The Auckland (On Water) Boat Show is returning to the Viaduct Events Centre, Jellicoe Harbour and Wynyard Wharf, with dates set for Thursday 1 through Sunday 4 April, 2027.
The announcement follows a 2026 edition that carried extra significance as the show's 25th anniversary. Around 12,000 people attended across four days in early March, taking in 235 boats on display and the offerings of more than 200 exhibitors. The dedicated Sea Trial zone alone generated an estimated 1,200 trips out on the water, and the mood among exhibitors was upbeat, with strong reports of genuine buyer interest, quality leads, new commercial relationships and confirmed sales. The milestone event was widely regarded as one of the best in the show's history.
Run by the NZ Marine Industry Association, the show has operated since 1999 as an industry-owned, not-for-profit event, with any surplus reinvested back into the marine sector. From those early beginnings it has expanded well beyond its recreational roots, now encompassing commercial vessels, trailer boats, fishing seminars and the latest accessories and innovations alongside the pleasure-boating heartland that continues to draw the crowds.
What keeps both exhibitors and visitors returning is the on-water format that Jellicoe Harbour makes possible. Mercury Marine's Richard Shaw captured it well after the 2026 event: people don't just look at the boats, they get to see them on the water and experience what they're capable of. It's a dimension that indoor alternatives cannot offer, and it's what sets Auckland apart.
Further details for the 2027 show are still being confirmed. Updates will be published as they come to hand.
