Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS)

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, commonly known as FLIBS, is an annual boat and marine-industry exhibition held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 1959, it has developed into a major event for the recreational boating and wider marine sectors. The show brings together vessel manufacturers, dealers, equipment and service providers, brokers, and prospective buyers, while also attracting boating enthusiasts and visitors interested in the marine lifestyle. FLIBS is an event brand rather than a boat manufacturer or a standalone retail business. Its core offering is a multi-day trade and consumer exhibition where attendees can see boats and yachts, compare products, meet industry participants, and learn about marine services and equipment. Its public-facing format combines product display and sales opportunities with industry networking and visitor experiences. The show’s setting in Fort Lauderdale, a prominent U.S. boating and yachting market, is central to its identity. The event is operated by Informa Markets, the exhibitions business of Informa plc, and is associated with the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. Its exhibitors and audience span the United States and the international marine trade. FLIBS is positioned as a large-scale, premium-oriented boat show with particular visibility in the yacht and recreational boating markets. It remains an active recurring event; the available evidence supplied for this dossier does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, an individual founder, or detailed current executive appointments.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show was established in 1959 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It began as a local boat exhibition and grew over subsequent decades alongside the expansion of recreational boating, yacht ownership, and marine commerce in South Florida. The city’s waterways and established boating culture provided a natural setting for an event centered on vessels and the businesses serving their owners. As the show developed, it expanded beyond a simple display of boats into a broad marine-industry gathering. Its role came to include presenting vessels and yachts, marine equipment, and related services to prospective buyers, boating enthusiasts, and trade visitors. The event’s recurring format made it a meeting point for manufacturers, dealers, brokers, and other participants in the marine business, as well as a public showcase for boating products and lifestyle offerings. FLIBS is now operated by Informa Markets and is associated with the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. Informa Markets’ role places the show within an international exhibitions business, while the event retains its distinctive Fort Lauderdale identity and its focus on the marine and recreational boating sectors. The exhibition is held annually and is widely recognized as a major boat-show event in the United States. Its continuing format serves both commercial purposes—product display, sales leads, and industry networking—and public-facing purposes, including access to boats, yachts, and boating-related experiences. The available source material for this dossier does not document the identity of the original founder, the precise sequence of early organizational changes, or a separately registered headquarters for the FLIBS brand. Accordingly, the history is limited to the establishment date, location, broad development, and present operating context that can be stated without assigning unsupported details.

• 1959

  The first Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is established

• Informa Markets operates the show

A prominent, large-scale U.S. boat show serving both marine-industry professionals and consumers, with a strong association with yachts and recreational boating.

• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

  The annual exhibition and public event presenting boats, yachts, marine products, and related services.

• 2026.10.21

  Reported2026.10.21

  Wave Helicopters named helicopter partner for Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show[2]Wave Helicopters 成为劳德代尔国际船展直升机合作伙伴rustourismnews.com

  Wave Helicopters was named the helicopter partner for the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and, working with Wings Air Helicopters, is set to provide private helicopter transfers and scenic flights during the event.

• 2026.10.07

  Reported2026.10.07

  MIASF launches RefitX conference and expo debuting at FLIBS 2027[3]MIASF推出RefitX会议与展览，将于2027年劳德代尔堡国际船展期间首次亮相boatingindustry.com

  The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), announced the launch of RefitX, a new two-day conference and exhibition dedicated to the yacht refit industry. RefitX will debut during FLIBS 2027 on October 27-28, 2027 in the Atlantic Ballroom of the Broward County Convention Center, with preview elements planned at FLIBS 2026.

Read more

1. 1Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show — Official Websiteflibs.com
2. 2Wave Helicopters 成为劳德代尔国际船展直升机合作伙伴rustourismnews.com
3. 3MIASF推出RefitX会议与展览，将于2027年劳德代尔堡国际船展期间首次亮相boatingindustry.com