Hull after hull, deck after deck, row after row of gleaming gelcoat—the main event for fishing boat shoppers is coming to downtown Annapolis at the Annapolis Powerboat Show, October 8 through 11. By our calculations there will be approximately 11,426 rodholders in attendance. There will be around 2357 tackleboxes in integrated tackle stations, 1219 livewells, and 6663 insulated fishboxes. Lo and behold, anglers, there will be 613,429 total horsepower and 42,658,999 linear miles of fiberglass strands. Sure, when we say “by our calculations” we mean we just made those numbers up, but any way you figure it this will be your best chance to see hundreds of boats all at the same time in the same place.

annapolis power boat show
Go to center console heaven in downtown Annapolis this fall. Photo by Annapolis Boat Shows.

Wait a sec—the harbor will probably flood, the Eastport bridge will probably get stuck up, and the weather in Annapolis in October is absolutely-not-probably psychotic. So, why the heck should you go to the boat show? Oh, dear FishTalk reader, let us count the ways:

  • The boat show is a comparison-shopping Mecca. There’s simply no other way to step aboard dozens of competing boats of the same type and size, get a bead on their pricing, and find out firsthand how comfy the seats are and how spacious the casting decks are from one model to the next. You can do all the internet boating you want, and you’ll never really be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Here at the show you get the real deck-stomping, hull-banging experience.
  • There will be some new premiering models, which haven’t been seen anywhere else just yet. That means you get a glimpse of the latest and greatest fishing boats as they hit the water.
  • There will be oodles of boating gear, marinas, marine services, and products on display. Even if you’re not in the market for a new boat (for shame!) there’s a ton of cool stuff to check out.
  • If you’re sick and tired of looking at boats with goodies and gadgets you don’t really want to pay for, or at the opposite end of the extreme you’ve seen plenty of stripped-down models that didn’t offer exactly what you want, this is your opportunity to sit down with multiple dealers and discuss having a boat built to your own personal semi-custom specs with all the options you choose and none of the ones you don’t. Added bonus: place your order at the show and your shiny new fishing machine will be ready for you come spring.
  • You can take advantage of the PropTalk Demo Dock to get a feel for how a boat performs in the real world out on the water.
  • There are lots of educational opportunities, ranging from prescheduled training with licensed captains to free walk-in seminars. Can y’all guess who will be giving a seminar on fall fishing for striped bass on the Chesapeake? Can ya? (Hint: his first initial is Lenny).
  • A day at the boat show is just plain FUN for the whole family!

Now, as for those downsides we talked about earlier: don’t worry about the flooding because we absolutely, positively guarantee there will be plenty of personal floatation devices around. You can stop worrying about traffic jams by parking at the Navy stadium and riding into town on a shuttle. And as for the weather, well, you’ll have to deal with 20-degree temperature swings and sudden deluges no matter what you’re doing in Maryland in October. The good news is there will be vendors on hand with sunglasses, rain jackets, flip-flops, and boots. When all else fails, just find a big cabin boat with heat and AC.

annapolis powerboat show 2026
Whatever type of angling machine strikes your fancy, you can bet you’ll find it at the Annapolis Powerboat Show. Photo by Athena Arnold.

Here it comes, people, the 2026 Annapolis Powerboat Show—mark off your calendar, post haste!

Annapolis Powerboat Show Specifications

  • LOA – October 8 through 11.
  • Beam – 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Fri., Sat; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.
  • Displacement – $32 general admission for adults; $45 Preview Day; $10 children 7 to 15; children under 6 free
  • Draft (min.) - $22 Military personnel, Sun. only
  • Max. HP – Prepurchase tickets and you can phone-scan your way in.
  • Fuel Capacity – Unlimited (Painkillers)
  • For more information – Annapolis Boat Shows

Boat Show Prep for Kids

Naturally you angling kids want mom and dad to pull the trigger on a cool new fishing boat, and a little pre-show prep work can help make it happen. The week before the show be sure to:

  • Clean your room every day by shoving the dirty dishes and clothes under your bed.
  • Whenever mom or dad see you watching TV, playing video games, or doodling on the phone, wistfully whisper “I wouldn’t be on a screen if we were out on the Bay fishing right now…” just loud enough for them to hear.
  • When you bring home a paper or quiz with a good grade, mention to your parents that fishing has really helped you sharpen your concentration skills.
  • Lock yourself in the bathroom and practice shouting “PLEASE I LOVE THIS ONE” 10 to 12 times in a row, as fast as you can. When you’re at the show you’ll know when to let it fly for real.