2026 Annapolis Powerboat Show: latest buyer update
The 2026 Annapolis Powerboat Show runs October 8–11 at Annapolis City Dock. The official exhibitor boat list remains live and continues to add entries. Recent local show coverage now says more than 400 boats are expected, while the show has also announced a redesigned City Dock footprint, Demo Dock sea trials, hands-on BoatUS training and expanded visitor areas.
Last verified August 29, 2026 • machine-readable show data
City Dock will look different this year
Construction on the City Dock Resiliency Project is changing the show footprint. The traditional A and B exhibit tents will not be used; other tents are being expanded or reoriented, and portions of the show will extend farther onto Compromise and Randall Streets. Organizers are also adding gathering areas and four bar locations around the grounds.
This matters for serious buyers: do not rely on an old show map or a previous-year dock routine. Build your shortlist before arrival, then confirm the current dock/tent location for priority boats when the final map is released.
PropTalk Demo Dock
Sea trials are planned on select boats, giving buyers a chance to evaluate more than static dockside ergonomics.
BoatUS on-water courses
Three-hour hands-on training is being promoted with class sizes limited to four participants.
Seminars, Kids Corner & brokerage
Free seminars, Chesapeake-focused family activities and the returning brokerage section broaden the show beyond new-boat displays.
Why this show matters for Chesapeake Bay buyers
Annapolis is one of the rare places where a buyer can move directly from center consoles to express cruisers, pilothouse boats, sport boats, Downeast designs and performance-oriented European boats in a single day. That makes the show especially useful for Chesapeake Bay owners who are deciding whether the next boat should remain fishing-first or become more comfortable for family cruising and shoulder-season use.
As of August 29, the confirmed list includes brands and models such as Grady-White Canyon 336, Pursuit OS 325, Regulator 31, Saxdor 340 GTWA, Axopar 38, Targa 37, Back Cove 39O, Pursuit OS 405 and Targa 41, among many others. Because the organizer says exhibitors are added daily, treat the list as a live snapshot rather than a final roster.
Is Nord Star currently confirmed for Annapolis?
No. Nord Star is not currently listed on the official 2026 exhibitor boat list we reviewed on August 29. Rugged Boat Guide is therefore not representing that Nord Star will be at the show. What we are doing is measuring whether there is enough real Mid-Atlantic buyer demand to make a compelling case for bringing a boat to Annapolis.
Would you like to see Nord Star in Annapolis?
Nord Star is not currently listed as a confirmed exhibitor on the official 2026 boat list. Rugged Boat Guide is measuring real buyer demand. If interest is strong enough, we can share the results with Nord Star and its U.S. contacts as evidence that Chesapeake-area buyers want to see the boats.
Why a Nord Star 36+ demonstration would be useful
The Nord Star 36+ sits in an interesting cross-shopping zone for Annapolis buyers. Many buyers arrive expecting to look at premium center consoles, dual consoles or express boats in roughly the 33–40-foot range. The 36+ approaches the mission differently: a true enclosed pilothouse, protected helm and passenger space, walkaround side decks, overnight capability and a layout designed to make cold, wet or windy days part of normal boating rather than exceptions.
For a Chesapeake buyer, that distinction matters. April mornings, fall northerlies, spray crossing the Bay and cool October evenings can make a large open boat technically usable but less inviting for spouses, children and guests. A boat that materially extends the comfortable season can change the economics of ownership because it can create more genuinely enjoyable boating days.
Confirmed boats worth cross-shopping
How to use the show efficiently
- Start with your mission, not your favorite brand. Decide how much of your boating is family cruising, fishing, watersports, overnighting and shoulder-season use.
- Board one open center console and one enclosed pilothouse back-to-back. The contrast is easier to understand physically than in specifications.
- Test side-deck movement. Walk bow to stern as if you were docking with children or guests aboard.
- Sit where your family will sit. Helm ergonomics matter, but passenger comfort often determines how much the boat actually gets used.
- Ask for an all-in delivered number. Compare configured price, electronics, propulsion, commissioning and required options rather than base MSRP alone.
New & notable: Askari 65 world premiere
Recent show coverage says the Askari 65, an aluminum long-range cruiser with an advertised range of roughly 3,900 nautical miles, is scheduled for a world premiere in Annapolis. It is far outside the Nord Star 36+/42+ size class, but it is worth noting because it reinforces the show's growing mix of serious long-range and all-weather boats—not only center consoles.
2026 ticket options now include two-day combinations
| Ticket | Current posted price | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Preview Day | $45 | Thursday, Oct. 8; one day |
| General Admission | $32 | One day, Oct. 9–11 |
| Preview + General combo | $72 | Thursday plus one general-admission day |
| Two-Day General Admission | $59 | Two general-admission days, Oct. 9–11 |
| Child, ages 7–15 | $10 | One day; age 6 and under free |
| Military Sunday | $22 | Sunday, Oct. 11; qualifying military households |
2026 show FAQ
When is the 2026 Annapolis Powerboat Show?
October 8–11, 2026 at Annapolis City Dock. Current published hours are 10:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday.
Is Nord Star confirmed for the 2026 show?
No. Nord Star was not on the official exhibitor boat list checked August 29, 2026. This page is measuring buyer interest in seeing the brand at Annapolis.
Can I register interest in a Nord Star 36+ cruise?
Yes. The form above lets prospective buyers register interest in a demonstration cruise if a 36+ becomes available around the show. Registering does not guarantee a boat or cruise.
What boats should a Nord Star shopper see at the show?
Depending on size and mission, useful cross-shops include confirmed models from Grady-White, Pursuit, Regulator, Back Cove, Targa, Axopar and Saxdor. Rugged Boat Guide has model-level comparisons for several of these boats.
Best pilothouse & all-weather boats at Annapolis
See the confirmed Targa, Nimbus, Jeanneau NC, Saxdor, Marex, Back Cove, Pursuit and Boston Whaler boats that matter most to a year-round Chesapeake buyer.