Informa Markets, together with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Harbors and Suntex Marina, today announced the launch of the Windy City Boat & Yacht Show at Burnham Harbor, set to debut June 11-14, 2026, in Chicago. The show will offer dockage for more than 150 boats and at least 75,000 square feet of upland exhibit space.
“There was certainly a lot of discussion regarding creating something special in this market,” Larry Berryman Jr., Informa vice president of Miami Boating and director of the Windy City Boat & Yacht Show, told Trade Only Today. “We looked at how the industry continues to adapt and evolve, and felt there was a great opportunity to bring a world-class, on-the-water event to this region. We just had a conversation with a major yacht manufacturer about Chicago being an untapped market for them. The interest and opportunity are certainly there.”
Trade Only Today: Is it primarily a regional show for the Great Lakes area, or will there be national and international interests represented?
Berryman: I believe our show will be heavily influenced by the Great Lakes region. Certainly, the boat dealers, yacht brokers and manufacturers in the Chicago area and the surrounding Great Lakes will make up the lion’s share of the exhibitor base. But I wouldn’t put any limits on this event. Chicago is a wonderful boating destination with ties all over the world. An international component is something we expect to build upon.
The location, Burnham Harbor, provides ample opportunity for boats north of 100 feet. For that market and specific to the area … the show will facilitate a great opportunity for yacht brokers, not only in Chicago but for the entire Great Lakes area, to showcase these boats.
We’re going to open this up for sailing and for brokerage vessels. We really want it to be as comprehensive and dynamic an event as we possibly can produce. We’re going to open this up to the entire recreational boating community.
TOT: Are you going to have superyachts?
Berryman: I think if the request is made, we’ll find a way. If there’s an opportunity for a superyacht to join, the great thing is we can build the dock to order; we can create space. So that may be tier two, so we’ll keep that on the chalkboard.
TOT: How has the industry response been so far?
Berryman: We’ll be looking forward to hearing and seeing the response. With that in mind, all of our initial discussions before the release have been overwhelmingly positive. The companies we have spoken with are very excited about this project, especially the timing, the format and the accessible location at Burnham Harbor.
Andrew Doole, president of U.S. boat shows for Informa Markets, added in a statement: “Chicago’s boating community has long expressed the need for an in-water show, and we’re excited to bring this vision to life at the perfect location. Burnham Harbor offers an unparalleled setting, where attendees can step directly into the show from land and water to experience hands-on learning and explore the latest marine innovations in a fully immersive environment. This event goes beyond showcasing boats; it’s about embracing the boating lifestyle in a way that seamlessly connects the water, the city and the community, welcoming boaters of all skill levels to kick off the season.”
Click here for more information about the Windy City Boat & Yacht Show. Email Berryman at [email protected] for exhibitor details.
