Metstrade expands commercial opportunities for the superyacht industry

Bringing together superyacht builders, suppliers, captains, crew and refit professionals from across the international market, the enhanced Superyacht Zone will serve as a central hub for discovering new products and facilitating commercial discussions. It provides a direct platform for visitors to engage directly with suppliers and service providers, fostering stronger connections across the superyacht ecosystem.

A central hub for business, innovation and collaboration

Visitors will gain access to a carefully curated programme of market focused presentations, panel discussions and networking events designed to help businesses navigate emerging trends, understand changing customer expectations and capitalise on new opportunities within the sector.

Metstrade established the Superyacht Industry Advisory Council (SIAC) to ensure that the industry has a direct voice in the topics addressed through Metstrade and The Superyacht Forum. The council includes all six member associations of the Superyacht Alliance. Their combined expertise helps keep both platforms relevant and aligned with the industry's evolving priorities and challenges.

Dedicated content for captains and crew

The programme will also offer dedicated content and networking opportunities for captains and senior crew.

Among the highlights is the interactive workshop, "The Future of Professional Training: A Crew Voices Interactive Workshop", taking place on 18 November 2026. The session will examine the evolving training and education landscape, leadership development, onboard mentoring and crew retention, while gathering direct feedback from industry professionals to help shape future best practices.

Exploring the technologies shaping the next generation of superyachts

Another featured session, "From the America's Cup to the Beach Club: Technology Transfer for the Next Superyacht Generation", will explore how hydrofoil innovations pioneered in elite sailing are

being adapted for use across the superyacht sector.

Organised by the Foiling Organization and taking place on 19 November at 14:45, designers, builders and operators will discuss advancements in electric propulsion, certification requirements and the growing demand for foiling tenders and support craft.

Celebrating leadership and talent across the industry

Taking place on 17 November at 13:15 in the Superyacht Zone, the Women's Yachting Awards organised by Yacht Femme celebrates the women driving progress across the yachting industry, recognising leadership and innovation while highlighting rising talent and trailblazers shaping the sector's future.

The full content programme is available here: https://www.metstrade.com/programme

The return of the Refit Cluster

A key feature returning for this year is the Refit Cluster, introduced in 2025 and dedicated to showcasing leading refit yards and their regional ecosystems.

The area enables captains, yacht managers and owner representatives to explore complete refit destinations. Confirmed exhibitors for 2026 include Lürssen, Palumbo, Damen Shipyards Group and Pendennis.

Strategic alignment with The Superyacht Forum

Taking place during the week of Metstrade, The Superyacht Forum sees C-suite industry leaders meet to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the superyacht industry.

With this year's theme, Accelerate the Evolution, it provides the strategic context for the conversations that continue at Metstrade, where new partnerships are forged and business opportunities are developed across the superyacht supply chain.

Industry leaders on the value of Metstrade

Patricia Becker, Exhibition Manager for Metstrade and The Superyacht Forum, said:

"The superyacht sector continues to be a vital part of the Metstrade community. By relocating the Superyacht Zone, expanding the content programme and building on the success of the Refit Clusters, we are creating even more opportunities for industry professionals to discover innovations, exchange knowledge and build valuable business relationships throughout the week."

Robert van Tol, Executive Director of SYBAss, said:

"Having a concentrated meeting place with the supply chain and co makers is of great value to the builders. Inspiration, new contacts and collective progress is being achieved within these few days, which is invaluable for both product as well as build process development. Having a strong B2B show also allows B2C shows to remain purely customer focused. As yacht builders we need to ensure we successfully cater to clients in order to continue feeding the supply chain and collectively grow as a sector."

Visitor registration now open

Visitor registration for Metstrade 2026 is open, inviting leisure marine professionals from around the world to secure their place at the industry's leading global B2B event, taking place at RAI Amsterdam from 17 to 19 November.

Free registration for Metstrade is available up to and including 31 October. Secure your registration here: Metstrade registration