January 2026 | Superyacht Sales & Charter Market
Market Overview
January opened with a calm but constructive tone across both sales and charter markets. While buyers remained selective, confidence strengthened steadily through the month, supported by confirmed transactions, realistic pricing, and continued new-build momentum.
Charter demand showed early acceleration, particularly from European and American clients seeking post-holiday escapes and planning well ahead for Summer 2026. Across sales, liquidity was most evident where pedigree, refit quality, and value alignment were clearly established.
Overall sentiment: measured optimism, with buyers and charterers alike engaging earlier and more deliberately than in previous years.
January Round-Up
Yachts Sold: 18
Yachts Listed for Sale: 28
New Builds Delivered: 6
Active Listings Tracked: ~1,100
Avg Asking Price (50m+): €48.5M
Avg Time on Market: 21 months
Monthly Standouts
Sales activity concentrated at the top end: Several high-profile transactions in the 40m–90m range reinforced that quality assets continue to move, particularly those with substantial recent refits or proven build credentials.
Early charter commitments increased: Mediterranean summer bookings are tracking 18% ahead year-on-year, with strong demand for the Balearics and French Riviera.
Multi-week charters gained traction: A noticeable shift toward longer, more immersive itineraries emerged, signalling changing expectations among UHNW charter clients.
New-build confidence remains intact: Contracting activity in the 30–55m semi-custom segment continued, pointing to owners planning several seasons ahead rather than reacting to short-term cycles.
French Riviera- Mediterranean Charter Season
Regional Highlights
Mediterranean
Italian shipyards (Azimut-Benetti, Sanlorenzo) report record order books exceeding €100M for new projects. Charter inquiries for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix are already surging, with Port Hercule berths in high demand.
USA/Caribbean
The Caribbean season is in full swing, with the Miami International Boat Show (Feb 11-15) driving sales activity for the 30-50m segment.
Asia-Pacific
Refit activity remains strong in Thailand, with Clearvac Engineering Asia delivering the refit of M/Y Victon in Bangkok.
Australia & New Zealand
The industry is focused on the aftermath of the Sydney marina fire, with salvage operations and insurance assessments dominating local news.
Trend Spotting
1. Turnkey & Refit Premium
Recent refits and immediate readiness are increasingly protecting value. Well-invested yachts consistently outperformed broader market averages in both sales velocity and charter demand.
2. Longer Charters, Fewer Trips
High-net-worth clients are consolidating travel into fewer but longer charters, favouring multi-week experiences over short itineraries.
3. Mediterranean Pull Forward
Summer 2026 planning is happening earlier, particularly for high-demand Med itineraries. Early commitment is becoming a competitive advantage rather than an exception.
4. Sustainability in Motion
Electric and alternative-propulsion platforms gained visibility this month. While still niche, sustainability is transitioning from concept to consideration, particularly in new-build discussions.
Upcoming Events
Miami International Boat Show
Feb 11–15, 2026
A key show for the US market, featuring major world debuts in the 30m+ category.
Dubai International Boat Show
Mar 3–7, 2026
The premier event for the Middle Eastern market, focusing on 50m+ "mega" yachts.
Palm Beach International Boat Show
Mar 19–22, 2026
A high-end boutique show often featuring the season's most significant brokerage listings.
Miami International Boat Show (Source: Yachting News)
Looking Ahead
February and March are expected to remain active, driven by spring break and Easter charter demand, continued Mediterranean season planning, and sustained new-build engagement.
The key theme moving into Q1’s close: early decisions, realistic pricing, and quality assets will continue to outperform.
Complied: Monday, 2 February 2026, 10:03am (Sydney, Australia)
Sources: BOATPro, SuperYacht Times, Yachting News, BOAT International