The Charleston Boat Show Returns to North Charleston This Winter

Charleston, SC

The Charleston Boat Show returns January 23–25 to the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, continuing a 46-year run as one of the Southeast’s longest-standing boating exhibitions. Each winter, the event serves as an early-season checkpoint for coastal buyers, regional dealers, and marine manufacturers preparing for the year ahead.

The timing matters. For many Lowcountry boaters, late January is when ownership decisions begin to take shape—before spring inventory tightens and before seasonal demand accelerates. The Charleston Boat Show functions less as a spectacle and more as a practical entry point into the upcoming boating season.

Inside the convention center, the 2026 show will feature a wide cross-section of boats used throughout South Carolina’s coastal and inland waterways. Center-console fishing boats, pontoons, ski and wake boats, bay boats, cruisers, and larger yachts will all be represented. 

Regional and national marine brands are expected to exhibit alongside Southeast-based dealerships, including MarineMax and other operators experienced in coastal conditions specific to the Lowcountry. Beyond the boats themselves, the show also includes marine electronics, propulsion systems, lifts, docks, safety equipment, trailers, and accessory vendors—giving visitors a full view of both purchase and long-term ownership considerations.

The event is designed for direct comparison rather than passive browsing. Visitors are able to step through multiple layouts, ask technical questions about performance and maintenance, and evaluate boats based on storage, trailering, and docking logistics that are specific to the region. For many buyers, this face-to-face access to dealers and service providers is one of the show’s most practical advantages.

The Charleston Boat Show will run on the following schedule: Friday, January 23 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, January 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, January 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets and full exhibitor details are available through the official show site at TheCharlestonBoatShow.com.

The event draws both local residents and coastal buyers traveling in from surrounding markets across South Carolina and Georgia. Its centralized location and three-day format make it accessible for both serious buyers and casual visitors.