The superyacht market is currently transitioning back to more traditional brokerage patterns following the unprecedented post-pandemic surge. An analysis of recent data up to mid-2026 reveals a landscape where buyers are highly active but increasingly selective, prioritizing value, operational history, and long-term ownership costs. Concurrently, the new-build sector continues to thrive, fueled by demand for larger and technologically advanced vessels.
2025 Year in Review: A Broad-Based Resurgence
2025 closed out as a remarkably robust year for the global superyacht brokerage market. Total transactions for yachts measuring 24 meters (79 feet) and above reached 470, representing a substantial 19.9% increase from the 391 sales recorded in 2024. This consistent demand defied broader economic uncertainties, with sales rising across all four quarters of the year.
The United States solidified its position as the preeminent yachting hub, recording 130 sales—an increase of 27 transactions from the previous year. Europe also demonstrated solid figures, with France reporting 51 sales and Italy 39. In addition, emerging regional demand was notable; sales in Greece grew from 17 to 29, while the Bahamas experienced a significant jump from just 4 sales in 2024 to 20 sales in 2025.
In terms of production origins, Italian-built yachts dominated the secondary market with 194 sales. The United States followed with 62, and the Netherlands with 51, the latter notable for producing the largest average vessel size (49.1 meters). Other notable contributors to the secondary market included the UK (38), Taiwan (35), and Türkiye (19). Furthermore, new-build deliveries began impacting the resale market; new builds accounted for 6.8% of total brokerage transactions in 2025, up from just 3.3% in 2024.
2026 Mid-Year Brokerage Performance
As we navigate through the first half of 2026, the sales pace has become slightly more measured. Between January and May 2026, 258 yachts over 24 meters were sold globally—a 13.7% decrease in volume compared to the same period in 2025. However, total sales value surprisingly grew by 1.7% year-on-year to approximately $2.72 billion.
This contrast is largely driven by high-value transactions in the large motor yacht segment. The most defining factor for this value resilience was the sale of landmark ultra-high-value vessels, most notably the 123-meter (404′) Lürssen-built GOLDEN ODYSSEY, which remains the largest brokerage sale of the year to date. For instance, the 40-50 meter (131′-164′) category grew from 30 sales in early 2025 to 40 sales in early 2026. Conversely, the sailing yacht sector experienced a significant contraction, with sales value dropping by more than 50%.
Despite the strong overall value, buyers are showing resistance to aspirational pricing. In the first five months of 2026, the number of price reductions increased by 4.5% year-on-year. More importantly, the total value of these reductions surged by over 11%, reaching approximately $808 million, indicating that yachts must be realistically priced to sell in the current climate.
The Booming New-Build Sector
The global new-build market is currently operating at extremely high capacity. In 2026, there are over 600 yachts larger than 30 meters under construction. Buyers are commissioning vessels of unprecedented scale and complexity, pushing the average build length to an all-time high of 48.5 meters. The global order book currently includes an impressive 26 vessels exceeding 100 meters in length, totaling over 160,000 GT.
European shipyards continue to lead production. Italy oversees more than 55% of all global yacht construction projects, with shipyards like Azimut-Benetti remaining the world’s largest builders by volume. Türkiye maintains its position as the world’s second-largest building nation with 90 projects underway (despite a slight decline due to rising costs), followed by the Netherlands with 52 highly sophisticated builds.
The 2026 superyacht market reflects an environment normalizing towards quality-driven, calculated acquisitions. Supply remains healthy with over 1,942 motor yachts and 270 sailing yachts currently listed. While overall transaction volumes may slightly taper compared to peak years, the continued strength in large, pedigree motor yachts and a booming new-build sector underscore the enduring resilience of the global luxury yachting industry.
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