The Boat Builder Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and achievement in the boat building and superyacht industries. The awards recognize individuals, companies, and collaborative partnerships that are driving the sector forward through break through launches, innovative design, sustainability initiatives, and outstanding contributions to the industry.

Returning for its 12th edition in 2026, the awards are jointly organised by IBI and Metstrade in association with Raymarine, and are fully integrated into the Metstrade experience.

The Boat Builder Awards 2026 will be held on Wednesday evening, 18 November 2026, in Restaurant Harbour 8  as part of the Metstrade event. The ceremony promises an unforgettable evening of celebration, fine dining, entertainment, and high-level networking.

This year’s theme is ‘The Industrial Pulse,’ which captures the energy, precision, and craftsmanship that define modern boatbuilding, connecting hands-on shipyard expertise with innovation-led leadership.

The awards ceremony welcomes boat builders, superyacht yards, marine industry suppliers, designers, naval architects, and other professionals from across the maritime sector. It’s an excellent opportunity to network with the industry’s finest while celebrating excellence and innovation in boat building.

Yes, tickets are now on sale. For ticket information and pricing, please visit the Boat Builder Awards ticket page.

Follow the official Boat Builder Awards website and subscribe to the IBI newsletter for the latest updates on nominees, winners, and event details.

Nominations will be opening on 20 May. You can directly access the Boat Builder Awards nominations page here.

Nominations are typically open to boat builders, superyacht yards, marine industry professionals, and supply chain partners operating within the relevantsectors. Self-nominations and third-party nominations may both be accepted depending on the category. Please note the criteria for entry categories. With the exception of the Collaborative Solution Award, the nominees must either be acompany manufacturing leisure boats or superyachts, or people working in that sector.

The deadline for nominations is 25 September 2026. There is an advantage inentering earlier because we will be placing advanced entries in the hands of the judges ahead of the deadline so that they have more time to consider them.

There is no charge to make a nomination. You can enter as many times as you like, but each entry must be unique and not a duplicate.

The same boat or initiative can be entered in multiple categories provided that the nominations comply with the terms for each category. Nominations must offer relevant statements and information for each category (ie not duplicate entries posted against multiple categories).

The 2026 Boat Builder Awards feature six key categories, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. You can view the Boat Builder Awards categories here

Please help the judges to understand why your boat, design feature, product, innovation, or person is the best of the entries we receive by providing plenty of fact-based information to support your claim.

The judging is predominantly undertaken online. All Boat Builder Awards judges are fluent in English, but for some this is a second language and absolute clarity of nominations is vital.

Please include:

• a clear explanation of what is being entered; and
• an easily understood statement of why it should win.

The judges on our panel have a broad blend of technical skills and experience. Their understanding of the nomination works best if they are provided withlogical information rather than subjective marketing-led statements.

Evidence-based facts will always be welcome. Videos and relevant accompanying information will be considered carefully in addition to written statements. You should find this easy to add these to the entry portal. If you have any problems submitting material, please Email boatbuilderawards@ibinews.com for assistance.

A market disruptor is a new company, class, range, or model that introduces significant innovation, challenges existing market norms, or creates new opportunities within the yachting or boating sector. This could include revolutionary design concepts, new business models, or products that redefine customer expectations.

Yes, this category is open to both production boats and one-off custom yachts. The focus is on a specific new feature or design solution that enhances customer appeal, functionality, or efficiency. Ther nomination should ideally be one stand out feature, rather than a whole boat or yacht.

The innovation can encompass a wide range of solutions including interior and exterior design features, onboard systems, technological integrations, materials,or construction techniques—as long as it demonstrably enhances the boat’s appeal, function, or efficiency.

Yes, this is a joint nomination category. Both the boat builder or superyacht yard and their supply chain partner must be nominated together, as the award recognises the collaborative effort between the two parties.

Improvements can relate to sales potential, performance enhancements, service delivery, production efficiency, or any other aspect where close interaction between the builder’s and supplier’s teams has resulted in tangible additional value to the new build. Entries should explain how this interaction worked and why it added value that would have not been possible without lose collaboration above the norm for usual supply chain relaionships.

Measurable reductions refer to quantifiable improvements such as reduced carbon emissions, lower energy consumption, decreased waste, use of sustainable materials, improved recyclability, or other environmental metrics that can be documented and verified at the point of manufacture or throughout the boat’s lifecycle.

This category welcomes both product innovations (new boat models with enhanced sustainability features) and business/production process improvements that result in measurable environmental benefits. It encourages significant authentic improvement in environmental performance.

The Rising Star award recognises emerging talent making a growing impact inthe boat building industry. Nominees may be at various career stages but should demonstrate notable contributions and potential for continued influence in areas such as design, production, management, procurement, or other boat building disciplines.

Yes, companies are encouraged to nominate talented individuals within their organisations who meet the Rising Star criteria of being no older than age 40 by 17 November 2026 and working directly for a boat builder or shipyard.

The Lifetime Achievement Award typically recognizes individuals through nominations from peers, colleagues, or industry organisations who can attest to the nominee’s significant and sustained contributions throughout their career. Self-nominations will however be considered.

A lifetime’s contribution refers to sustained impact over the course of a career, demonstrating significant influence while working directly within the boat building or superyacht industries through leadership, innovation, mentorship, business growth and other meaningful achievements.

The awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts, includingboat builders, naval architects, marine journalists, and other respected professionals from across the maritime sector.

Judges evaluate nominations based on the specific criteria outlined for each category, including factors such as innovation, impact, measurability of results, market influence, and overall contribution to the boat building industry.

Winners will be announced during the Boat Builder Awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, 18 November 2026. Finalists or shortlisted nominees may be announced in advance of the event.

The Boat Builder Awards 2026 are jointly organised by IBI and Metstrade in association with Raymarine. Individual award categories are sponsored by leading industry partners including e-Propulsion, Flexiteek, High Pressure Watermakers, JL Audio, Lumishore and Sleipner.

For information about available sponsorship packages and benefits, please contact boatbuilderawards@ibinews.com.

Event partners receive prominent brand visibility throughout the awards programme, including recognition in promotional materials, at the ceremony,and across digital platforms. Supporting partners also enjoy a range of benefits. Sponsorship demonstrates your company’s commitment to supporting innovation and excellence in the marine industry.

Attendees can look forward to an unforgettable evening featuring fine dining, entertainment, and high-level networking opportunities with the industry’s finest professionals. The ceremony celebrates excellence and innovation inboatbuilding within the inspiring atmosphere of ‘The Industrial Pulse’ theme.

Yes, the Boat Builder Awards are fully integrated into the Metstrade experience, taking place in Restaurant Harbour 8 after Metstrade closes on its middle day within the show site at Amsterdam RAI. This integration provides attendees with seamless access to both the trade show and the awards celebration.

Yes, that is possible but also remember that registration to attend Metstrade is completely free to all qualifying trade visitors, if you register before the deadline. Registration for Metstrade will open mid-September – you will be able to register for Metstrade here.

For additional questions about nominations, categories, event details, tickets, or sponsorship opportunities, please email boatbuilderawards@ibinews.com

Yes you can. Please contact the Boat Builder Awards non-voting secretary, Kim Hollamby, via boatbuilderawards@ibinews.com

For information about the broader Metstrade event, please visit metstrade.com.