The ultimate gathering of the international water sports community 

Experts and water sports fans from 113 countries travelled to Düsseldorf 

boot Düsseldorf 2025, which drew to a close on January 26^th  after a nine-day run time, impressively confirmed its pole position on the international trade fair market. With 1,500 exhibitors from 67 countries in 16 exhibition halls it presented a comprehensive image of the international water sports sector inspiring visitors. An outstanding 94 per cent of them said they were very satisfied with the ranges of powerboats and sailing yachts, surf and diving equipment as well as tourism and charter offerings (evaluation of the visitor survey at the trade fair). An important hallmark of boot is its high international attendance in terms of both exhibitors and visitors. Over 63 per cent of the companies and dealers at the fair travelled from other European countries and overseas to Düsseldorf, with the major producing nations Italy, the Netherlands and France in the lead.

A total of more than 200,000 people travelled to Düsseldorf from 113 countries for boot 2025, a third of them from abroad. The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, France, Turkey and Switzerland led the statistics in terms of visitor countries. The number of interested parties from overseas regions such as North America and Asia has continued to increase, with visitors coming primarily from the USA and China.

Messe Düsseldorf’s COO Marius Berlemann: “boot is an excellent mix of a high-caliber trade fair for all water sports sectors with contacts all over the world and exciting leisure activities for visitors from the region. During the nine days, we experienced a unique water sports festival, a first-class business event and a spectacular stage program with celebrities from the worlds of sailing, diving and surfing. However, boot is much more than that. It also flies the flag for marine conservation with the ‘ocean tribute’ Award and the ‘love your ocean’ campaign.”

Robert Marx, President of boot Düsseldorf and the German Marine Federation (BVWW), describes the trade fair from the exhibitors' point of view: “The atmosphere at this year's boot was sensational. It is very interesting and energising for the market that smaller boats in particular were in high demand and we were able to welcome many new, very international prospective buyers. Here in Düsseldorf, we have found just the right crowd to kick off the new season with the best contacts. This year's trade fair exceeded all expectations.”

“We have again proven this year that boot is the driving force and barometer for the industry. While expectations before the trade fair were still reserved, an optimistic look to the coming water sports season is now asserting itself across the board. The majority of exhibitors report great buying interest and many concrete business deals concluded for both boats and technical accessories. Diving and surfing equipment are also popular, and demand seems to have gone up markedly. In addition, January is great timing for preparing the next summer holiday, as evidenced by the avid interest and bookings at Destination Seaside,” explains boot Director Petros Michelidakis.

Gianguido Girotti, CEO of the boat division of the BENETEAU Group – the biggest exhibitor at boot 2025 – explains: “boot Düsseldorf has confirmed its status as a key event for the boating industry once again. We are very satisfied with the high number of visitors and the enthusiastic reception of our 14 innovations such as BENETEAU First 30, PRESTIGE F4.3 or the Island Cruising Concept, which reflect the interest taken in an improved user experience on board.”

Focus on sustainability and marine protection

boot not only scored points with the exhibitors’ ranges but also with its expert program ‘blue innovation dock’. This sustainability forum furnished up-to-date information on the state of developments in the boat segments as well as on the innovations in the segments of propulsion, fuels and materials. “This year’s blue innovation dock has made the path towards sustainability public. This requires innovations, customer proximity and support from policymakers. On the stage important current topics were in focus: alternative propulsion, natural materials, investment incentives for manufacturers and infrastructure renovation at international marinas. The Forum really proved a hub for networking and new business relations,” says Philip Easthill, spokesman of the European Boating Industry (EBI), that jointly organises the blue innovation dock with boot Düsseldorf. In addition, boot is working with the German Ocean Foundation to protect the oceans. The ‘love your ocean’ campaign, with 80 initiatives from business, science and society, is the world's largest sustainability initiative in water sports, covering an area of almost 800 square meters. With the initiation of the ‘ocean tribute’ Award in 2017, the Monegasque Prince Albert II Foundation, the German Ocean Foundation and boot Düsseldorf have set themselves a clear guideline: to support people, projects or initiatives in their commitment to marine conservation.

Next boot Düsseldorf will open its doors from 17 to 25 January 2026. Interested companies and dealers can register for the coming trade fair from May at www.boot.com

Egypt’s Boat Show Aims High: Insights from Düsseldorf’s Premier Event

The Egyptian Boat Show is setting its sights on global recognition, and its organizers, Ahmed Allam, Chairman of Artline for Organizing International Exhibitions and Conferences, and Amr Selim, Chairman of PP&P, the publishing company of Sports & Fitness and He magazine, recently took a significant step in that direction. They both attended the 56th Boot Düsseldorf Show, one of the most prestigious boat exhibitions in the world, to explore cutting-edge innovations, strengthen international ties, and elevate Egypt’s presence in the global boating industry.

Exploring Innovations and New Horizons

Attending Boot Düsseldorf was a strategic move for Selim and Allam, as they aimed to explore the latest advancements in boat design, marine technology, and accessories.

“It’s hard to compare between this boat show and the one we’re organizing in Egypt,” Amr noted. “But the sky is the limit.”

Beyond showcasing boats, Boot Düsseldorf presented an expansive view of the maritime industry, featuring dedicated halls for marine-related arts, pet swimming gear, diving equipment, and lifestyle accessories. This exposure provided invaluable insights into how Egypt’s boat show can expand its scope in future editions.

Strengthening International Partnerships

A key objective of the visit was to meet with Egyptian agents representing international brands. Many of these agents attended the event to connect with their parent companies, and the opportunity was seized to discuss their latest products and developments.

These discussions bore fruit, as several international brands confirmed their participation in the 7th edition of Egypt’s Boat Show. Additionally, the organizers engaged with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism booth, which prominently featured a pharaonic theme and included diving safari companies marketing Egypt as a premier diving destination. The visit also extended to German scuba diving company Dynamic Nord, a top-tier producer of diving equipment, whose senior managers expressed enthusiasm about Egypt Boat Show and participating in Egypt’s upcoming boat show.

Future Collaborations and Ambitious Plans

A pivotal meeting occurred with a key figure at Boot Düsseldorf, Mr. Petros Michelidakis, the Director of Boating and Watersports Events, to discuss potential collaborations between the two events. The discussions centered on expanding the Egyptian Boat Show by attracting more international exhibitors and delegates, as well as the feasibility of establishing a dedicated pavilion for Egyptian-made boats.

Recent advancements in Egypt’s boat manufacturing industry have positioned the country as a formidable competitor on the global stage. Mr. Petros showed an interest in this development and suggested focusing on Egypt’s strength as a premium diving destination.

Beyond the boat show itself, the discussion extended to a larger vision: integrating the event into a broader campaign to promote Egypt’s coasts and real estate offerings. The goal is to attract international yacht owners to not only dock their boats in Egypt but also invest in properties along its picturesque shores, which boast year-round favorable weather.

Mr. Petros commended the existing media campaign of Egypt International Boat Show and expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration. While he is unable to attend this year’s event, he has committed to visiting the 2027 edition, reaffirming that Egypt is on the right track to becoming a recognized hub for the international boating community.

Charting a Course for Global Recognition

With ambitious goals and valuable insights gained from Boot Düsseldorf, the organizers of Egypt’s International Boat Show are committed to elevating the event’s status on the international stage. The show is steadily moving towards global prominence by leveraging new partnerships, promoting Egypt’s growing maritime industry, and strategically expanding its reach. As Mr. Petros puts it, “It will take you time, but you are on the right track and will get there.”