Southampton International Boat Show has confirmed a packed line-up of family activities for its 2026 event, with kids aged 15 and under getting in free.
The show runs for 10 days, from 18 to 27 September 2026, at Mayflower Park, with enough on offer to fill a full day out, or several.
Try-a-Boat is the standout drawcard for anyone keen to get off the pontoon and onto the water. Visitors can experience everything from sailing yachts and high-performance RIBs through to the accessible Wetwheels boat, with sessions included in the show ticket and bookable on arrival. Clipper will run scheduled sailing on its Clipper 70 at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, while UKSA's J/80 will be available across two blocks of the show, 18 to 21 and 25 to 27 September.
For those who'd rather paddle than sail, the purpose-built lake hosts paddleboarding and kayaking sessions run by Rockley Watersports, with equipment and qualified instructors on hand. Spaces are limited, so it pays to head straight to the lake booking point on arrival.
There's an underwater option too. The Andark Dive Tank gives visitors a taste of diving beneath the surface, with gear and changing facilities provided. Bring a towel.
More than 250 boats will line the waterfront, from superyachts and racing boats to workboats used in real-life rescue and service operations, including vessels from the RNLI and Royal Navy. Selected boats will be open for visitors to step aboard.
Racing fans get something new too. The Key Yachting J/70 Invitational Cup makes its debut at the show on Saturday 26 September, with heats at 11.30am and 1.30pm, a final at 3.30pm and prizegiving at the Shipyard at 5.30pm.
History gets a look-in as well. The Wooden Boat Stage, created through a collaboration between the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, the Wooden Boatbuilders' Trade Association and Women In Boat Building, will highlight the skills, craftsmanship and heritage of wooden boatbuilding in the UK. On 26 September, Hanneke Wharram of Wharram Designs will share stories of Polynesian canoe craft, sailing across the Pacific and the real-life seafaring traditions that inspired Moana.
The Wooden Boat Stage Afloat will bring a collection of historic wooden boats to life on the water. Highlights include Gelyce, a 1930 Camper & Nicholson motor launch, Larry, a 1907 gaff cutter, and Guide of Dunkirk, a historic vessel involved in the 1940 Dunkirk rescue.
Younger visitors have their own corner too, with a Kids' Play Area and a LEGO Maritime Project running in the New Wave Hall on 26 and 27 September, where children can build, code and solve real-world maritime challenges, including designing an autonomous vessel. Red Funnel's mascot Ted Funnel will be making appearances around the show on 26 September, with high fives and family photos on offer.
Weather and operational conditions permitting, visitors from 18 to 20 September can also look to the skies for a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Evenings shift to the Shipyard, where there will be live music, street food and drinks throughout the show, with a new Dockside food hall joining the line-up for 2026. Live acts include Blue Water Giants, Tennessee Twin and Southampton Rock Choir, and comedy duo Luke & Elliott will host family quizzes on 20 and 27 September, packed with games and audience participation. On Fridays and Saturdays, the entertainment continues until 9pm, giving the show a life well beyond daylight hours.
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