Aerofoils at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2026: Our FLIBS Recap

Key Takeaways

• From October 28 to November 1, 2026, we exhibited at FLIBS in Fort Lauderdale, booth 685 at Bahia Mar. It was our first US boat show.
• We showed all five boards. Visitors could book a slot at the booth and test them on the water in the canals of Fort Lauderdale.
• The test rides were a great success: good conditions, a lot of visitors and many first-timers flying on the Hyperfly after about five minutes.
• The next FLIBS is scheduled for October 27 to 31, 2027.

Short answer: Aerofoils exhibited at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from October 28 to November 1, 2026, at booth 685 in the Bahia Mar Yachting Center. It was our US boat show debut. We showed our whole eFoil range and offered test rides on the water.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is an annual boat show in Florida that organizers call the world's largest in-water boat show: boats, yachts and marine products are displayed afloat and can be boarded and tried.

Every autumn the yachting world meets in Fort Lauderdale. Owners, captains, crews and brokers walk the docks to see what is new on the water. In 2026 we were there for the first time, and this is our recap of how it went.

What Is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

The 2026 edition was the 67th and ran for five days across six locations: the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina and Superyacht Village. In 2025 there were still seven. According to YachtCharterFleet and duPont REGISTRY, the show brought together more than 1,300 vessels, over 200 superyachts and about 1,000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries on nearly 36 hectares (90 acres). The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) owns the show and Informa Markets produces it, as the official announcement states.

The 2025 show drew more than 100,000 visitors, according to the organizers' 2025 report. For a company that had never exhibited in the United States, that made it the obvious place to start.

Where Was Aerofoils at FLIBS 2026?

We exhibited at booth 685 in the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, from Wednesday, October 28, to Sunday, November 1, 2026. Bahia Mar is one of the six show locations.

Booth 685 in the Bahia Mar Yachting Center: the Airfly on the wall, carbon boards to look at up close and a video of riders on the water.

Why Fort Lauderdale? No other show brings together so many yachts, captains and crews in one place. Our boards have been flying above European waters for years, and many riders there know them under the former name Audi e-tron foil. Now we wanted to meet the people who decide on toys for yachts in the United States, face to face and on the dock. Yacht shows are not new to us: we have reported before from the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show, and our guide to eFoils as yacht toys explains what an eFoil does on board.

Who Is Aerofoils?

Aerofoils is the German company behind the world's first jet-powered electric hydrofoil. An eFoil is an electric surfboard with an underwater wing, the hydrofoil: once the board has speed, the wing lifts it above the surface and you glide silently on battery power. We were founded in 2017 and design and build our eFoils in Germany, with production and support in Weißdorf, Bavaria. The drive sits in the fuselage, the part of the foil below the board, and the propeller is fully enclosed, so there is no open propeller next to riders or swimmers.

Our story started in 2014 with carbon fins for kitesurfing and grew into a complete eFoil system: board, wing, drive, battery and app from one team. Aerofoils began as a spin-off of Audi AG, and our earlier boards were sold as the Audi e-tron foil. Today we are an independent brand with one goal: making flying over water easy, quiet and safe.

Which eFoils Could You See at Booth 685?

We brought our whole range: Hyperfly, Airfly, Adventure, Performance and Competition. The range covers every level, from guests who have never stood on a board to riders who race. The Adventure, Performance and Competition were sold as the Audi e-tron foil Adventure, Performance and Competition until the cooperation ended.

Volume is the buoyancy of the board. More liters mean more stability at low speed, which is why the big inflatables suit first flights and the small carbon boards suit experienced riders.

