The Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene 26 Båt – often referred to as Europe’s second-largest indoor boat show – recorded attendance of nearly 55,000 visitors, bringing the show back to its 2024 level.
In 2025, attendance was down by around 10,000 – organisers claim this was due to the Helsinki Outdoor & Hunting Fair being held during the first weekend of the boat show. The Helsinki Outdoor & Hunting Fair will run in parallel with the boat show again in 2027.
Vene 26 Båt was held from 6-15 February 2026 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, and featured products for boating, fishing and watersports, with 400 boats on display. Most of those boats were from Finnish brands. Overall, 288 companies exhibited at the ten-day event.
“Helsinki International Boat Show is an impressive event that receives high praise also from international visitors,” says Jarkko Pajusalo, CEO of the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat, which organises the event alongisde the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (Messukeskus).
“Many are genuinely surprised by the extensive and diverse range on display. Vene 26 Båt is Europe’s second-largest indoor boat show, directly after boot Düsseldorf. In fact, many of the boats travel straight from Düsseldorf to Helsinki for the show. It is easy to feel proud of the Finnish boating industry, which, despite the challenging economic situation, demonstrates confidence in the future and wants to present its new products broadly at the show.
“Although the Finnish boat industry forms the backbone of the exhibition, it is the international boat and marine equipment manufacturers that give the event a distinctly international character.”
European Boating Industry (EBI) officially launched the Baltic Sea Boating Forum during the show. The forum is being presented as a new platform for dialogue between the boating industry, policymakers and other stakeholders, focusing specifically on issues affecting boating in the Baltic Sea.
Nord Star brought two large cruisers to the show, including a 49ft luxury yacht built in Kokkola. Simon Lindkvist, CEO of the boatyard, says the firm’s boats saw marked interest. “The boats attracted great interest among visitors, and thousands of people stepped on board,” says Lindkvist. “We had some international visitors, mainly from Estonia. Many asked questions and were surprised to learn that the boats are built in Finland. Around 10 per cent of annual production is sold on the Finnish market, with the remainder exported”.
The Finnish-built Predacast 430 Striker received the public vote in the category Fishing Boat of the Show. The model, designed by Mika Kärkkäinen, is intended for demanding use, with a fully welded hull built from 4mm marine-grade aluminium.
“We launched a new Finnish fishing boat here at the boat show, and visitor interest was very strong,” says Kärkkäinen. “We did close some deals, but many still want to wait for the opportunity to test drive the boat in Ristiina. The boat’s Finnish origin is absolutely crucial, and we also want to keep production in Finland. In addition to Finnish visitors, we had interest from Sweden and Estonia as well.”
Vene 27 Båt is scheduled to return from 12–21 February 2027 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre.
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