Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show Festa Nautica 2026 opens to strong first-day crowd
by Lantau Yacht Club 6 Nov 06:24 PST
6-8 November 2026
The Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show - Festa Nautica 2026 ("the Show") commenced today with an enthusiastic opening ceremony, drawing a strong first-day crowd of maritime enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Marking its milestone fourth edition, this year's show takes on a bold new dimension as a signature component of the inaugural The Festival of Connoisseurs ("TFOC"), bringing together an unprecedented 3-in-1 lifestyle celebration across Sea, Land and Sky—and solidifying Hong Kong's position as the core of the Greater Bay Area's growing yacht economy.
The Opening Ceremony of the Show was officiated by Mr. Victor Cha, Chairman of HKR International Limited; The Honourable Algernon Yau, JP, Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, HKSAR Government; Mr. Shi Yang, Deputy District Chief, People's Government of Jinwan District, Zhuhai City; Mr. David Lee, Director & Head of HK Property of CITIC Pacific Properties, Mr. Franklin Mak, Executive Vice President of Hospitality at HKR International Limited, Mr Tommy Ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong Yachting Association, Ms. Margaret Ma Connolly, President & CEO of Informa Markets Asia. Their presence underscored the Show's dual role—as a showcase for the region's finest yachts and as a platform where policymakers, manufacturers and dealers advance the development of yacht tourism and cross-border marine collaboration.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, The Honourable Algernon Yau, said, "The TFOC, which is the first international exhibition introduced by the government under the funding of $100 million, showcases premium lifestyle spanning superyachts, fine jewelry and luxury timepieces, etc. With the excellent waterfront environment, professional facilities and the extensive industry network of the LYC, the Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show 2026, as a key extended event of the TFOC, successfully extends an immersive and luxurious maritime experience for yacht enthusiasts. The collaboration between the LYC and Informa Markets also demonstrates mutual benefits. It does not only enable participants to deeply appreciate Hong Kong's unique charm as an international maritime and high-end tourism hub, but also attract world-class exhibitors and high-spending visitors, thereby raising brand image and fostering the development of related industries."
Mr. Franklin Mak, Executive Vice President of Hospitality at HKR International Limited, remarked, " A yacht economy's true strength lies in attracting international leaders, buyers, and investment. This year, delegates from Chinese Mainland, Monaco, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and Indonesia underscore global confidence in Hong Kong's dynamic market—an ecosystem bringing together international brands, regional manufacturers, innovative marine technologies, and serious buyers. Collaboration is key; expanded participation from Zhuhai at Lantau Yacht Club tangibly turns Greater Bay Area integration into commercial opportunities. Moving forward, we will scale this platform to reinforce Hong Kong's position as the premier international yachting gateway, driving long-term regional growth."
Mr. Tommy Ho, Chairman of the Hong Kong Yachting Association, commented, "Yacht tourism has moved from policy to practice. This week, it is something you can touch. It is a berth you can walk up to, a Chinese Mainland-built vessel you can step aboard, and real interest from local and overseas visitors standing on the dock. That is a yacht economy being built. The Policy Address gave us the framework. The industry is now proving it can deliver against it—and the partnerships formed here this week will set the pace for the next decade."
Thirty vessels set the tone at the marina
Over 30 vessels line the LYC marina - superyachts from Camper & Nicholsons headline the international line-up, Sunseeker, Princess, Saxdor, Absolute, Azimut, Selene, Sunway, CL Yachts, Riva Yacht, and premium catamarans from Bali, Aquila and Leopard, thanks to the wide-berth configuration of the LYC marina.
Adding a cross-border dimension is the new Zhuhai showcase, presenting nine Zhuhai yachts and eight specialised technology booths covering advanced marine equipment, customised lighting fixtures and marina engineering solutions. Vessels on show include the 92-foot Power SHIP, Selene 6047, Raptor catamaran sailboat, Hong Kong's oldest shipyard, Cheoy Lee Shipyards, is also represented through CL Yachts.
Visitor interest as dealers report serious enquiries
Visitor traffic built steadily from the opening morning, and exhibitors across the docks reported a stream of qualified enquiries rather than casual browsing.
"The quality of engagement today has been excellent," noted Ms. Samantha Chan, Head of Marine Business of DCH Marine Limited, representing nine yachts on display at the Show. "We're seeing strong interest from serious buyers. The Festa Nautica this year is bringing a more affluent, lifestyle-oriented audience to the docks."
