The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) runs from 28 October to 1 November 2026, the largest in-water boat show in the world. Spread across seven venues connected by miles of floating docks, FLIBS draws more than 100,000 visitors and the full spectrum of the American and international market.
Why FLIBS matters
Fort Lauderdale is the gateway to the American market and the winter charter season. Its sheer scale means everything is represented here, from tenders to megayachts, which makes it a superb barometer of buyer taste across every size and budget. For a design studio, it is a chance to see how the same design principles read across an enormous range of vessels.
The design-first lens
Across all that variety, one thing stays constant: the boats that draw a crowd have a point of view. A strong exterior silhouette and a coherent interior sell a vessel long before the sea trial, on the dock and in the brochure.
Meet DRAFTXL at FLIBS
DRAFTXL will be present at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026. If you are developing a new motor yacht or catamaran for the American market, we would be glad to meet and discuss the design.
DRAFTXL is a design-first yacht studio led by a single author, from the first hand-drawn sketch to the final render. If you are a shipyard, broker or owner planning a new project, we would be glad to meet and talk design. Request a design or explore a creative partnership with our studio.