The 2026 Boat Show Accessibility Survey closes this Friday, and we at Megayacht News want yacht owners and buyers, brokers, builders, designers, captains, and crew to share their experiences before the deadline.
The survey takes about four minutes. All responses are anonymous.
Megayacht News launched the first-ever boat-show accessibility survey last year. Following concerning conversations, we wanted to better understand whether boat shows are difficult for people with disabilities and mobility impairments. Industry trade organizations like the International Yacht Brokers Association shared the survey with their members, too. The results showed that 43 percent of yachting clients find shows on both sides of the Atlantic physically challenging.
This year’s survey builds on that work. The goal is to identify where the biggest barriers remain. Simultaneously, we’re inviting recommendations for practical improvements that could make shows easier, safer, and more welcoming for everyone.
Boat shows are central to the yacht-buying and ownership experience. They provide the opportunity to inspect yachts, meet shipyard representatives, talk with designers, connect with brokers, and compare services in person. But for people with disabilities or mobility impairments, the experience can be far more difficult than many realize. Long distances from parking and drop-off areas, for instance, are cited. So, too, do unstable docks, steep ramps, inaccessible restrooms, and difficult yacht-boarding methods turn a productive show visit into a physically demanding ordeal. In some cases, these challenges limit how many yachts or exhibitors someone visits. They have also forced meetings off-site and discouraged attendance altogether.
Importantly, you don’t need to have a disability or mobility impairment to participate. We also want to hear from people who have hosted meetings with and accompanied someone facing these challenges. Those of you who have observed accessibility issues at shows should respond as well.
We’ll be publishing the results in a publicly accessible report ahead of boat-show season. Megayacht News will further share the results with major show organizers and advocacy organizations to encourage sensible, meaningful improvements.
As an additional thank-you, one randomly selected participant will receive a $50 gift card. Providing an email address for the drawing is optional and remains separate from the survey answers.
Take the 2026 Boat Show Accessibility Survey before it closes Friday, and help make future shows easier for everyone to attend.
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