Newport International Boat Show
Every September the Newport International Boat Show fills the downtown harbour with docks of new sailboats and powerboats, marine products ashore, seminars and hands-on courses. An independent guide to the show, and to the classic sail out of Narragansett Bay.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith (Library of Congress) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
What to expect
- New sailboats and powerboats on the docks, some on their first US showing, according to the organiser.
- Hundreds of marine products, services and accessories in the land-side areas.
- Classroom seminars and hands-on, in-water boating courses.
Plan your visit
- 2026 hours were 10:00–18:00 Thursday to Saturday and 10:00–17:00 on Sunday; Thursday was the preview day, with its own ticket price.
- The show is centred on the Newport Yachting Center at 4 Commercial Wharf and spreads along the downtown harbour. A day wristband covers every show site.
- Downtown parking is tight in show week; the organiser sells parking with a shuttle from outlying lots.
Sailing nearby: Block Island
Block Island is the classic run from Newport: about 23–25 nm from Newport Harbor to the Great Salt Pond, depending on your track. Leave Narragansett Bay with a fair tide and a settled forecast, as Block Island Sound is open to the ocean swell.
The Town of New Shoreham runs a mooring field in the Great Salt Pond from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Moorings are first come, first served and cannot be reserved; the town’s harbor guide covers the anchoring areas and rules. Checked October 2026; confirm before you go.
Read more on the blog
A practical week-long loop from Fort Lauderdale: Key Biscayne, Boca Chita and Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park, Card Sound and the Key Largo reefs, with daily legs, depths, anchorages and fees for each stop.
Beyond the Boat Show: Set Sail
Take your visit further: tested 7-day sailing itineraries, shallow-water pilotage, anchorages, and 3D flyby videos.
Sailing from Fort Lauderdale: A 7-Day Itinerary to Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys
A practical week-long loop from Fort Lauderdale: Key Biscayne, Boca Chita and Elliott Key in Biscayne National Park, Card Sound and the Key Largo reefs, with daily legs, depths, anchorages and fees for each stop.
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