Huelva, base of the 2026 Nautical Congress

With new challenges and base, the professional meeting of reference for the sailing community moves to Huelva in 2026, the emblematic Casa Colón that will host the 13th edition of the Congress on March 12th and 13th.

The 13th edition of the Nautical Congress organized by the National Nautical Companies Association (ANEN) will once again be the meeting and reference spot for company leaders, institutions and key agents of the nautical field and blue economy. An unmissable date where the great challenges of the present will be explored and opportunities that will affect the future  of an industry in constant change will be drawn.

Choosing Huelva as base is not casual, The Lugares Colombinos, such as La Rábida, offer a scenery charged with symbolism, where maritime history of Spain began forming. To this, the strategic nature of the Blue Coast as an emerging destination of quality nautical tourism, thanks to its climatology, its nautical infrastructures and its potential as a platform for new sea experiences.

Under the slogan “Challenges that boost change: new ways to live sailing”, the 13th Nautical Congress will treat the strategic points that are redefining the industry:

• The economic context and sectorial radiography: Firm route in changing waters. Blue economy before a new cycle.
• New actors of the sector: new shipyards.
• New leader: talent and nautical management of the future.  
• Sailing and its alliances: strings with exclusive leisure and premium blue tourism, exploring connection between sailing and fields: luxury tourism, gastronomy, wellness, marine experiences, sustainable destinations. It is showing how sailing is integrated in an added high-value ecosystem.
• Transformation of nautical-sporting facilities: sustainable management and modernization.
• Tendencies and company inspiration: “Innovation to sail; tendencies, disruption and company vision.” An inspiring closure about the future vectors of sailing: electrification, applied AI, new business models (boat sharing, digital platforms, immersive experiences) and the field’s internationalization, with the objective of expressing an opportunity and modernization vision, positioning sailing as an innovation and sustainability field.

Since its first edition, ANEN’s Nautical Congress has consolidated as the great space of encounter, debate and nautical’s sector in Spain, generating synergies between companies, institutions and professionals.

Its 13th edition promises to be a journey towards the future, with Huelv as host port and point of departure for new ways of understanding and living sailing.