Annapolis Boat Shows 2026: Walkable Hotels and First-Timer Weekend Plan

If you are planning around Annapolis Boat Shows 2026, this is the weekend playbook — what to prioritize, how to move, and where to land after the main event.

Annapolis Powerboat Show General Admission ~ $32. Annapolis Powerboat Show Preview Day: Oct. 2 ~ $45. Annapolis Powerboat Show Children 7 to 15: $10 - General Admission. Boat show visitors are encouraged to park at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (550 Taylor Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401) and take a free shuttle to and from the show. Shuttles will run one hour prior to show opening through one hour after the show closes. Pre-sale of Stadium parking is offered at the pre-paid rate of $24, oversized vehicles are $47. There is NO overnight parking at the stadium. Pre-sale of parking closes at 11:59PM the evening prior to the day you plan to attend. After that, you may purchase parking onsite at the Stadium Gate 5 entry, credit card only. No cash will be accepted. Additional parking is available in the parking garages in downtown Annapolis. Be sure to plan ahead as parking garages downtown fill up fast. Anchor your plans around City Dock / Annapolis Harbor so transfers stay short.

Here is what the official materials currently emphasize:

• Annapolis Powerboat Show: October 8-11, 2026, City Dock, Annapolis, MD. Thursday, October 8 10:00am to 6:30pm, Friday, October 9 10:00am to 6:30pm, Saturday, October 10 10:00am to 6:30pm, Sunday, October 11 10:00am to 5:00pm.
• Annapolis Sailboat Show: October 15-18, 2026, City Dock, Annapolis, MD. Thursday, October 15 10:00am – 6:30pm, Friday, October 16 10:00am – 6:30pm, Saturday, October 17 10:00am – 6:30pm, Sunday, October 18 10:00am – 5:00pm.
• Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show: April 23-25, 2027, City Dock, Annapolis, MD
• Bay Bridge Boat Show: April 16-18, 2027, Grasonville, MD

Treat Friday as a soft landing: check in near City Dock / Annapolis Harbor, walk the neighborhood, and set a dinner reservation so you are not hunting for a table after a long drive. Fun context while you settle in: For more than 50 years, the Annapolis Boat Shows have connected boaters with the Chesapeake Bay lifestyle..

Make Saturday your full commitment day. Start earlier than you think you need to, build in a mid-afternoon reset, and leave room for a spontaneous set, screening, or booth you did not plan for. Keep Annapolis Powerboat Show on your radar: October 8-11, 2026, City Dock, Annapolis, MD. Thursday, October 8 10:00am to 6:30pm, Friday, October 9 10:00am to 6:30pm, Saturday, October 10 10:00am to 6:30pm, Sunday, October 11 10:00am to 5:00pm..

Sunday is for the one thing you skipped, a slower brunch, and an easier exit. If parking or rideshares spike after big closers, leave a little early and you will thank yourself on the highway.

Quick answers pulled from official pages:

• Where is the Box Office? We encourage our customers to skip the lines and buy online. If you do need to purchase at the gate, please exit the shuttle bus at the 2nd stop. The Box Office is located on Dock St.
• Where is Will Call? If tickets have been left for you, or you need to resolve a ticket issue, please come to Will Call located in the Show Office at 110 Compromise St. Suite 500.
• Are pets allowed on show grounds? No, animals are not allowed inside the show due to safety and health reasons unless it is a certified service animal.
• Are strollers allowed on show grounds? No, strollers are not allowed inside the show due to safety issues. Please park your stroller in the designated stroller parking area.
• Should my child wear a life jacket? Yes, we recommend all children wear life jackets for their safety.

For more than 50 years, the Annapolis Boat Shows have connected boaters with the Chesapeake Bay lifestyle. Annapolis is known as the “Sailing Capital of the World”.

These nearby spots clear a high bar — at least 4.5★ on Google with 500+ reviews. Here is why each one earns a reservation:

Bread and Butter Kitchen — 4.8★ · 1.4k Google reviews · 303 Second St A Vibe / cuisine: Restaurant. A 4.8★ spot with 1,400 Google reviews at 303 Second St A — useful when you want a crowd-tested meal without gambling on a random reservation.

Boatyard Bar & Grill — 4.7★ · 6.5k Google reviews · 400 Fourth St Vibe / cuisine: Seafood. A 4.7★ spot with 6,500 Google reviews at 400 Fourth St — useful when you want a crowd-tested meal without gambling on a random reservation.

Carrol's Creek Cafe — 4.6★ · 2.7k Google reviews · 410 Severn Ave Vibe / cuisine: Seafood. A 4.6★ spot with 2,700 Google reviews at 410 Severn Ave — useful when you want a crowd-tested meal without gambling on a random reservation.

Iron Rooster- Annapolis — 4.5★ · 4.6k Google reviews · 12 Market Space Vibe / cuisine: Traditional American. A 4.5★ spot with 4,600 Google reviews at 12 Market Space — useful when you want a crowd-tested meal without gambling on a random reservation.

Pair the main weekend with a neighborhood walk, a waterfront sunset, or a short museum stop so the trip feels like more than a single ticketed block. Dinghy Parking: Prince George St. Dinghy Dock will NOT be open during the Boat Shows: 9/29 – 10/18. There will be dedicated dinghy dock at the end of Shipwright St. for boaters to utilize.