The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is five days filled with center consoles to superyachts, every electronic, accessory, and retail you can imagine, and seeing it all in person spread across seven locations in the heart of South Florida. The show will welcome 100,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, with more than 1,300 vessels on display.
Contender will be there with nine models on the floor of the Broward County Convention Center. Here is what to expect, what to look for, and how to make the trip count.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026: Dates, Venues and Why It Matters
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs October 28 through November 1, 2026. It is the largest in-water boat show in the world, spanning nearly 90 acres of exhibit space across multiple venues. Exhibitors at FLIBS include a variety of marine products and services, from fishing electronics and diving gear to superyachts from builders like Ferretti Group and Riva.
The show spreads across Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six, the Superyacht Village, International Swimming Hall of Fame Marina, and the Broward County Convention Center, where Contender will be. Inside the convention center, which hosts vessels up to about 50 feet along with hundreds of marine accessories and retail exhibits, visitors can get an up-close view of boats, products, and more. Whether you are coming from Fort Lauderdale proper, from Collins Avenue in Miami, or flying in from out of state, the convention center is the place to start if offshore fishing boats are why you’re attending.
Visit Contender at FLIBS 2026: Location, Booth Number and What to Expect
Find Contender inside the Broward County Convention Center at booth #2024. If you’ve never seen a Contender in person, this is your opportunity to experience the clean layout, open walk-through access, and every boat rigged the way an owner would actually run it. Our 9 models on display will showcase 24-44 feet of Contender excellence.
Factory reps will be on hand showcasing hull design details, power options, livewell configurations, and the semi-custom process that lets a buyer tailor a boat to a specific fishery. Many of our authorized dealers will also be at the show.
New Contender merchandise—including hats, shirts, performance gear—will be available at the booth. Quantities tend to be limited, so plan accordingly. To save yourself from peak-crowd chaos, visit on a weekday morning or contact the team ahead of the show to arrange a dedicated time window with a product specialist.
The Contender Lineup at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Contender will have a full spread on the floor: bay boats, mid-range center consoles, and flagship offshore models. Sportfishing boats in the Contender range run from 24 to 44 feet, and nine of those will be at FLIBS this year. Every boat on display features high-end Yamaha outboard power and real-life fishing layouts not stripped-down demo hulls.
24BAY – A 12-inch draft, oversized casting decks and a 35-gallon livewell. Designed for flats and coastal work where skinny water access is non-negotiable.
26BAY – This 26′ model handles inshore, offshore and everything in between. It carries 100 gallons of fuel and 125 gallons of forward dry storage, with the same 12-inch draft as the 24BAY. A strong hybrid for anglers who split water types.
29BAY – The largest bay boat in the lineup, with 185 gallons of fuel, up to 700 hp and an 85-gallon forward fishbox. Built for redfish, snook and tarpon anglers who need offshore reach from a bay platform.
30ST – The entry point to Contender’s stepped-hull ST lineup. Twin outboards up to 800 hp, 260 gallons of fuel, dual 40-gallon transom livewells and a 24.5° deadrise that handles head seas with authority. A full transom with a built-in dive platform and dive door comes standard.
32ST – This mid-size tournament workhorse runs a stepped hull that cuts drag for efficient fuel burn at speed, with up to 850 hp. It’s part of Contender’s 2026 helm redesign, which brings a wider console and an integrated hardtop. Popular with captains who demand range without sacrificing fishability.
35ST – One of Contender’s benchmark offshore hulls, built on a patented dual-stepped design. Updated in 2026 with a wider console, an integrated hardtop and better helm ergonomics. Twin 40-gallon transom livewells, a 208-gallon forward fishbox and up to 1,200 hp.
39ST – With 500 gallons of fuel and up to 1,600 hp, this big-water center console is built for long canyon runs. The 2026 helm redesign focused on captain comfort during all-day offshore pushes.
44FA – The Fisharound pairs a hardcore fish-first cockpit with an enclosed cabin, including a queen berth, a galley and an enclosed head with shower for overnight trips. A 300-gallon forward fishbox, two 100-gallon aft fishboxes, twin 55-gallon livewells and a top speed near 58 knots with triple Yamaha 425s.
44ST – Built on the same stepped hull as the 44FA, but all deck space goes to fishing. More than 650 gallons of forward fishbox capacity, 600 gallons of fuel and quad-outboard setups up to 1,800 hp. The 44ST is Contender’s statement vessel for offshore tournaments.
At FLIBS, our staff can walk you through optional configurations including tower packages, leaning posts, seating, tackle storage, and console layouts tailored to everything from South Florida sailfishing to Gulf bottom work.
Experience the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Like a Serious Angler
Start your day at the Broward County Convention Center. That is where the full Contender lineup lives, alongside other center consoles and fishing equipment up to 50 feet. Water taxis and shuttle buses connect the convention center to Bahia Mar, Pier Sixty-Six, and the other venues, so you see everything FLIBS has to offer without burning a lot of time on logistics. Don’t worry about food or drink, there are plenty of options available throughout the show grounds.
Arrive early (especially Fri – Sun) for easier parking, cooler temperatures, and more relaxed access to Contender staff and the boats. Step aboard multiple models back-to-back: walk the 30ST, then the 32ST, then the 35ST to feel the differences in cockpit depth, storage volume, and helm layout. That kind of comparison is hard to replicate outside a boat show, and it’s why events like FLIBS and the Miami International Boat Show draw serious buyers year after year. The Miami International Boat Show runs later in the season and features an in-water display for Contender.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Logistics & Meeting Contender Dealers
Tickets, show hours, and parking information for each day of Oct 28–November 1, 2026, are managed through flibs.com. Check out the venue map to see whats in the the Broward County Convention Center near Contender booth #2024. From the security checkpoint, enter the convention hall, turn left and the Contender booth will be just ahead on the right. The convention center offers roughly 3,000 parking spaces; water taxis and shuttles link to nearby venues for added convenience.
If you are a serious buyer eyeing a Contender build, contact your preferred dealer before the show. Dealers can arrange dedicated time at the booth. Meetings typically cover intended use as well as budget, model comparisons, and follow-up steps for post-show quotes and sea trials. Out-of-state and international buyers will be pleased to find that Contender’s dealer network handles remote delivery and local service seamlessly.
Allocate at least an hour at the Contender display. More if you are comparing multiple models. A quick walk-by will not do these boats justice.
Next Steps After FLIBS: From Show Floor to Offshore Runs
Visiting Contender at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the beginning of the ownership journey for many anglers. Typical post-show steps include follow-up calls with your dealer and refining your build to choose engines, electronics, colors, tower, and seating. Dealers will send detailed quotes and timelines once the spec is locked. Just a few short months after the show, your hull could begin taking shape in Homestead or Fort Pierce.
Find Contender at booth #2024 inside the Broward County Convention Center at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 28–November 1, 2026.
