Q2 2026 Superyacht Market Report

The superyacht market never stands still, and 2026 has already delivered several notable shifts in buyer demand, pricing, and sales activity. As we enter the second half of the year, the global superyacht market is evolving. Buyer demand, pricing, and transaction activity are all shifting, creating new opportunities and new considerations for both buyers and sellers.

This report brings together the latest market intelligence from Northrop & Johnson’s Deep Data Department to provide a clear picture of where the market stands today. By analyzing brokerage transactions, new construction activity, pricing trends, and buyer behavior, we aim to help our clients better understand the forces influencing today’s marketplace.

While no market can be predicted with complete certainty, the trends highlighted in this report offer valuable insight into the direction of the industry and the factors shaping buying and selling decisions around the world.

Whether you are considering selling your yacht, purchasing your next vessel, or simply staying informed, we hope this report provides useful perspective as you navigate the remainder of 2026.

2026 Highlights

• The most expensive yacht sold in H1 was MOONRISE, a 327’9″ (99.9m) 2020 Feadship, with an asking price of $376,772,500 (€325m). She sold after 159 days on the market.
• If every yacht sold in H1 2026 were moored bow-to-stern, they would create a continuous line over 16 kilometers long – long enough to dominate the coastline of many of the world’s premier yachting destinations, or roughly the length of Manhattan.
• 2026 saw seven 100m+ yachts delivered, the largest of which is the 440’4″ (134.2m) Lürssen-built DEEP BLUE.
• The largest sailing yacht delivered was the 226’5″ (68.85m) PROJECT ZERO from Vitters Shipyard – designed as the world’s first sailing yacht to operate completely without fossil fuels.

Market Performance

The first half of 2026 reflects a superyacht market in the midst of recalibration rather than contraction. While underlying demand remains supported by long-term wealth trends, transaction volumes suggest buyers are transacting less frequently but with greater conviction at the top end of the market. Total pre-owned yacht sales fell 8% year-on-year to 326, while aggregate sales value rose 15% to $3.51 billion – a divergence that suggests buyers remain highly selective, but are still willing to commit at scale when value aligns with expectations.

Brokerage activity remains the primary driver of transaction volume. Motoryachts anchored performance, with total sales value up 18% year-on-year to $3.44 billion, while sailing yacht sales value fell sharply, down 47% to $79.5 million. This divergence is also visible by size: the 131′-164′ (40m-50m) segment posted 45 sales so far in 2026, ahead of 2025, 2024, and 2023, pointing to sustained appetite for larger tonnage even as overall transaction volume softens.

Within the new build sector, growth is concentrated in the 98′-131′ (30m-40m) segment and across the larger size brackets, while entry-level and 40-50m activity has softened. Overall, the superyacht market in H1 2026 appears to reflect a rebalancing of scale and pricing rather than a broad-based slowdown.

These interpretations remain contingent on additional data and future reporting periods.

Key Insights

• Brokerage transaction volumes down 8% year-on-year, though total sales value up 15%
• Motoryacht sales value up 18% year-on-year, sailing yacht sales value down 47%
• New build activity remains selective, with growth concentrated in the 98′-131′ (30-40m) segment and larger size brackets.

Pre-Owned Sales 78’+ (24m+)

The pre-owned superyacht segment remains the primary driver of global transaction volume in H1 2026. Activity in this segment provides a strong indicator of overall market liquidity and buyer sentiment. Data for the first half highlights a decline in the number of transactions compared to H1 2025, while total sales value increased, reflecting continued strength in the motoryacht segment and a shift toward larger vessels.

Key Insights

• A total of 326 pre-owned superyachts were sold in H1 2026, an 8% decline year-on-year (354 in H1 2025)
• Total sales value reached $3.51 billion, up 15% from $3.05 billion in H1 2025
• Motoryacht sales value rose 18% year-on-year to $3.44 billion
• Sailing yacht sales value fell 47% year-on-year to $79.5 million
• Average sale value rose to approximately $10.8 million*, up around 25% year-on-year
• New CA listings rose 2.8% year-on-year to 696, while price reductions rose 5.9% to 1,117
• Northrop & Johnson’s own sold activity rose 27.8% year-on-year, outperforming the broader market’s softer volume

Notable transactions during the half include the sale of the 327’9″ (99.9m) 2020 Feadship MOONRISE, the highest-value sale of H1 with an asking price of $376,772,500 (€325m), which sold after 159 days on the market. A number of additional high-value transactions in Q2 – including JUST J’s, SCOTT FREE, and ODYSSEY – contributed to an elevated average sale value for the quarter, illustrating how a relatively small number of high-value transactions can meaningfully influence overall market metrics.

