Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026 to expand visitor experiences

Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026 will introduce new thematic areas designed to make the international in-water boat show more accessible to experienced boaters, marine industry professionals, families and newcomers to boating.

The show is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 22 to Sunday 27 September 2026 in La Rochelle, France. According to the organisers, the event will feature more than 500 boats in water and on land, more than 600 exhibitors across 100,000m², 35 countries represented through their brands, around 100 new products or boats, 15 themed exhibition areas, a beach area with sea trials, and fishing activities including a fishing competition.

Located in the largest yacht harbour on the French Atlantic coast, close to the historic city of La Rochelle and surrounded by leading shipyards, the event will continue to focus on the established boating community while seeking to attract a wider audience.

For 2026, Grand Pavois La Rochelle will launch a new “On-the-Water Experience” Area, intended to build on the show’s existing sea trials, demonstrations and introductory sessions.

The organisers say the new area will allow visitors to get aboard and experience time at sea rather than only viewing boats alongside the pontoons. The programme is expected to include sailing excursions, motorboat outings through the Pertuis waters, discovery cruises to La Rochelle’s Old Harbour, and trips around the Phare du Bout du Monde lighthouse.

The aim is to give visitors, including those with little or no previous time on the water, a more accessible introduction to sailing, motorboating and maritime activities. The organisers describe the area as part of the show’s shift towards a more immersive, experience-led format.

Grand Pavois La Rochelle will also introduce a dedicated Tourism Area. The organisers say this new space reflects the way boating has developed beyond boat ownership into a broader form of travel, coastal exploration and leisure.

The area will showcase nautical destinations, coastal experiences, maritime ecotourism initiatives, marinas, tourism boards, islands, sustainable tourism stakeholders, and providers of nautical activities and services.

According to the organisers, the new section is intended to position the show as a gateway to maritime tourism and to reflect visitor interest in experiential tourism, slow travel, nature-based holidays, soft mobility, digital-detox escapes and sustainable tourism.

Japan will be the Guest of Honour at Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026. The organisers say the Japanese Pavilion will highlight the country’s nautical industries, expertise and maritime traditions.

The source material states that Japan comprises more than 6,800 islands and has a long-standing relationship with the sea through trade, livelihood, culture and technological development. It also describes Japan as active in boating, marine electronics, technological innovation, shipbuilding and sport fishing.

Grand Pavois La Rochelle says Japan’s role as Guest of Honour will create opportunities for dialogue between maritime cultures and strengthen connections between international marine stakeholders.