International WorkBoat Show 2026 in New Orleans: where to stay

For more than four decades, the International WorkBoat Show has anchored the commercial marine calendar in North America. Every December, fleet owners, shipyards, boat builders, naval architects, marine engineers, port authorities, and equipment suppliers converge on New Orleans for three days of business, education, and hands-on product discovery on the exhibit floor. Produced by the team behind WorkBoat Magazine, the show combines a thousand-plus exhibitor booths with a conference program featuring Main Stage keynotes, classroom sessions, and the Groundbreakers Stage. Attendees come to source engines, electronics, deck gear, safety equipment, and services — and to talk shop with the people who actually build and operate workboats. The 2026 edition takes over the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from December 2 to 4. Whether you are exhibiting, speaking, or walking the floor to spec your next build, plan your stay early: hotels around the Convention Center and the Warehouse District fill up fast once registration opens.