As originally published by Forbes on January 13, 2026.

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If you’re thinking about picking up a new or secondhand yacht in 2026, you’ll probably have some questions. Luckily, experts from across the superyacht industry are on hand to give you some advice on the current state of the market, where you might find a good deal and what to do if you’re a first-time yacht buyer navigating the ocean of possibilities.

1. What's one piece of advice you'd give to anyone buying a yacht in 2026?

"Charter first. You’ll very quickly discover what genuinely matters to you in practice -all the real-world nuances that never translate in a brochure." - Michael Reyburn, founder, Roccabella Yachts

“Without going into specific market segments, my general advice is to prioritize quality and proven pedigree; it always pays off, from the first cruise to the day you decide to resell.” - Gabriele Modica Ragusa, sales broker, Northrop and Johnson

“The market is cyclical, but pedigree shipyards consistently produce the yachts that sell first in any cycle.” - Frank Grzeszczak Jr, president and sales broker, FGI Yacht Group

“Don’t rush into it, there is a lack of good inventory on the market at the moment. A lot of deals happen off-market these days [so] well-informed brokers should be able to find you the right boat [even if you can’t find it online].” - Charles Carveles, sales broker, Edmiston

“Do not stray from your use case. It is easy to get distracted by some of the (genuinely remarkable and often groundbreaking) developments in yacht design. Unless these are solving a direct issue you have encountered yourself, then it pays to be a little cynical.” – Konstantinos Oikonomidis, sales consultant, Yachtsman

‍“Take the time to understand not just the yacht you’re buying, but how you actually plan to use it. So many buyers fall in love with a specification or a look, without really considering how it will perform for their lifestyle. ” – Ellie Malouf, CEO, Ahoy Club

“Align yourself with a bona fide yachting professional. This exercise should almost feel like an attempt to talk you out of buying the asset, because if it sounds too good to be true, it is.” - AJ Blackmon, CEO and founder, Ikonic Yachts

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2. How can new yacht buyers help themselves get the best deal in 2026 - are there any tips you’d recommend?

“First time buyers are a precious resource, if they have an enjoyable experience they will go on to buy a second, third and hopefully many more during a lifetime of yachting. Take professional advice. The whole reason to buy a yacht is for lifestyle enhancement, it’s supposed to make you smile. ” - Ian Sherwood, sales broker, Burgess

“Be prepared, be flexible on geography and trust real expertise over marketing noise.” - Jelena Vezia, sales and purchase consultant, Ocean Independence

“Work backwards from the end result. If this boat is just for you, then only what you want matters. But if you’re looking to offset the cost of ownership through charter, there are plenty of [other] considerations.” - Bobby Bigio, charter consultant, IYC

“Do your research properly, as what appears to be ‘the deal’ at the front end is not always ‘the deal’ in the end.” - James Hall, yacht sales consultant, TWW Yachts

“[New buyers] should have a deep conversation with their broker and take their time to shape their wishes at best before starting plunging in [and] getting lost.” - Eleonora Pitasso, founder, The Wayve

"There is no yacht which is beautiful inside out, big and cheap. Choose two qualities out of three and you will be happy." - Julia, Skop, co-founder, Smart Yachts

3. Are there any territories you are particularly interested in for yacht buyers next year?

“America is still king and growing stronger.” - Chris Cecil-Wright, founder, Cecil Wright

“A strong demand is coming up from Europe, yet the Middle East is obviously thriving with lots and interest to buy. Now, the new markets would be Eastern Europe." - David Legrand, sales broker, Fraser

“Turkiye, Central Asia and the Middle East.” - Jelena Vezia, sales and purchase consultant, Ocean Independence

“I have many buyers in US and South America who are active and I expect strong activity in this region, likely to translate to deals [this] year.” - Adam Papadakis, head of sales and senior broker, Moravia Yachting

"The South Pacific for sure. We’re seeing a real increase in large vessels coming into the region. As more yachts pass through, purchase interest is naturally rising, and the infrastructure is building around that momentum." - Ellie Malouf, CEO, Ahoy Club

4. What impact are tariffs having on the global market right now?

“At the beginning of 2025 when Trump announced ‘Liberation Day’ the tariffs has a massive impact. Now, trade agreements have adjusted and the markets have started to recover. Moving into year two of the Trump administration should see some stabilization and, I feel, increased activity of buying.” - Alex G Clarke, sales broker, Denison

“The onset of the tariffs acted like a brake to the deal flow, [but now] what it really accomplished is buyers becoming more knowledgeable of ownership restructuring and the benefits of flagging the vessels offshore to circumvent any pending tariffs.” - AJ Blackmon, CEO and founder, Ikonic Yachts

“From a sales perspective, U.S. tariffs have not materially impacted overall transaction volume, as large yachts are predominantly foreign-flagged and typically enter the United States under temporary permits. However, the implementation of these tariffs has significantly reduced interest among American owners seeking to U.S.-flag their foreign-built vessels.” - Frank Grzeszczak Jr., president and sales broker, FGI Yacht Group

5. Are you seeing any particular trends emerging in terms of deals?

“There is softness in certain age brackets–particularly yachts approaching major surveys or technical milestones. For buyers willing to plan and execute a proper refit, that segment represents meaningful value." - Joe Reid, broker, Roccabella Yachts

“Options for quality second hand yachts are limited, but there are quite a number of new yachts launching [in 2026] so expect some interesting brokerage opportunities to arise….these days they will likely appear with brokers in the ‘not publicly listed’ arena before they appear online.” - Chris Cecil-Wright, founder, Cecil Wright

"Today, it is difficult to speak about a single overarching trend, however [there is] a drop in demand for production yachts, both in the second-hand market and in new builds. In contrast, the upper segment—45–50 meters and above—remains particularly resilient, especially for yachts with strong pedigree." - Gabriele Modica Ragusa, sales broker, Northrop and Johnson

"The sailing yacht and fast motor yacht market. Luxury high-end markets are usually conservative and slow to adapt to changes in buyer’s perceptions but the yachting market is typically at the forefront of technological development, R&D and innovation, which is helping transform the product and shape the buyer’s appetite accordingly." - Adam Papadakis, head of sales and senior broker, Moravia

“The explorer sector is encouraging. A record number of purpose-built explorer yachts under construction, strong sales figures of second-hand boats and a really active year in the sale of support yachts. To me, this is the most exciting niche in yachting and arguably where there are more risks being taken with design and innovation.” - Ian Sherwood, sales broker, Burgess

6. What's the second-market looking like next year, compared to the new build market?

“To focus on the new build markets, I see the larger builders filling their order books almost to capacity while some smaller more boutique yards still have attractive delivery dates, but new construction prices have been rising, so I think this will cause buyers to continue to focus on the used second hand market which I think we will see increased activity in for 2026-2027.” - Alex G Clarke, sales broker, Denison

“Because new build orders for most 40m+ segments are now pushing into 2028/2029 delivery, buyers seeking value or immediate availability, rather than bespoke designs or full custom builds, will find particularly strong opportunities in the second-hand market.” - William Burns, sales consultant, IYC

“With yachts above 40m in length, new build slots are still some time in to the future. However, opportunities are arising from time to time to get in to a new build slot due to a cancellation or more often than not the customer wanting to move in to a larger yacht than they originally ordered.” - James Hall, yacht sales consultant, TWW Yachts

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