The provisional nominee list for the 2026 Yacht Style Awards has landed, and with more than 130 boats across 17 size and type categories, it’s the most comprehensive snapshot yet of where the global boating industry is heading. The gala dinner takes place on April 22 at the Constellation Ballroom of ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore, on the eve of the Singapore Yachting Festival, drawing over 300 industry VIPs and yacht owners for what has become a landmark evening on the Asia-Pacific yachting calendar.
Criteria span innovation, design, build quality, environmental responsibility, and owner experience, with an eye on the Asia market. For most boat categories, eligible models must have had their world premiere at a major show after the 2025 Singapore Yachting Festival.
Beneteau sets the pace
No builder casts a longer shadow over this year’s list than Beneteau. When you count entries under the Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Excess nameplates, the French group accounts for at least 14 boat nominations, roughly one in ten across the entire list. Among them is the Gran Turismo 35, one of the more talked-about new launches of the past year.
Discover the Beneteau Gran Turismo 35: A revolution in express cruising
Designed by Andreani Design with naval architecture from Michael Peters Yacht Design, the GT35 (11.2m LOA, 4.65m beam) introduces what Beneteau calls a Sport-Lux philosophy. Twin Mercury Verado 300hp outboards push it past 41 knots, with a 350hp option also available. The cockpit features fold-out balconies on both sides, a first at this size for Beneteau, and below decks a convertible V-berth forward and mid-cabin berth make it a genuine overnighter. An Alpine Edition with Signal Grey hull and navy detailing is available for those wanting to stand out further. In New Zealand, the GT35 is represented by 36 Degrees Brokers.
Axopar chases adventure
Finland’s Axopar enters the 10-12m category with the 38 Cross Cabin, which made its world debut at boot Düsseldorf in January 2026. At 11.84 metres with a 3.56-metre beam, the 38 XC is built around the brand’s twin-stepped 22-degree V hull and runs on twin outboards of 300 or 350hp each, offering a top speed north of 45 knots from an 830-litre tank. The wheelhouse seats up to six, with a U-shaped layout and optional hi-lo table that converts to a berth. The modular rear deck accommodates wet bars, leaning posts, and folding swim platforms. Axopar’s NZ representative is eYachts.
boot Düsseldorf 2026: Axopar 38 Cross Cabin makes world debut
Maritimo stakes its ground
Australia’s Maritimo appears in two categories, which speaks to both its productivity and its reputation for bluewater quality. The M50 sits in the 16-18m class and earned a 4.2 out of 5 from Boating New Zealand in testing earlier this year. At 15.69 metres with a 5.22-metre beam, the M50 is powered by twin Volvo Penta D13 engines rated at 800hp each, drives to a top speed of 28 knots from 3,700 litres of fuel. The design brief was clear: fit a 50-foot pen while delivering the space of something considerably larger. Both cabins get the full beam, headroom holds at a minimum of 1.9 metres throughout, and a patented fold-down swim platform extends nearly four metres wide. Seakeeper Ride compatibility is incoming. The M50’s sibling, the S60, competes in the 18-20m category.
Pearl 63: the British wildcard
Pearl Yachts is the only British builder nominated in any motoryacht boat category this year. The Pearl 63 enters the highly contested 18-20m class against seven rivals drawn from Italian, French, and Australian builders, making the nomination a meaningful one on the global stage.
The 63 made its world debut at boot Düsseldorf 2025, building on the well-regarded Pearl 62 with a reworked aft cockpit featuring twin opening side balconies, bi-fold stainless-framed patio doors, and a four-cabin layout sleeping up to eight. Dixon Yacht Design shapes the exterior; Kelly Hoppen Interiors brings the interior philosophy of clean lines and relaxed luxury, with owner-customisable finishes throughout. Volvo Penta IPS drives range from the standard IPS 1050s to the IPS 1350 for those chasing more pace, with a top speed around 33 knots and a cruising range of approximately 260 nautical miles. At 18.61 metres and a draft of 1.59 metres, she’s well suited to a wide range of marinas and anchorages.
Pearl 63, the latest model from UK-based Pearl Yachts, made its debut at boot Düsseldorf 2025
Excess 13: sailing cats go green
In the sailing catamaran under-14m class, note that hull length rather than overall length applies, which brings the Excess 13 into contention at 15.3 metres overall. Part of the Beneteau Group’s Excess brand, the 13 was developed with VPLP Design and naval architect Eric Levet from Marc Lombard Yacht Design Group. Asymmetric hulls, fold-down sugar-scoops at the stern, and a high-aspect rig in the Pulse Line version make a performance case, while the sustainability credentials are genuine: a coachroof rainwater recovery system, optimised ventilation to reduce air conditioning demand, and dual-function doors that save both weight and space. Available in three or four cabin configurations, the Excess 13 is represented in New Zealand by 36 Degrees Brokers.
The pleasure of living on board: A closer look at the Excess 13 catamaran
The broader picture
With 131 boats across 17 categories plus 14 industry awards covering dealers, marinas, yacht clubs, and sailing events, the 2026 Yacht Style Awards is a serious exercise in taking the global industry’s temperature. Ferretti Group matches Beneteau for brand breadth, fielding Ferretti Yachts, Riva, and Pershing entries across multiple classes. Sanlorenzo, Azimut, and Benetti represent Italian craftsmanship at the upper end, while the superyacht categories (30-80 metres) feature names including Feadship, Lürssen, and a Giorgio Armani-branded Admiral.
The tightest race by category count sits in the 18-20m motoryacht bracket, where Pearl, Absolute, Beneteau, De Antonio, Galeon, Maritimo, and Sirena all compete. It is, by any measure, the sweet spot of the market: large enough to cruise seriously, compact enough to owner-operate. Winners will be announced at the April 22 gala in Singapore.
The full provisional nominee list across all 31 categories is published at yachtstyle.co.
