Finnboat takes over the responsibility of organizing the boat show in Naantali

Active Expo, which has organized the event until now, has sold the operations for both the Naantali Boat Show and the Veneet Esillä events to Finnboat through a business transaction.

The event will continue with local resources

According to Finnboat’s Chairman, Kim Koskinen, the Naantali Boat Show will continue to be developed with strong local involvement in the future. Tuomas Levanto, who previously organized the event, will continue as chairman of the exhibition committee, and Jani Ollikainen, an experienced fishing guide and marketing expert from Merimasku with a long background in the boating industry, has been appointed as fair manager.

"We want to continue the fantastic work that Tuomas has done to develop the event. Southwest Finland holds great significance for the entire boating industry, and as the industry’s central organization, we need to highlight this area even more", says Kim Koskinen.

According to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, Southwest Finland is the second most active boating area in Finland after Uusimaa. There are nearly 70,000 boats in the region.

The season’s new boats and boating equipment are showcased in Naantali

In 2025, the Naantali Boat Show will be held from May 23–25. According to fair manager Jani Ollikainen, the goal is to create an enjoyable experience for visitors in Naantali Marina, where they can enjoy good food and view the boats.

"The latest models from the February boat show in Helsinki are showcased in their natural element on the water in Naantali. The goal is to expand the selection of boats, and especially boating equipment", says Ollikainen.

Tuomas Levanto has been involved in organizing the Naantali Boat Show since 2010, together with the event’s founder, Juha Mäkinen. In 2016, Levanto took over full responsibility for the show.

"I have been involved in building and developing the event, and now I want to see the Naantali Boat Show reach the next level. Finnboat is the right organization to support this. The Naantali Boat Show, with its test-driving opportunities, has always been a natural extension of the Helsinki boat show in February", says Levanto.

According to Levanto, the cooperation with the City of Naantali has always run smoothly. The boat show marks the start of the summer season in Naantali and is traditionally held the weekend before school ends. The event is followed by the Naantali Music Festival and the seasonal opening of Moominworld.

"The city has viewed the boat show as a way to promote tourism and has facilitated the practical arrangements for the event. Through the show, we’ve also been able to bring forward the start of the summer season in Naantali by a couple of weeks", says Levanto.

Among the annual exhibitors at the Naantali Boat Show is Nautical Partners, the importer of Jeanneau, Prestige, Wellcraft, and Delphia motoryachts as well as Zodiac inflatable and rigid inflatable boats. According to CEO Timo Yli-Heikkilä, the event is both important and valuable for the company.

“With greater support behind us, the event's national visibility and significance will also increase”, estimates Yli-Heikkilä.

Astrum Boats, which has exclusive sales rights for Grandezza, Sargo, and Arronet boats in Finland, is also a regular exhibitor at the Naantali Boat Show. According to CEO Henri Jokinen, it’s particularly Naantali's unique environment and the free entry that set this show apart from other boat exhibitions.

“Naantali is easy to reach for both us and the public. The event has a relaxed atmosphere and provides an excellent setting for connecting with customers”, says Jokinen.

Finnboat aims to enhance the visibility of boating

Kim Koskinen emphasizes that Finnboat’s goal as a non-profit organization is to strengthen the visibility of the boating industry in general.

“Our interest is not to compete with other events; rather, the more we can showcase the boating industry, the better it is for the entire sector”, notes Koskinen.

In the coming year, Finnboat will be behind three of the largest boat shows in the industry: the Helsinki Boat Show in February, the Naantali Boat Show in May, and the Helsinki Floating Boat Show on Lauttasaari in August.

The Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene Båt, will be held at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre on behalf of Finnboat from February 7–16, 2025. The Naantali Boat Show will take place from May 23–25, 2025, and the traditional Helsinki Floating Boat Show, Uiva Flytande, will be held from August 14–17, 2025.