ISS Reveals 2026 Superyacht Design Finalists Ahead of Fort Lauderdale Gala

Design finalists bring major yachts to the shortlist

The International Superyacht Society has announced the finalists for its 2026 Design Awards, recognising sailing yachts, motor yachts and significant refits from builders and designers around the world. The shortlist was revealed during a member reception at the Yacht Club de Monaco and formally published on 28 September, ahead of an awards gala in Fort Lauderdale on 28 October.

The ceremony is planned for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Each listed yacht is a finalist rather than a declared winner; the society will identify the chosen vessels only when the judging results are announced.

The breadth of the selection ranges from performance-oriented sailing yachts to some of the largest custom motor yachts. It also makes room for projects that have transformed existing vessels, acknowledging that thoughtful redesign and technical renewal can be as demanding as the work involved in a new build.

Royal Huisman, Vitters and Perini Navi in the sailing classes

In the sailing category from 24 to 40 metres, the finalists are KIBOKO 4, built by Southern Wind with naval architecture by Farr Yacht Design and design involvement from Nauta, and LINNEA AURORA, constructed by SES Yachts with design by Hoek Design Naval Architects. Both projects combine a modern sailing brief with specialised naval architecture and design work.

The sailing class above 40 metres includes Royal Huisman's AQUARIUS, with exterior and naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and interiors by Mark Whiteley Design. Also shortlisted are Perini Navi's KATANA, featuring interior design by Rémi Tessier, and MAGIC, built by Vitters with naval architecture by Reichel Pugh and interiors from Design Unlimited with Pieter Laureys.

These yachts answer different owner briefs. The proportions and deck equipment of a sailing superyacht must balance performance under sail with comfortable accommodation, safe crew movement and the maintenance demands of large rigs and complex hydraulic systems.

AQUARIUS is the yacht pictured with this report in an original Royal Huisman photograph. The image is of the actual shortlisted vessel, not a generic yacht or a rendering, and no award outcome is implied by its use.

Motor-yacht finalists span four tonnage brackets

The under-300-GT category includes Ferretti Yachts 800 and 940, Cantiere delle Marche's HAZE 2 and Riva 112' Dolcevita. In the 300-to-500-GT category, the shortlist includes Bilgin's CAMILA, Cantiere delle Marche's NASIBA and RJ, the Admiral-built RAJA² and Riva 54Metri.

Among the larger 1,000-to-3,000-GT motor yachts, finalists include ADMIRAL ARMANI 72, Bilgin's AL REEM, the CRN-built AMOR A' VIDA, Golden Yachts' O'MADELEINE and Feadship's VALOR. The range of shipyards shows how the same size bracket can contain very different priorities for guest space, engineering layout and exterior styling.

The most substantial 3,000-GT-plus class has two finalists: Feadship's BREAKTHROUGH, with design from RWD, and Oceanco's LEVIATHAN, whose interior was developed by Mark Berryman Design. The society's categories are based on gross tonnage where indicated, not simply length, which can affect comparisons between yachts with markedly different enclosed volumes.

Shortlisting is recognition of a design project by the awards programme, not an independent measure of lower emissions, faster performance or superior seaworthiness. Those attributes require technical evidence tied to the specific yacht and its operating profile.

Refit nominees and the value of continued investment

The refit category contains NIGHT HOWL, NURJA, SOLACE, STARFIRE and URSUS. Their projects involve yards including LMC, Abeking & Rasmussen, Pendennis and Balk Shipyard, reflecting the technical and design work required to renew complex existing vessels.

A refit can involve machinery replacement, modern control systems, changes to accommodation and extensive work beneath the surfaces that guests see. Evaluating the result calls for more than an attractive new interior, since the vessel also has to remain maintainable and coherent as a ship.

For prospective owners, the shortlist offers an opportunity to see how designers and shipyards approach established challenges at very different scales. The society has published these names and credited the relevant contributors, but the winners remain unannounced until the planned 28 October gala.