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The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets, is recognized as the largest in-water boat show in the world. This five-day event spans nearly three million square feet across seven different locations and attracts more than 100,000 attendees, over 1,200 exhibitors, and representation from 93 countries, with more than 1,300 boats on display. From luxury yachts and VIP experiences to family-friendly programming, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the greatest boat show across the seven seas.
FLIBS draws an international audience of boating enthusiasts from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and throughout the United States. An economic impact study of the 65th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show reported a statewide economic contribution of $1.778 billion. Exhibitor sales totaled $823.5 million, and out-of-town visitors contributed $45 million in direct spending. More than 52 percent of exhibitors were based outside Florida, highlighting the global scale and influence of the event.
$1.778 B Statewide Economic Impact
$823.5 M in exhibitor sales
$45M in spending by out-of-town visitors
52% of exhibitors based outside Florida
93 Countries Representation
While FLIBS is widely recognized as a premier consumer event, it also serves as a major business-to-business platform. The show attracts industry leaders and decision-makers from around the world, providing a venue for face-to-face meetings, strategic partnerships, and major transactions. Numerous international trade associations and organizations choose to host their annual meetings at FLIBS.
MIASF, the show's owner, is the largest marine trade organization in the Southeast United States. The association reports that marine industry activity supports 121,000 middle-class jobs in Broward County and 142,000 jobs regionally. Informa Markets serves as the show's longtime production partner.
The show takes place at seven locations connected by a comprehensive land and water transportation network. Headquarters are located at the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel & Yachting Center, with additional exhibits at the Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, 17th Street Yacht Basin Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South, and the Broward County/Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center.
Since 2018, FLIBS has reached an even broader audience through a nationally televised one-hour special.
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MIASF founded the annual Broward County Waterway Cleanup, the county's largest and longest-running environmental event, typically held on the first Saturday in March. The first Waterway Cleanup was held in the late 1970s to help ensure that both the community and the marine industry could enjoy the local waterways. Now, more than a thousand volunteers of all ages work at locations across the county to remove tons of trash and debris from our waterways, rivers, and canals.
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78K+ Volunteer Participants
2.2+ Tons of Trash Removed
200+ Watercrafts Used by Volunteers annually
In 1996, MIASF founded the Plywood Regatta, which honors the craft of boat building and the excitement of recreational boating to continue building boating's future with teams of middle school, high school, and marine technical school students who spend two days building sea-worthy vessels using simple hand-tools, three sheets of plywood, five tubes of 3M 5200 fast cure caulk, and 120 zip ties. The students compete in a series of heats to determine an event champion. All proceeds benefit South Florida's marine industry education programs and the Plywood Regatta Scholarship Fund for students who plan on a career in the marine industry.
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5.1K+ Participants
2.6K+ Plywood Sheets
737 Boats Built
Conveniently located in the historic district of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, along the city's Riverwalk arts and entertainment district, the two-story historic building offers indoor and outdoor space with a large ballroom and two balconies, making it a popular location for weddings, corporate events, parties, business meetings, and more.
