Show Stopper - Monaco Yacht Show

Each Fall, the superyacht industry continues its journey through the season’s premier events – the Cannes, Monaco and Fort Lauderdale shows. As the second stop in the fall yachting calendar, the Monaco Yacht Show transforms the Principality into an epicenter of yachting’s finest.

In this second instalment of Navigator Knows, we sit down with Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show, to uncover this year’s highlights and evolving direction – revealing why MYS continues to be a must-attend for serious industry players and yachting enthusiasts alike.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

What are the key highlights of this year’s show?  

The Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) continues to offer a high-value experience for serious buyers and future yacht owners, featuring around 120 superyachts – many making their world debut – and 60 luxury tenders. Key highlights include the Blue Wake programme for sustainable solutions, the Yacht Design & Innovation Hub, and the Adventure Area, while the Monaco Yacht Summit provides curated talks to educate clients on ownership, design, and market trends – all aimed at helping clients gain clarity and confidence in their yachting journey.

What are your key goals for this year’s edition?

The MYS remains committed to providing a seamless, high-level experience tailored to yacht clients, with a clear focus on design, innovation, and sustainability. The show is structured to help them navigate efficiently – whether they’re looking to buy, charter, or start a new yacht project – while helping brokers and exhibitors host clients effectively. Our aim is simple: to ensure every visit is purposeful, productive, and aligned with what today’s client expectations.

How many yachts are exhibiting at this year’s show? Any standout launches?

Visitors to the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show will discover a diverse showcase of around 120 superyachts, each tailored to different lifestyles. Nearly half the yachts on display will be 2025 world premieres, making the show a key destination for discovering the latest launches.

What new experiences have been introduced this year?

Enhancing this years’ experience, the Monaco Yacht Show presents Tribute to Yachting, a curated exhibition of 90 photographs by renowned photographer Guillaume Plisson. The Show opens with the MYS Grand Opening Night, featuring the Blue Wake Awards, which honour achievements in sustainability. Together, these elements create a more personalized and immersive journey for visitors, celebrating the culture, innovation, and elegance of yachting.

USPs

What do you believe sets the show apart from other international shows?

The Monaco Yacht Show offers yacht clients focused access to the world’s top superyachts and tenders – nearly half of them new builds – conveniently gathered in one place over four days. Set in the heart of Monaco, the show combines high-end life experiences with direct connections to key industry players, including builders, designers, and brokers, supported by thematic zones and VIP services. Through on-water displays, curated talks, and the Monaco Yacht Summit, the MYS delivers an efficient and immersive experience for current and future superyacht owners.

What’s a behind-the-scenes aspect of the show that most visitors don’t realize?

Few visitors realise the immense logistics behind the Monaco Yacht Show, which transforms one of the world’s smallest countries into a world-class event through months of coordination with port authorities and city services. Over 180 yachts, 400 stands, and 560 exhibitors are precisely managed to ensure smooth access for nearly 29,000 guests. Despite the complexity, the compact setting drives a seamless, focused experience where everything appears effortless.

How do you tailor the show to appeal to the diverse demographic / international audience?

The Monaco Yacht Show unites a global audience and exhibitors, creating a diverse and international environment. To ensure a smooth and personalized experience for every visitor, the show offers various services like digital tools, printed guides, and hospitality areas, and the VIP Sapphire Experience. Dedicated exhibition zones allow attendees to focus on specific interests such as design, tenders, or technology, making the event feel tailored to each individual’s style and preferences.

What role does the location play in shaping the visitor experience?

Monaco’s elegance, exclusivity and international appeal create the perfect setting for the MYS. The Principality surrounds the Show with world-class hotels, fine dining, luxury shopping, and cultural highlights, all within a secure and walkable setting. This allows clients to move easily between business meetings, yacht visits, and moments of leisure, making their time at the Show both productive and enjoyable.

FOCUS & STRATEGY

How has the show evolved since you first became involved?

When I joined the company in 1998, the Monaco Yacht Show was a respected regional event with around fifty exhibitors and yachts, and a small organizing team of three. I played a key role in shaping its development strategy during its early stages. Since then, the MYS has evolved into the world’s leading superyacht show, showcasing cutting-edge design, technology, and sustainable innovation. It now serves as both a global industry platform and a place for clients to explore emerging trends and connect with leading experts in modern yachting.

Has there been an increase in attendance from certain markets in recent years?

The Monaco Yacht Show is a truly international event, attracting visitors from over 90 countries across all continents, with strong attendance from the U.S. and Europe. It has also seen steady growth in interest from emerging markets, especially the Middle East with a growing number of participants from the United Arab Emirates.

Sustainability is a key theme across the industry. How are you promoting green innovation among exhibitors and participants?

Sustainability has been a core focus at the MYS for years, and the Blue Wake programme plays a key role in promoting it. Launched in 2025, this initiative highlights exhibitors offering viable, forward-thinking sustainable solutions, approved by MYS partner Water Revolution Foundation. Through the Blue Wake label, visitors can easily identify companies actively contributing to more eco-friendly innovation. The programme also includes the Blue Wake Awards, presented during the MYS Grand Opening Night, which recognize standout achievements in sustainability. By spotlighting these efforts, the MYS aim to guide the industry forward—making sustainable choices more visible, accessible, and relevant to today’s discerning yacht clients.

How do you see the show evolving over the next decade?

MYS is more than a showcase; it has become a centre of intelligence for the future of yachting. Over the next decade, I believe the Show will deepen its role as the leading platform where yacht clients will explore the world’s finest vessels and also engage with the ideas, technologies, and trends shaping tomorrow’s yachting experience.

As the industry becomes increasingly global and complex, MYS’s role as an educational centre will be strengthened, offering insight into market changes, emerging destinations and evolving expectations of yacht ownership and lifestyle. The future of the Show revolves around the needs of the current and next generation of clients—those who value substance, vision, and a more responsible approach to luxury.

The most rewarding aspect of the Monaco Yacht Show is witnessing it evolve into a vibrant international marketplace with its own unique rhythm and atmosphere. Over the event’s few days, visitors arrive with clear goals – whether to explore yachts, meet brokers, or connect with peers – and the show provides a natural platform for these meaningful interactions. Seeing genuine conversations, decisions, and emotions unfold is the true measure of success, making all the preparation and effort worthwhile each year.

For more information on Northrop & Johnson at the Monaco Yacht Show contact your nearest broker. The team will be on hand throughout the four-day event to assist you with all your yachting needs. This year, Northrop & Johnson proudly represents the iconic BLACK LEGEND, supports AES Yachting in the newly launched SIMENA< and partners with Ocean King, who will be presenting OCEAN PEARL. Strategic partners will also be in attendance, joining N& for an exclusive program of events, including the highly annual Captain’s Evening and the signature N&J Yacht Party.