Antigua Charter Yacht Show

Held each December at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour, the Antigua Charter Yacht Show marks the traditional start of the Caribbean yachting season. Now in its 64th edition, it is recognised as one of the largest and most respected charter yacht shows in the world, drawing professional charter brokers from the most elite yacht charter houses alongside leading yachting journalists who travel from as far afield as New Zealand, the Galápagos Islands, North America and Europe to attend.

A private, professional event for the yachting industry

The show is a private, invitation-only event. This structure is deliberate: it allows agents and brokers to make the most efficient use of the six-day programme, viewing and assessing each registered yacht entry in full detail, while enabling captains and crew to present their vessels to the highest standard. The calendar runs from 4 to 9 December 2026, with yachts berthed across three marinas — Nelson's Dockyard Marina, Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Falmouth Harbour Marina — all within easy reach of one another along Antigua's magnificent southern coast.

Charter market significance

For charter brokers and yacht managers, the show is a uniquely concentrated opportunity to inspect the season's newest and most prestigious charter yachts in a single location. Antigua's position at the top of the Eastern Caribbean island chain makes it a natural staging point: yachts arriving from the Mediterranean or the Atlantic crossing can present themselves here before dispersing south through the Leewards and Windwards for the winter season. Many captains choose to retain English Harbour or Falmouth Harbour as their home port throughout the season precisely because of the quality of facilities and the relationships forged at the show.

Marine services and the local yachting economy

The wider marine industry benefits significantly from the event. Yacht service companies, provisioners, chandleries and refit specialists receive a concentrated influx of work as approximately 2,000 crew members accompany registered yachts, with many vessels seeking cosmetic repairs and routine maintenance before exhibiting. Marine vendors registered with the show gain direct access to captains, owners and industry decision-makers across the six days. Taxi and transport operators, restaurants and rental properties in the English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour areas are typically at capacity for the duration of the event.

Organisation and the show team

The show is managed year-round by a dedicated team, including board members and Antigua Show Management, who attend major international yachting events during the summer months to liaise with yacht captains and industry leaders. This continuous engagement ensures that each year's event reflects the latest priorities of the global charter market and maintains the professional and hospitality standards for which the show has become known.

For registration details, marina maps, the events schedule and information on attending as a broker, marine vendor or member of the press, visit the official website or contact the show office directly. Registrations for the 2025 edition are now closed; registrations for the 2026 show open in due course.