. It starts before the show and overlaps its first two days, offering a way to combine classroom learning with time aboard the exhibits.

Equipment, meetups and family activities

Cruisers Creating Content returns to Yacht Basin, bringing sailing creators together with visitors. Exhibitor arrivals include the Endurance Weather Center from Weems & Plath and Backstay Offshore logbooks. Younger visitors can look for Dockside Ducks or collect an EWE Spirit scavenger-hunt card at the SpinSheet booth.

The College Sailing Reunion, sponsored by Sailing World, is scheduled for Saturday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The school selling the most tickets will receive a $1,000 donation to its sailing team. The No Wake Zone in Yacht Basin provides another place to meet and take a break.

Planning your visit

The official map locates entrances, docks and visitor facilities. Check the current version and the activities program before attending.

For more information about tickets, boats and activities, visit the official Annapolis Sailboat Show website.