The Vancouver International Boat Show is coming up quick, this January 14 to 18. It’s earlier than usual and in a new location, so here’s everything you need to know before you go.
This year marks 63 years of Vancouver’s premier boat show. Due to the FIFA World Cup coming to BC Place, this year’s event will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in the west building.
Show manager Amanda Henschell says,“Moving to the Vancouver Convention Centre allows us to elevate the entire guest experience with a brighter, scenic, and more accessible setting. It’s an incredible opportunity to grow the show while continuing to showcase the boating lifestyle.”
The on-water show will still be held at Granville Island, and shuttle busses are available to transit visitors between the two venues. Shuttles run about every 20 minutes from open to close. The show starts at 12:00 on the Wednesday in the Convention Centre.
The Vancouver International Boat Show is a must-see for many boaters along the West Coast.Bruce Hayne, executive director of Boating BC that runs the boat show, says this year’s event caters to living on the water, not just boating. He called it “a waterfront lifestyle show.”
This year sees the return of some exhibitors for the first time in five years. Olympic Marine & Recreation and Quantum Marine will be rejoining the slate alongside hundreds more exhibitors new and familiar. With 65 seminars to attend on topics like fishing, chartering and sail trims, including an expanded women’s day feature on the Saturday, patrons will have no lack of choice to create the perfect Boat Show experience.
Make sure to break up the day with a visit to the yacht rock lounge and enjoy a cocktail with live music.
“It is going to be a really fun five days,” says Hayne. “The show floor is already looking very busy as far as booths and displays.”
The Vancouver Convention Centre is in the heart of the downtown waterfront next to Canada Place. It’s an easy commute to walk, bike, bus, train, taxi or ferry from just about anywhere inside Greater Vancouver. If you’re driving, the centre offers parking for some 1,190 vehicles across both buildings.
The Vancouver Convention Centre West is the new host of the 2026 Vancouver International Boat Show.If you aren’t driving, make sure to bring a bag large enough for any goodies you’re sure to find inside the show. The boat show is the perfect opportunity to find deals on all kinds of boating paraphernalia like lifejackets, fishing equipment or tech like your next chart plotter.
Or take your chances with the grand prize display. This year’s prize is courtesy of Princecraft, Mercury Marine and Bridgeview Marine. If it’s anything like last year’s, you won’t want to miss out.
It’s also a great chance to explore new boats for sale. The Vancouver International Boat Show has long marked the beginning of the boating season. Now, it’s about a month earlier than years past, but that just means more time to become familiar with your new equipment before spring warms our local waters.