The African Boating Conference will take place in Cape Town on 20-21 October 2026, following a sold-out inaugural event in 2025. The conference is positioned as the only platform dedicated exclusively to the future of Africa’s boating, marina and blue economy industries.
The 2026 edition will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, developers, manufacturers and service providers from southern Africa and international markets. The event is intended to provide a forum for discussion and informed decision-making at a time of geopolitical complexity, global economic uncertainty and shifting market conditions.
The programme will include discussions focused on marina development, superyacht readiness, policy, skills development, manufacturing and investment. International speakers are expected to share global best practices relevant to African markets, alongside networking opportunities and trade displays.
Last year’s conference welcomed more than 200 delegates and featured international and regional speakers. During the event, organisers established a Superyacht Working Group to examine regulatory, operational and infrastructure challenges affecting growth in the sector. An update on the group’s progress, including engagement between industry and government stakeholders, will be shared at the 2026 conference.
Conference organiser Veda Pretorius said: “The response from last year’s delegates, speakers and sponsors confirmed what we believed from the outset – Africa needs its own platform to discuss its boating industry on its own terms, at a global standard. Just as importantly, the conference has proven to be a valuable forum for government stakeholders to engage directly with industry, better understand its realities and work collaboratively towards solutions.”
Registration details, sponsorship opportunities and speaker announcements will be released in the coming months.
Images courtesy of African Boating Conference.
