The 21st BOAT International World Superyacht Awards, in partnership with The Italian Sea Group and Acquera Club, will take place in Venice, Italy, on 1–2 May. Celebrating exceptional design and craftsmanship, the awards honour the world’s most remarkable luxury yachts while bringing together the yachting industry’s leading figures.
Last weekend, 20 judges – all superyacht owners, past and present, convened at London’s Belmond Cadogan for a full day of judging.
The process is meticulous. Judges review each entry within their assigned categories, assessing detailed citations, imagery, video footage and technical statements against clearly defined criteria. Following extensive deliberation and discussion, the winners were narrowed from a shortlist of 57 nominees. They will be revealed at the awards ceremony in May.
For chairman Richard Raper, who has led the awards for eight years, it marked another successful judging session: “It was a pleasure to bring our 20 judges together in London for such a productive and engaging weekend,” he says. “After hours of careful discussion, we were reminded once again of the extraordinary calibre of yachts being delivered today – and of the responsibility we carry in recognising true excellence.” Discover what judges consider when deciding if a yacht is worthy of an award, below.
Behind the scenes at the judging
How to secure tickets
With anticipation building ahead of Venice, a limited number of tickets are still available for the two-day event on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets include access to the welcome reception, the gala dinner and awards ceremony and the official after-party.
For more information, visit www.boatinternational.com/luxury-yacht-events/world-superyacht-awards/everything-you-need-to-know-2026
