WHAT: The 70th anniversary Discover Boating® New England Boat Show®, in partnership with Progressive®, returns to Boston’s Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) January 7–11, 2026, bringing boating dreams to life for tens of thousands of New Englanders.
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll will join the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), owners of the Show, along with the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) and industry leaders for an opening day ribbon-cutting ceremony, set against a backdrop of more than 500 new boats for sale.
The region’s largest Boat Show is a major economic engine, generating approximately $2.3 million in attendee spending and $23.3 million in direct sales in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during the five days of the Show alone - plus driving significant annual business for the recreational boating industry across New England.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
- Media Check-in: 11:30 AM
- Ribbon Cutting & Remarks: 11:45 AM
- Show Opens to Public: 12:00 PM
WHO:
- Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll
- NMMA Vice President, Northeast Shows, Jon Pritko
- MMTA Executive Director, Randall Lyons
- Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, Eric Paley
WHERE: Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) • 415 Summer Street • Boston
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BOATING*
- New England consumers spent more than $1.3 billion on marine products – new boats, engines and aftermarket accessories – in 2024, generating big business for the region’s recreational boating industry.?
- The Discover Boating New England Boat Show drives approximately $2.3 million in spending in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during the five days of the show alone.
- Spending across the five days of the Show is just a portion of the $5 billion economic impact generated by the recreational boating industry in Massachusetts, supporting more than 1,000 businesses and 17,614 jobs.
- Estimated sales during the show in 2024 amounted to $58.7 million, with an additional estimated $85.1 million generated post-show.
*Source: National Marine Manufacturers Association – 2023 Economic Impact Study & 2024 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract + 2024 Economic Contribution Study by the Recreation Marine Research Center at Michigan State University
For more information on Discover Boating New England Boat Show features and tickets visit NewEnglandBoatShow.com.
RSVP required to Amanda Brokaw (917-238-0204 or Amanda@cwandco.com)