The Boat Show Is Back: What FLIBS Says About Waterfront Living in Fort Lauderdale

Every fall, Fort Lauderdale turns its waterways into the world's stage. The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) returns Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Its organizers call it the largest in-water boat show in the world, and it's a good reminder of why so many people choose to live here.

Where and when

The show spreads across several sites: Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Las Olas Marina, Hall of Fame Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South, and the Broward County Convention Center.

Show hours:

• Wednesday, Oct. 28: noon to 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 29, to Saturday, Oct. 31: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Fort Lauderdale Journal notes that tickets are sold online only, so buy yours before you head out.

What the show says about living on the water

FLIBS is about boats, but it also shows off the lifestyle that makes Fort Lauderdale's waterfront neighborhoods so popular. The city's canals, the Intracoastal, and quick ocean access put boating at the center of daily life for many residents, not just one week a year.

If you're thinking about waterfront property, the show is a good time to think about how you'd actually use the water. Questions worth asking:

• What size boat do you have now, or plan to own? Dock length, water depth, and bridge clearance on the route to open water all matter, and they vary from one property to the next.
• How quickly do you want to reach the ocean? Some locations have a short, direct route, while others mean a longer cruise.
• Dockage and seawall condition. Look at the dock and seawall on any waterfront home as carefully as you'd look at the roof.

Every property is different, so check these details home by home rather than assuming.

Tips for visiting

• Plan for traffic. The Fort Lauderdale Journal expects heavy traffic around the beach and the 17th Street Causeway during boat show week. It also notes the Las Olas and Sunrise bridges are already down to shifted lanes because of construction.
• Buy tickets and plan parking ahead of time. Check flibs.com for tickets, parking, and shuttle details. The show lists about 3,000 parking spaces at the Broward County Convention Center.
• Choose your site. The show describes each location differently. Las Olas Marina features brokerage yachts from 60' to 200', Pier Sixty-Six North has brokerage vessels 100' and up, and the Convention Center has vessels up to 50' plus accessories and electronics.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You'll cover a lot of dock.

Thinking about waterfront living?

If the boat show has you picturing your own dock, I'd be glad to help you compare waterfront neighborhoods across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach.

Miguel Perez, REALTOR® | Luxe Properties | 786-460-1023