For boaters looking to grow their skills, confidence, and on-the-water know-how, the Seattle Boat Show is the place to be Friday, January 30– Saturday, February 7, 2026.

This year’s show celebrates one of its most beloved traditions: a rich lineup of seminars designed to help every boater learn something new. With 144 free seminars—106 boating and 38 fishing—and 28 new topics, plus 36  deeper-dive classes through Boat Show University, the show offers countless ways to elevate your boating life. The seminars cover everything from cruising, sailing, and navigation to marine systems, fishing techniques, and family boating adventures.

This year’s show features 28 brand-new seminars, adding fresh voices, new perspectives, and timely topics for boaters and anglers of all experience levels.

Highlights of New 2026 Seminars

The 2026 lineup introduces an exciting range of new topics, including aspirational travelogues, hands-on learning, skill-building workshops, and expert insights. New additions include:

• Cruising Gems in BC – Wendy Hinman
• The Coconut Milk Run: Island Hopping through the South Pacific – Nathan Zahrt & Vivian Vuong
• Make the Most of Your New Boat: Save Money, Gain Friends & Explore! – John Seger
• Exploring the Northwest Passage by Sailboat – Mike Beemer
• Galley Organization & Provisioning – Nathan Zahrt & Vivian Vuong
• Expert Tuna Fishing Panel – Tommy Donlin
• Inspiring Women Working at Sea Through the Ages – Margaret Willson
• PNW Weather – Phyllis Woolwine
• We Took Our Kids Cruising… and You Can Too! – Elizabeth Brown-Shaw
• From Passenger to Partner: Building Confidence and Competence On Board – Jennifer Silva Redmond
• The Skipper’s Mindset: Less Stress & More Fun with Family & Friends – Tracy Sarich & Shirline Wilson
• Boating Safety: Lessons from Recent Incidents – Margaret Pommert
• Man Overboard Rescue Seminar – John Neal & Margaret Pommert
• Sail Fiji – Adam Wade
• Lessons Learned: Docking & Anchoring a Catamaran from Seattle to Alaska – Ken Parker
• Cruising to Haida Gwaii & Glacier Bay on a Catamaran – Ken Parker

These new sessions join an established lineup of crowd favorites, taught by some of the Pacific Northwest’s most respected experts, cruisers, captains, anglers, and educators.

Boat Show University: In-Depth Learning for Serious Cruisers

For attendees seeking more advanced training, Boat Show University (BSU)—organized by Waggoner Media—returns with an expanded schedule of 36, 90-minute, fee-based classes focused on the skills, strategies, and systems essential to confident cruising in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

BSU offers a curated range of technical and advanced topics such as offshore cruising preparation, electrical system design, weather forecasting, navigation tools, diesel and electrical troubleshooting, and cruising routes north of Seattle. All BSU classes are $49, require advance online registration at www.SeattleBoatShow.com, include show admission and often fill quickly, so early sign-up is encouraged.

Classes are taught by nationally recognized experts including Mark Bunzel, Mike Beemer, Matt Mardesich, Linda Lewis, Phyllis Woolwine, Carolyn “Ace” Spragg and others. Practical examples include:

• Anchoring Techniques with Carolyn “Ace” Spragg—learn foolproof methods for secure anchoring in remote coves along the Inside Passage.
• Marine Weather for Cruisers with Mark Bunzel—understand how to interpret forecasts and make informed go/no-go decisions.
• Using Navionics Apps for Navigation with Linda Lewis—maximize one of the most popular tools for PNW cruisers.
• Diesel Troubleshooting with Matt Mardesich and Electrical Troubleshooting with Mike Beemer—gain confidence in managing key vessel systems.

BSU classes are economically priced at $49 and often include take-home materials boaters can incorporate into their onboard standard operating procedures. As one of the nation’s leading boating education programs, Boat Show University is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking safer, more enjoyable cruising.

Check out  www.SeattleBoatShow.com for the full schedule of free boating and fishing seminars and BSU classes. It is sortable by keywords, seminar and class descriptions, and presenter biographies.

Tickets

• Adult Ticket – $20.00
• 9-Day Pass – $40.00
• 4 The Fun Of It! (25% Off – Must purchase online)
• Buy 6, Bring Your Picks! (25% Off – Must purchase online)
• Kids 17 & Under – Free
• Boat Show University –  $49 per class, includes admission, must purchase online.

For other ticketing promotions, visit Seattle Boat Show.