Everything ready for a historic edition of the Palma International Boat Show

Palma once again becomes the epicenter of international yachting with the celebration of a new edition of the Palma International Boat Show.

From April 30 to May 3, the Moll Vell of Palma will open its doors to industry professionals and end users, who will discover all the latest developments and launches from the industry.

A boat show now in its 41st edition and, as every year, full of surprises: new areas, more exhibiting companies, more boats both on land and at sea, and plenty of activities.

The Pasión por el Mar team has moved to the Moll Vell, where 240 people are currently working on setting up the exhibition grounds, to speak with Silvia Delgado, managing director of ADR Balears, and Chema Sans, director of the Palma International Boat Show, about what this year’s edition has in store.

>> LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE <<

“Every year is different. The space is always the same, but the show changes each year, because it follows the trends of the market,” says Sans, who notes that in 2025 they have finally been able to address one of the sector’s biggest demands: more exhibition space. “It was a pending issue and we’ve taken advantage of a series of very favorable conditions and managed to take this first step toward growth,” he confirms.

This expansion is made possible by a new area at the Club de Mar. “It will be dedicated to large yachts, only sailboats. These are new boats presented by shipyards, over 40 meters long — some even up to 80 meters. This will allow us to make room for boats that end up on the waiting list every year,” says the director of PIBS, confirming that the sector has responded positively to the new space.

“Bringing in vessels of this type could attract shipyards or refit companies, because they need maintenance and conservation. In the end, we’re bringing in top-tier shipyards that will get to know the port, the industry here, and may invest both in the industrial side and in sailing in the Balearics, which is simply amazing,” says Sans.

Moreover, this new space not only adds more vessels to the show but also provides a unique attraction for visitors to PIBS. “Everyone can access this area, but only by sea. So visitors will get to enjoy a short boat ride there and back,” explains ADR Balears’ managing director.

In total, more than 600 boats will be on display during the 41st Palma International Boat Show — about 250 of them in the water. Additionally, over 300 companies will present their products and services during the four-day event. “More than 90% are returning exhibitors, but they bring lots of new products, because we ask them to bring world premieres to offer innovative content at the event,” notes Delgado.

It’s a boat show that draws a large local and international audience. “Many tourists come specifically for the show. In fact, the fair generates over 20 million euros in spending and investment annually,” says Delgado, referencing the economic impact study from the 2024 edition. “The average tourist during the show spends more than double what a regular tourist spends in April. They dine in the city’s restaurants, stay in high-end hotels... I think the economic impact is very significant for the Islands,” she adds.

These visitors, beyond discovering all the industry’s latest offerings and exploring the broad range of Balearic nautical businesses, will also be able to enjoy the famous Noche del Mar (Night of the Sea), which will be held on Friday evening.