TheEcological Transitionofthe Luxury Yachting Industryis no longer just a stylistic exercise, but an industrial necessity—one that is increasingly concrete and less ideological. In2026, the 35th edition ofthe Monaco Yacht Show (MYS 2026)will bring together theleading figures of thesuperyacht industry in the Principality fromSeptember23to26against the spectacular backdrop of Port Hercule, is generating high expectations among industry insiders and the general public alike. The current reality reveals a sector caught between regulatory pressure, technological innovation, and an increasingly concrete demand formeasurable environmental impact: it is no longer enough to simply declare a yacht “green”; action must be taken across its entire lifecycle—from design to materials, from propulsion— Motors —to energy management, right through torefit.
How can we distinguish real progress from mere intentions? This is the key question posed by Toby Moore, CEO of Informa Prestige, the driving force behind this annual event of global appeal. TheBlueWake™ program (literally: “blue awakening”), developed in partnership withthe Water Revolution Foundation, presents itself as a conceptual and ideologicalrenaissancedesigned specifically to address this (almost Hamlet-like) question through arigorous frameworkcapable of identifying and promoting environmental solutionsbacked by verifiable evidence, going beyond mere declarations of principle.
The recent appointment ofLeah Werneras head of theWater Revolution Foundationfurther strengthens the scientific dimension ofBlue Wake™ 2026, which is considered a crucial step toward establishing sharedstandardsthat can guide exhibitors—and theyachtingindustry as a whole—toward a path of shared growth.
A trained marine biologist and oceanographer, the current Executive Director has built her professional experience on her ability to translate complex scientific data into practical tools and methodologies. This approach is also fully applied in the process of evaluating theBlue Economyinitiatives that drive Blue Wake™.
The selected projects—some of which will be honored during the show—represent what the industry is capable of achieving wheninnovation and accountabilitygo hand in hand, transforming sustainability into somethingtangible. Thus,Technological Excellence, Environmental Responsibility, and Eco-Conscious Luxuryare not conflicting dimensions, but rather converge to form apuzzleaimed at making yachting in the near future (which is already here) pioneering, functional, and compliant with an increasingly detailed and precise regulatory framework. Consider, for example, the very recentEU revision regarding the CO2 emissions trading scheme, mandated by the European Commission even for large yachts (editor’s note: those exceeding 400 metric tons of gross tonnage), as well as the strict limits imposed by the International Maritime Organization to curb the production of climate-altering gases on board vessels. These measures are inevitably transforming the dynamics of this market, whoseannual revenue exceeds54 billion euros(source: Global Economic Impact of the Superyacht Industry). MYS2026thus becomes the stage for a sneak peek at the future of the sector: how can the extreme complexity and luxury of superyachting be reconciled with a truly more efficient, measurable, and sustainable model of navigation? This year, all the conditions seem to be in place to change the rules of the game!The atmosphere in the Principality, as you stroll through the vast exhibition andhospitalityareaatPort Hercule—which is welcoming thousands of visitors—smells not only of design andsuperyacht toys fora discerning clientele, but also of a quiet revolution—regenerative, almost therapeutic, like the sea breeze that enlivens the spectacularsuperyachts mooredin front ofthe iconicYacht Club de Monaco.
