Southampton International Boat Show 2026 - Bring it on!

The Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS) is now live! The WBTA is proud to announce the second year of the Wooden Boat Stage in collaboration with the Boat Building Academy (BBA) and Women in Boat Building (WiBB). Last year’s Wooden Boat stage was a success, meaning this year we are treated with a bigger and better boat stage.  

The Southampton boat show welcomed 92,000 people last year, this shows the scale of the event. But what is special about the stage is the essence it brings. Through the demos that will be shown and the boats on display you get an incredible experience. 

This year we have 7 members participating whether that be a talk or a captivating demo of their craft. The members attending are; Willow Bay Boats, Lakeland Wooden Boats, Abbey Boatbuilder, Henley Sales and Charter (who have two boats), Woodbridge and Waldringfield Boatyards, Hunters Yard and Paradise Boatbuilders. All of which are amazing! On top of this wonderful group are obviously the BBA who have their own stand within the Wooden Boat Stage. 

The SIBS goes on over 10 days starting on the 18th till the 27th of September, it is a wonderful day out or even a weekend trip away. The stage is extending so much that there is also be a Wooden Boat Stage Afloat which brings the experience onto the water. ‘Expanding the stage in 2026, and showcasing wooden boats afloat, will help us reach new audiences and continue building momentum for the future of the craft’ a statement from Colin Henwood.

If you couldn’t attend last year, this isn’t one to miss! Last year the stage hosted 68 sessions delivered by 34 organisations. Talks spread on a wide scale of topics, from displaying crafts to talking about sustainability in different forms. 

We hope we see you all there!

For further enquiries, please reach out to Colin Henwood at 07721 527052 or via email at colinhenwoodboats@gmail.com.