 

Vessel age also remains one of the clearest indicators of how a yacht will perform on the market. Yachts aged 5-9 years are the most active segment by volume, and those aged 1-14 years generally sell faster and see smaller price reductions. Liquidity softens noticeably beyond that point, and the 25-29 year segment stands out as the trickiest cohort, combining the longest average time on market with the deepest average price cuts – likely a refit-cost story, as buyers negotiate against anticipated maintenance costs.

The pre-owned market shows a cyclical but stabilizing trajectory over recent years:

• Activity peaked in 2022, followed by a gradual decline through 2023 and 2024
• 2025 saw a rebound in transactional volume, which has eased through the first half of 2026
• Despite fluctuations, the market remains structurally active, with consistent transaction flows
• Average values in H1 2026 are notably higher than the same period in 2025; this is primarily attributed to a concentration of larger yacht transactions rather than a broad-based increase across the market

Within H1, Q2 activity built on the softer New CA flow seen in Q1, with 297 new listings compared to 364 in Q1 – a natural step down after an unusually strong start to the year rather than a sign of cooling confidence. Price reduction activity also slowed in Q2, with 487 reductions versus 594 in Q1, and the average reduction size eased from $1.7M to $1.4M. Sales volume held steady quarter-on-quarter at 160 vessels, though the average last asking price fell from $13.6M to $9.9M, largely a function of deal mix.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the outlook will continue to depend on broader macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions. Sustained wealth levels and the resilience typically seen at UHNW levels are expected to continue supporting underlying demand into Q3.

Key Insights

• 142 – Total new build sales in H1 2026, compared to 177 in H1 2025. Activity is likely to strengthen as further shipyard reporting is published.
• 98’-131’ (30-40m) – Demand is strengthening in this segment, up 18% year-on-year to 45 sales
• Speculation builds and semi-custom projects remain a key component of sales activity, with speculation builds up around 27% year-on-year

Growth is concentrated in the 98′-131′ (30m-40m) segment, up 18% year-on-year to 44 sales, and across the larger size brackets: the 164′-197′ (50m-60m) segment more than doubled to 10 sales (+150%), while the 197′-262′ (60m-80m) and 262’+ (80m+) brackets each added a yacht, up 25% and 50% respectively. This points to sustained appetite for scale at the top of the new build market, even as the entry-level 79′-98′ (24m-30m) and mid-size 131′-164′ (40m-50m) brackets softened year-on-year.

The contraction in overall new build sales suggests a combination of factors, including extended delivery timelines, elevated build costs, and a more cautious buyer mindset. Within this environment, demand for scale is strengthening among established owners at the upper end of the market, while entry-level and mid-size segments show signs of softening.

Viewed over a longer horizon, H1 new build sales have fallen steadily since the 2022 peak of 314 units – a fourth consecutive year of decline. H1’s share of full-year new build volume jumped from 48% in 2021 to 64% in 2022, before settling into a tighter 50-53% band from 2023 onward, suggesting H1 has become a more consistent, reliable predictor of full-year volume in recent years. As with previous years, the H1 2026 figure of 142 should be treated as provisional: additional yachts are typically identified in the months following each reporting period, so the final total will likely be revised upward.

The Market Today

Brokerage Fleet & New Yachts 78’+ (24m+)

As of 1 July 2026, the global superyacht market reflects a substantial level of inventory. The brokerage fleet remains extensive, while pricing and asset distribution vary significantly across size segments. The total brokerage market value stands at approximately $18.8 billion, with 2,157 pre-owned yachts currently for sale, representing 17% of the global fleet.