Policy meets practice at the InvestHK Forum
The event facilitated crucial industry dialogue, with an industry luncheon and forum "Shaping the Future of Hong Kong's Yachting Economy" hosted by the Hong Kong Yachting Association and sponsored by Invest Hong Kong on 6 November connecting key stakeholders. 40 senior yacht industry representatives from various Chinese Mainland cities, Monaco, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and Indonesia discussed yacht economy development and promoting the "yacht + tourism" concept and cross-border integration. The discussions underscored how the yacht economy—spanning maintenance, trading, financing, insurance and hospitality—generates significant economic ripple effects and thousands of jobs across the region.
"As China's very first designated yacht operation zone, Jinwan District has quietly and diligently worked for 24 years to build a reputation for world-class yacht manufacturing. With the opening of Jitimen Port, entering Zhuhai Jinwan has become significantly easier for overseas vessels. Today, by leveraging Hong Kong's strengths as a global hub, we are proudly promoting our vision of 'Manufacturing in Zhuhai, Maintenance in Jinwan'," said Mr. Shi Yang, Deputy District Chief, People's Government of Jinwan District, Zhuhai City.
Mr Arnold Lau, Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong, noted, "The HKSAR Government is proactively implementing various measures to promote the yacht economy. These include promoting the construction of four new yacht marinas which will provide a total of more than 1,100 berths with supporting facilities, further strengthening Hong Kong's yachting infrastructure and ecosystem. InvestHK welcomes yachting companies from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to come to Hong Kong and seize the opportunities here. We will provide professional support to help them set up in Hong Kong and tap into international business opportunities through the city."
Ms. Margaret Ma Connolly, President & CEO of Informa Markets Asia, concluded, "The LYC Boat Show fits nicely to the Festival's marine lifestyle pillar. Integrating this premier yachting event into a broader celebration of luxury creates a 'City-as-Your-Showroom' experience that elevates Hong Kong's global appeal."
Watchmaking, motoring and sustainable art across the show
On land, visitors are treated to a carefully curated programme of connoisseurship. Inside the Clubhouse, Cortina Watch hosts private viewings of haute horlogerie complications from Jacob & Co., while automotive craftsmanship takes centre stage with a flagship Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended displayed alongside a museum-grade, limited-edition 2008 MV Agusta Brutale 910R Wally motorcycle curated by Man Wai Motorcycle Centre, paired with artisan coffee from Rev N Roast. Sustainable art comes to the fore as MeART presents on-site interactions with artist Nissa Kauppila, whose collectable masterworks are transformed from marine debris collected on Lantau Island.
Masterclasses, music and culinary delights
The programme continues with a premium non-Cuban hand-rolled product experience from TIME, a Hi-Fi grade audio experience from Celestion HOMEtainer, interactive culinary masterclasses hosted by Feather & Bone—including red wine blending and gourmet sausage making—an immersive golf simulator hosted by Discovery Bay Golf Club, and a dedicated Kid's Game Zone.
Culinary offerings span Auberge Hospitality's brands—Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, Discovery Bay Golf Club, Peony Chinese Restaurant, Discovery Bay Recreation Club, Club Siena, The Sukhothai Bangkok and The Sukhothai Shanghai—together with refreshing canned cocktails from ONLY Beverages. Live jazz sets the tone daily, and complimentary Vito transfers by Zung Fu and shuttle boat service on Saxdor 400 GTC, operated by DCH Marine.
A flying car and drone challenge take to the air
Pushing the boundaries of future personal air travel, Aridge showcases the world's first modular flying car, the Land Aircraft Carrier. In addition, DJI presents an interactive drone obstacle challenge.
Two days still to come
With two days remaining, the LYC Boat Show 2026 continues to offer visitors the opportunity to explore a wide array of yachts and marine products, all set within a dynamic lifestyle environment—and to see first-hand how Hong Kong's yacht economy and GBA integration are translating policy into prosperity.
Event Details - Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show 2026
- Date: 6 - 8 November 2026 (Fri-Sun); 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Address: Lantau Yacht Club, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
- Admission: Complimentary with pre-registration at this link
- Updates: Follow us on Instagram @lantau.yachtclub
For more information, please visit: www.lantauyachtclub.com