When and where is IBEX 2026?

October 6–8, 2026 at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Exhibit floors are open 9am–5pm on October 6 and 7 and 9am–3pm on October 8 (Eastern Time). Pre-Conference Sessions run on Monday, October 5.

IBEX is trade-only and not open to the general public. No one under 18, including infants, is admitted, and the show may ask for ID to verify age or business affiliation.

How much is an exhibit hall badge?

Badges were free for qualified marine professionals who pre-registered by September 4, 2026. From September 5 there is a $50 Exhibit Hall badge fee, which is waived if you buy a Seminar Series pass.

How much do the seminars cost?

A Single Seminar is $85, a 3-Pack $225 and a FlexPass (up to 11 seminars) $535 at the regular rate; early-bird prices of $75, $199 and $475 applied until September 4, 2026. Pre-Conference Session prices vary. Tech Talk Workshops and Main Stage programming are free.

Can international visitors get a visa invitation letter?

Yes. Tick the invitation-letter checkbox during registration and provide your passport details; letters are sent digitally.

IBEX 2026 - atndr

Name: IBEX 2026
Start: 2026-10-06T09:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-08T15:00:00+00:00
Location: Tampa Convention Center

About this event

IBEX, the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference, is North America's main technical trade event for recreational marine manufacturing. Owned and produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and RAI Amsterdam, it pairs a large exhibition of components, materials and systems with an education conference built with Professional BoatBuilder, the IBEX technical journal. It is trade-only and not open to the public.

Who attends

The show is aimed at the people who design, build, equip and service boats, from production lines to custom yards.

Production and custom boatbuilders and OEM manufacturing teams
Naval architects and designers
Marine engineers working on propulsion, onboard systems and materials
Component, system and materials suppliers
Marina and boatyard operators
Marine industry executives

Exhibition

More than 700 exhibitors fill the Tampa Convention Center floors, organised into pavilions and special areas. Highlights include Innovation Way, the IBEX Innovation Awards, and the Yachting Ventures Start-Up Pavilion for new marine companies.

Education conference

Pre-Conference Sessions on Monday, October 5 offer half- and full-day hands-on training. From October 6 to 8 the paid Seminar Series runs 50+ sessions across ten technical tracks, alongside free exhibitor Tech Talk Workshops and free Main Stage programming. Seminar attendance earns CEUs (1 CEU per hour).

Construction Methods & Materials
Design & Engineering
Emerging Topics
Leadership
Management Policy
Marina and Boatyard Operations
Marine Electrical Systems
Marine Onboard Systems
Survey and Repair
Sustainability

Networking

Receptions and special events run through the show, including the ticketed Industry Breakfast, MIX (Marine Ideas Exchange), an Emerging Marine Leaders programme and a Career Day. A free golf-cart shuttle, Tides Rides, links the convention center with the official IBEX hotels.

Tickets & passes

Exhibit Hall badge — USD 50: Free for qualified marine professionals who pre-registered by Sept 4, 2026; waived with any Seminar Series pass
Seminar Series – Single Seminar — USD 85: Regular rate ($75 early bird until Sept 4)
Seminar Series – 3-Pack — USD 225: Regular rate ($199 early bird until Sept 4)
Seminar Series – FlexPass — USD 535: Up to 11 seminars; regular rate ($475 early bird until Sept 4)
Tech Talk Workshops & Main Stage — Free: Free, no separate registration

IBEX 2026 was an Industry & Manufacturing event that took place 6-8 Oct 2026 at Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, United States.

Event recap

IBEX 2026, the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference, took place from 6 to 8 October at the Tampa Convention Center, run with the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The trade-only show brought boatbuilders, designers and marine suppliers together for an exhibition and technical seminars. At the opening-day Industry Breakfast, 12 Innovation Award winners and three honourable mentions were chosen from 100 exhibitor entries, judged by Boating Writers International; winners included the Garmin Signal VHF 400 and the Glydus telescopic and tilt mechanism. The next edition moves to December, with dates set for 7 to 9 December 2027 in Tampa.