Why the Hyperfly Is So Popular

The Hyperfly has become hugely popular, and it was the board many visitors flew on at the show. Three features make it unique and make getting started easy:

• Anti-Breach System (ABS). The 60 cm (24 in) mast has the ABS built in. It uses air on purpose to stop the foil from breaching the surface, so first flights stay calm and forgiving.
• Sensitive electronic throttle on a trigger. The trigger on the handlebar is fully electronic and very sensitive. It is not simply on or off: you set your target speed precisely with it, instead of using a hand remote.
• Both hands stay on the handlebar. You ride with both hands on the bar from the first meter to the last, with no one-handed riding needed to give gas.

Together, these features turn the first flight into something almost anyone can do. That is what sets the Hyperfly and its concept apart.

The Hyperfly: both hands on the handlebar, power on the trigger.

For Yachts: Hyperfly and Airfly

Inflatable boards are soft on the hull, on the swim platform and on people, and a whole set, from board to drive and wings, packs into one large bag that stows in a lazarette or tender garage. The Hyperfly is the easiest way for a guest to get up and fly. The Airfly is the smallest board of the range and more demanding to learn, which makes it a good second board for riders who have flown before.

Hyperfly (left) and Airfly (right) in the current design.

For Riders: Adventure, Performance, Competition

If you ride yourself, our rigid carbon boards are worth a closer look. The Adventure has 103 liters and measures 176 x 72 cm (69 x 28 in). It is stable enough for beginners and stays fun for years. The Performance and the Competition are smaller, faster and more precise. With the Aeroloop, inflatable side rails for the Adventure and Performance, a carbon board gets extra buoyancy and a soft edge that protects board and yacht from knocks.

Not sure which board is yours? Our Board Match Quiz suggests a board in a few questions, and our inflatable vs. hardboard guide explains the trade-offs in detail.

Could You Test an eFoil at the Show?

Yes. Visitors at booth 685 could book a slot and try our boards on the water, in the canals of Fort Lauderdale. The test rides were a great success, and a great many people took part.

The conditions were good, and many riders had never stood on an eFoil before. A lot of them were flying after about five minutes on the Hyperfly. With both hands on the handlebar and the power on a trigger, first-timers can concentrate on balance, and the large inflatable board stays stable while it lifts. Everyone who came off the water had a lot of fun.

Who Did You Meet at the Booth?

At booth 685 visitors met the Aerofoils team, among them Franz Hofmann, co-founder and CEO of Aerofoils. Franz has been part of the project since the very first carbon fin in 2014, so he can answer how our boards are built and where Aerofoils is heading in the United States.

Visitors asked the questions we hear everywhere:

• How does foiling actually work? We explain it in How Does a Hydrofoil Work?.
• How long does a battery last? Our comparison of the Light and Endurance batteries helps you choose.
• How much does an eFoil cost? See our eFoil price guide.
• Which board is right for me? Take the Board Match Quiz.

What Happened at FLIBS 2026?

The show started and ended under stormy skies. BOAT International reported torrential rain at a king tide, a particularly high tide that floods low sidewalks, so visitors tiptoed through waterlogged paths. The show went ahead as planned, and the test rides at our booth did too.

Is Aerofoils Available in the United States?

FLIBS 2026 was the start of Aerofoils in the United States. If you want to know how to get an Aerofoils eFoil in the US, check out our US website or contact us and we will answer your questions. If you run a yacht, a charter fleet, a rental or a school and want to work with us, you can also book a free consultation with our sales team. We advise you on boards, wings and batteries, and send you a non-binding quote.

When Is the Next Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show?

The 2027 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is scheduled for October 27 to 31, 2027, according to YachtCharterFleet. Tickets are sold online in advance, so check the official FLIBS website for dates and tickets before you plan your visit.

Our Conclusion

FLIBS 2026 was our first boat show in the United States. We showed the full Aerofoils range, offered test rides and talked to visitors about what an eFoil can do. Seeing first-timers fly on the Hyperfly after a few minutes was the best part.

If you want to find your board, take our Board Match Quiz, visit our US website or explore our eFoils. To ride one yourself, find a dealer near you. Thank you to everyone who stopped by booth 685.