Superyacht refit and aftersales professionals prepare for a high‑impact business forum in Viareggio
The superyacht refit world is gearing up for a pivotal rendezvous in early 2026 as YARE – Yachting Aftersales & Refit Experience returns to Viareggio, Italy, from 11–13 March 2026. Now in its 16th edition, this event has become an indispensable fixture for shipyards, captains, yacht managers and specialist service companies focused on refit, maintenance and aftersales operations — the nuts and bolts of long‑term vessel stewardship.
What sets YARE apart in a crowded calendar is its deliberate simplicity and operational focus. Far from a traditional boat show with expansive stands and flashy displays, the event adheres to the principle “Zero stand. 100% efficiency. The YARE way”, a formula that prioritises targeted dialogue, direct meetings and business‑oriented engagement.
Over more than fifteen years, the event has built a stable international community, regularly drawing hundreds of professionals from the refit ecosystem. Past editions involved more than 1,600 captains and 2,000 companies, with roughly 450 commercial agreements concluded in the months following each event — proof that YARE isn’t just talk but a generator of real commercial outcomes.
The 2026 programme expands on this legacy with a strong emphasis on practical, operational content. The traditional District Tour invites participants into the heart of Tuscany’s nautical district, offering firsthand exposure to shipyards, suppliers and technology centres that define Mediterranean refit capability. There’s also the International Captains Forum, where technical panels, case studies and strategic dialogues will tackle key themes such as sustainability, digitalisation, supply chain resilience and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in vessel operations.
A core feature once again is the Meet the Captains matchmaking format, where companies gain scheduled face‑to‑face time with invited captains based on their technical and operational alignment — up to 15 targeted encounters per company. The Passerelle Pitch provides innovators and solution providers a platform to showcase next‑generation refit technologies directly to decision‑makers aboard.
YARE’s steady evolution profiles it not just as a forum but as a strategic operational engine for the superyacht refit and aftersales sector. As the industry confronts tighter uptime expectations, sustainability demands and ever‑more complex technical briefs, the gathering in Tuscany offers a moment to align, innovate and build the networks that make tomorrow’s refit success stories possible.