• Market value @ 1 July 2026: $18.8 billion
• Pre-Owned Superyachts Currently on the Market: 2,157 (17% of the global fleet)
• Motoryachts Currently on the Market: 1,891 (87.6%)
• Sailing Yachts Currently on the Market: 266 (12.4%)
• 661 New CA Listings across Q1 and Q2, with an average age of 16 years

 

 

Yachts with Price on Application (POA) are not included in data analysis

New Build Pipeline 78’+ (24m+)

Beyond current brokerage inventory, the global order book offers a forward-looking view of supply entering the market over the coming years. As of 1 July 2026, 936 yachts are currently under construction, comprising 879 motoryachts and 57 sailing yachts, with an average gross tonnage of 578 GT.

The delivery schedule points to a strong near-term pipeline: 466 yachts have been or are due for delivery in 2026, ahead of the 411 delivered in 2025, suggesting this year is on track to be a stronger one for completions. Volumes then taper progressively through the remainder of the decade – 301 in 2027, 121 in 2028, 39 in 2029, and 9 in 2030 – though later years typically understate the true figure, as further orders are placed and confirmed closer to their delivery dates.

Shipyard activity remains heavily concentrated in a small number of established building nations. Italy leads by a wide margin with 519 yachts currently in build, followed by Turkey (106), the Netherlands (59), the United Kingdom (46), and Taiwan (43). Measured by number of active shipyards rather than yacht count, Italy (41) and Turkey (39) again lead the field, followed by the Netherlands (19), France (7), and China and Germany (4 each) – underscoring that Italy and Turkey’s dominance reflects genuine build capacity across many yards, not simply a handful of high-output builders.

Key Insights

• 936 yachts currently under construction globally, 94% of which are motoryachts
• 466 yachts scheduled for delivery in 2026, already ahead of 2025’s full-year total of 411
• Italy remains the dominant build location by a significant margin, both by yacht volume (519) and number of active shipyards (41)
• Later-year delivery figures (2028-2030) should be read as a floor rather than a forecast, as additional orders will continue to be placed against those years

Taken together, the new build pipeline points to a healthy supply over the forthcoming years, with 2026 shaping up to be the strongest delivery year in the current dataset. While the immediate order book is heavily weighted toward Italian and Turkish yards, the broader geographic spread, spanning the Netherlands, the UK, the US, and the UAE, reflects a build base that remains genuinely global. As with all forward-looking figures, the tail end of the schedule will fill in further as new orders are confirmed.

Q2 2026 Charter Trends

APRIL TO JUNE

Q2 booking activity was close to last year, with April-June bookings reaching 3,390 in 2026 versus 3,589 in 2025 – a 5.5% decrease. June booking activity more than doubled year-on-year, rising from 582 bookings in 2025 to 1,372 in 2026.

Actual Q2 charter departures were considerably stronger than last year, with 2,884 charters starting in Q2 2026 versus 2,059 in Q2 2025 – up 40.1%. The first half of the charter season is running ahead of last year, with H1 charter starts up 36.1% and market days booked up 42.6%.

The Mediterranean remains the main engine of the market. West Med, East Med, and the Adriatic together account for 81.1% of Q2 2026 charter starts. Athens is the leading pickup location by volume, followed by Monaco, Cannes, Split, and Nassau. Clients continue to book close to departure, with 36.7% of Q2 2026 booking activity for same-month or next-month departures.

All figures for 2026 are subject to upward revisions

Market Outlook

As we move into the second half of 2026, the global superyacht market reflects a period of measured recalibration rather than contraction. Brokerage volumes have softened year-on-year, but total sales value and average deal size have risen, driven by a concentration of larger, higher-value transactions rather than a broad-based increase in pricing. Underlying demand continues to be supported by long-term wealth creation and sustained UHNW activity.

The new build sector continues to show a preference for scale at the upper end of the market, even as entry-level and mid-size segments soften, while the charter market enters its peak season with strong momentum, particularly across the Mediterranean.

Looking ahead to Q3 and the remainder of the year, the market is expected to remain active but selective, with brokerage performance increasingly defined by pricing alignment, inventory quality, and realistic seller expectations.

Source Deep Data Team
Curated by Miriam Cain & Christina Murphy