Hot or not? Market forecasts in 2026

opinion

by Rob Hodgetts

23 December 2025

Hot or not? Superyacht market predictions for 2026.

If we could predict the future we’d have all gamed the lottery and bought our own superyachts by now.

But that doesn’t stop us from speculating, and the ongoing state of the superyacht market offers a rich bounty for crystal-ball gazers.

From who has the upper hand in a deal to brokerage vs new-build prices and which segments are hot and why, everyone has a view.

With this in mind, we asked some leading brokers to fire up their forecasts and suggest where the superyacht market might be heading in 2026. Here are their replies:

Mathieu Bardon, managing partner Europe, Worth Avenue Yachts
“2026 will likely be heavily influenced by global politics and economic stability. The One Big Beautiful Bill has increased US buyers’ interest and should remain a strong lever for the brokerage market, while European buyers may stay cautious.

“The 50m-plus segment is expected to remain resilient, while the sub‑30m range will see significant price realignment, driven by shipyard inventory and recent builds coming to market. In this environment, sellers will need to adapt to market conditions if they want their yachts to sell, while buyers will be ready to seize opportunities as they arise.”

AJ Blackmon, CEO, Ikonic Yachts
“My crystal ball seems to be rusty as of late but looking ahead I would title the playbook as moving from ‘catching a wave, to curating it’. Far fewer tire kickers and a much higher concentration of very serious, very knowledgeable buyers as we head into 2026. I feel the 40-60m market is in a controlled boom phase where it’s less frothy than, say, Covid times but extremely active for well-priced or newer, higher-pedigree builds. Any variance from those parameters and your yacht is sitting in a ghost town without bids.

“The only real risk I see of the 40m-plus market cooling off is the growing gap between new-build pricing inflated by materials and labour and nearly new brokerage pricing that can paralyse buyers who want ‘new’ but refuse to pay a premium. In the end, the clients who value being on the yacht they dream about this season with their family and friends are the clear winners by any unit of measure.”

Will Christie, founder, Christie Yachts
“My prediction remains that secondary market values for larger steel-hulled yachts will continue to hold firm and quite possibly increase as the inflation of new construction prices is truly baked in with higher labour costs. Shipyards are still regularly signing new contracts, despite these higher prices.

“This past year alone we have signed two new builds in Northern European shipyards, one over 3,000GT. The market is, in my opinion, quite balanced at present. Immediately after Covid it was a seller’s market. The last 12 months everything has stabilised, but for quality larger boats the pendulum will gently be swinging back to sellers again in 2026.”

Simon Goldsworthy, broker, Edmiston
“Taken as a whole, the market in 2026 is likely to be a continuation of this year: we will see growth, but it will be highly segmented. The ultra rich (i.e. billionaires or those with multi-hundreds of millions) seem ready and willing to pay for the rarity of supply. When anything large over 60m and recently built becomes available, it is snapped up within weeks. Sometimes buyers are overpaying. I believe this will continue. However, in the more bread-and-butter €5-15m market, for older and/or smaller yachts, it is very much a buyer’s market, where price is king because there are more yachts than buyers.

“If you are the owner of a second-hand 35m yacht then the market is tough and buyers are looking for ‘a deal’, with plenty of options available to them. For these owners the key will be correct pricing and appointing good brokers who will not let a deal slip through their fingers.”

Jan-Jaap Minnema, broker, Fraser Yachts
“I feel very positive about where the yachting industry is heading. Momentum is clearly building, and I expect to start the year strongly, with a few brokerage and new-build deals likely to close as early as January.

“What really stands out to me is the continued development of the Asian market. I’m seeing more knowledgeable clients, a younger and dynamic buyer profile and real investment in infrastructure across the region. Interest is becoming more structured and long term, particularly for larger yachts and custom projects, which is encouraging.

“Overall, 2026 feels like a year of opportunity. With the right product, good timing and solid relationships, I believe it will be a rewarding year for both clients and brokers who stay proactive and globally minded.”

Raphael Sauleau, CEO, IYC
“Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to be another normalised yet active year for the superyacht market, supported by a healthier balance between supply and demand and gradually strengthening buyer confidence across key regions. Inventory levels are likely to stabilise as the pace of new listings moderates, helping to underpin firmer pricing, particularly in the brokerage sector. At the same time, deferred purchasing decisions from 2025 are expected to re-enter the market as uncertainty continues to ease.

“The US is set to remain a key driver of activity, while Europe continues to provide a solid and consistent foundation for global sales. In line with recent trends, the larger yacht segment is expected to remain resilient, with high-quality, well-priced vessels continuing to attract buyers across both brokerage and new-build markets.

“Despite broader market challenges, 2025 proved to be a strong year for IYC, with over $700m in completed sales value. Activity was particularly robust in the new-build and larger size categories, reinforcing the view that demand remains firmly in place at the top end of the market. Charter was also equally extremely active demonstrating a very strong appetite for yachting.”

Henry Smith, partner, Cecil Wright
“As long as nothing unusual happens in terms of the financial markets — there is a lot of murmuring over concerns about this big AI bubble bursting — I don’t see any reason we won’t see continued and sustained growth next year.

“That Covid-era boom isn’t going to happen any time soon. Order books are pretty healthy across the board, inflation seems to have settled, so we’re now in a position where we should see regular transacting, none of this speculative pricing, I hope. I’m cautiously optimistic. We’ve just sold three yachts in the last two weeks in the build-up to Christmas which is unusual but a good indicator, I suspect.

“The really big sector I can’t see being anything other than healthy. There is so much wealth in the US and so much liquidity — that’s the main driver of the segment of course — that suggests nothing but positivity. We have huge amounts of interest in our big listings. In terms of how yachts are sold, I think there will be a continued push towards the not publicly listed segment. We’ve got a number of yachts marketed off-market, as do other brokers, and it seems to be a very effective way of doing this. Not to say on-market marketing doesn’t work, it does, but looking at the figures we’re achieving slightly higher prices per tonne and turning boats around quicker by having this off-market strategy.”

Sam Tucker, broker, Moravia Yachting
“I’m seeing a clear divide in the market between older, lower-quality listings that are lingering, and newer, well-maintained platforms that continue to transact with more success. Rising new-build costs and extended delivery times are, however, supporting the brokerage market, but they are also pricing out less committed clients.

“The advice to owners and sellers is to stay ahead of maintenance, don’t scrimp on budgets and don’t give buyers easy reasons to hesitate. This is especially important in a market with increased inventory and alternative options aplenty.

“For buyers in 2026, the advice is to perform deeper due diligence. Political and economic uncertainty remain and will continue certainly into the medium term, making exit strategy a far more relevant part of the decision-making process. This is where good advice becomes critical. A strong broker and inbound management team doesn’t just help a buyer purchase a yacht; they help avoid the wrong one and fully understand the future ownership journey.

“Ultimately, in 2026, the market will remain active for the ‘good’ boats while owners who have previously ‘saved’ money on maintenance and upkeep will discover the true costs!”