The Blue Future docked at the Monaco Yacht Show 2026, and it is getting Cleverly Electric.
Updated: Sep 27
Walking the docks of the Monaco Yacht Show this year, I was struck by something beyond the spectacular yachts, extraordinary interiors and inevitable display of luxury.
The real novelty is happening beneath the surface — and increasingly around and beyond the yacht itself.
Green Energy, Blue Technology, Intelligent Systems, Electric Mobility and new-generation Toys are becoming part of a much larger vision of what the superyacht can be: not simply a floating luxury asset, but an increasingly connected, efficient and responsible platform for experiencing the ocean.
For me, one of the most significant developments at this year's show is Blue Wake™, the Monaco Yacht Show initiative developed with the Water Revolution Foundation.
Its importance is that it moves the sustainability conversation beyond attractive promises. This year, sixty projects were validated against measurable criteria covering emissions, circularity, eco-design, innovation and marine ecosystem protection.
The Blue Wake Awards provided a fascinating snapshot of where the industry is heading.
Among this year's acknowledgments, elected by a targeted Technical Jury**: Bespoke Projects (yacht carpentry company specialising in bespoke furniture and interiors for super yachts, being founded in Barcelona in 2015), for its recycled-monomer GreenCast acrylic; Termodinamica (Marine engineers and manufactures from Northern Italy specialised in thermal management systems for super yachts since 2010), for an advanced marine HVAC system combining inverter technology and heat pumps; and Amico & Co (full service refit shipyard operating since 1991 in the service and refit of super yachts), whose Genoa-based facility combines large-scale solar generation, shore power, wastewater treatment and extensive waste recovery.
Marina Ibiza (a leading Spanish marina which brings together luxury and the exclusive services of a 5-star marina) was recognised for its long-term Posidonia restoration programme, in partnership with the Vellmarí Association, founded by National Geographic explorer and marine biologist Manu San Félix, while Tykun (advanced shipbuilding by the will of Marco Galimberti, CEO of the MED Group, inheriting the shipyard’s extensive heritage in defense) for its next-generation aluminium tenders. The yacht award went to SIMENA by Ares Yacht, a 62-metre sailing by this leading brand new Turkish super yacht brand launched in 2023, combining traditional wind propulsion with parallel-hybrid technology, electric motors and battery-supported silent operation.
Together, these projects showcased that sustainability is no longer simply about propulsion. It is about the entire lifecycle and ecosystem of the yacht.
Energy management, advanced HVAC (= Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), digital systems, connectivity, intelligent navigation, water treatment and hybrid propulsion are increasingly being designed as integrated systems rather than isolated technologies. And then there are the toys — perhaps the most entertaining expression of this new philosophy.
Electric tenders, e-bikes, silent watercraft, drones and other compact mobility solutions are redefining how owners and guests interact with the yacht and its surroundings.
The boundary between yacht, technology hub and adventure platform is becoming increasingly blurred. One particularly futuristic example at this year's show is an electric vertical-take-off aircraft prototype, essentially a drone-like personal aircraft designed for short flights from a yacht.
It may still be tomorrow's technology, but Monaco has always been about imagining the future.
Another Blue Wake highlight is VPLP Design's Wind Voyage, using OceanWings® rigid devices to harness wind propulsion. These fully automated, featherable, and reefable wingsails are able to optimise aerodynamic efficiency and drastically reduce fuel consumption. Sea trials have showcased significant potential fuel savings, illustrating how one of the oldest forms of propulsion can be reinvented through modern engineering and data.
There is something particularly elegant about that idea. The future of yachting may not necessarily mean adding more power. It may mean using power more cleverly — and knowing when not to use it at all.
After seeing these technologies in person, my impression of MYS 2026 is that Sustainability is no longer a side story. It is becoming part of the definition of next-generation luxury.
From recycled materials and renewable energy to hybrid propulsion, restored seagrass meadows, electric tenders and even aircraft concepts, the industry is exploring a future in which performance and environmental responsibility can coexist.
The most exciting yacht may therefore not be the one with the biggest engine or the most extravagant interior. It may be the one that combines intelligence, innovation and pleasure — while leaving the lightest possible wake.
And perhaps that is the most interesting message coming from the Monaco Yacht Show this year: the future of super-yachting is not simply greener. It is smarter, quieter, more connected — and increasingly Blue. ***
** 2026 Blue Wake Technical Jury, notably: Dr. Vienna Eleuteri Held (Vice-President, Water Revolution Foundation), Lucy Dunn (Content Director, Boat International Media), Toby Moore (CEO, Informa Prestige), Sara-Jane Skinner (Head of Partnerships, Blue Marine Foundation), Carlo Torre (Naval Architect and Owner, Monaco Yacht Temptation), and Tom von Bonsdorff (CEO, Baltic Yachts).
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy
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