STILLA at the Palm Beach International Boat Show 2026 — A Week on the Ground

The Palm Beach International Boat Show is one of those events where the entire yachting industry compresses into five days and a single stretch of waterfront. PBIBS 2026 ran from March 25 to 29 in downtown West Palm Beach, with over 800 boats on display, more than 100 superyachts exceeding 80 feet, and around 600 exhibitors occupying every dock and pavilion in sight.

STILLA was there for all five days. We flew the team in from Antibes and New Zealand, alongside our Fort Lauderdale office, set up across multiple partner activations, and spent the week doing what we do best at these shows, meeting clients face to face, showing the work, and having the kind of conversations that only happen in person.

This is what the week looked like.

Why PBIBS Matters for Bio-Preserved Floral Art

Boat shows are where the yachting world makes its decisions. Chief stewardesses lock in suppliers for the season. Yacht management companies evaluate new partnerships. Owners see what is available before they brief their crews.

For a maison like STILLA, whose work lives onboard, there is no substitute for being physically present at these events. Bio-preserved floral art is still a relatively new category for many in the industry. People need to touch the arrangements, see how the petals move, understand that these are real flowers that simply do not require water, sunlight, or maintenance for over twelve months.

A Thank You to Our Partners 

One of the things that made this year's show different for us was the depth of our partnership activations. STILLA was not operating from a standalone booth. We were embedded with three of the most respected names in yacht brokerage: Northrop & Johnson, IYC, and Ocean Independence.

Northrop & Johnson

We joined Northrop & Johnson across three separate events during the show, their lounge on the docks, and the Captains Dinner. N&J has been a long-standing partner, and their presence at PBIBS is always one of the anchors of the week. Being part of their programme gave us direct access to owners, captains, and management teams in a setting that felt more like a private gathering than a trade show.

IYC

With IYC, we were present at their lounge and their Excellence Dinner. IYC brings a strong international network to Palm Beach, and their events consistently draw decision-makers from across the charter and brokerage world. For STILLA, these rooms represent exactly the kind of audience we serve, professionals who understand that every detail on board matters, and who are always looking for solutions that perform at the highest level without creating additional work for their crews.

Ocean Independence

Ocean Independence hosted an evening event at The Cove, and it was one of the highlights of the week. A more intimate format, a different crowd, and the kind of atmosphere where real conversations happen. 

What We Heard on the Docks

Every boat show produces its own set of conversations, and PBIBS 2026 was no different. A few themes kept coming up across every event, lounge, and dockside meeting:

Sustainability is no longer just a talking point. More yacht management companies are building environmental criteria into their supplier decisions. Bio-preserved floral art fits naturally into this shift. Our arrangements eliminate the weekly replacement cycle, reduce the carbon footprint associated with fresh flower logistics. For chief stewardesses fielding sustainability questions from owners and charter guests, having a clear answer on florals is increasingly important.

Crew time is the most undervalued resource on board. We heard this from interior managers and chief stewardesses repeatedly. The hours spent sourcing, arranging, and maintaining fresh flowers every few days, often in remote ports with limited local options, add up across a season. STILLA removes that entire workflow. One installation, no upkeep, twelve months of consistent presence on board.

The line between yacht interiors and residential design continues to blur. Owners and estate managers who commission STILLA for their yachts are increasingly asking about arrangements for their private homes in the South of France, South Florida, and beyond. The same standard applies. The same approach works.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season

Palm Beach marks the unofficial start of the Mediterranean season. Crews are finalising preparations, owners are confirming summer itineraries, and decisions made at PBIBS often set the tone for the months that follow.

For STILLA, the show confirmed what we have been building toward, a growing roster of clients across yachting, private estates, and hospitality who see bio-preserved floral art not as a novelty, but as a better standard. The conversations we had in Palm Beach will shape our work through the summer and into the autumn shows.

We are already planning our presence at the upcoming season of Mediterranean events. If you were at PBIBS and we did not get the chance to connect, or if you are preparing your vessel or property for the season ahead, we would welcome the conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Palm Beach International Boat Show?

PBIBS is one of the largest marine events in the United States, held annually along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. The 2026 edition ran from March 25 to 29, featuring over 800 vessels, 600 exhibitors, and more than 100 superyachts exceeding 80 feet.

What are bio-preserved flowers?

Bio-preserved flowers are real flowers harvested at peak condition and treated with a plant-based glycerin solution that replaces their natural sap and water. This process maintains the original colour, texture, and shape of the flower for twelve months or longer, with no need for water, sunlight, or any ongoing maintenance.

How does STILLA work with superyachts?

STILLA designs and installs bespoke bio-preserved floral arrangements tailored to each vessel's interior. We work directly with chief stewardesses, interior managers, and owners to develop compositions that match the design language of the yacht. Our team is based in Antibes and Fort Lauderdale, with delivery capabilities across the Mediterranean, South Florida, the Bahamas, and worldwide through our logistics partners.

Can bio-preserved arrangements reduce costs compared to fresh flowers?

Over a full yachting season, switching to bio-preserved floral art can reduce interior decoration budgets by approximately 60 percent. The saving comes from eliminating weekly purchases, reducing crew time spent on flower maintenance, and removing the logistics costs of sourcing fresh flowers in remote ports.

Where is STILLA based?

STILLA — La Maison Haute Fleuristerie — operates from showrooms in Antibes on the French Riviera and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We serve clients across the Mediterranean and Caribbean yachting circuits, as well as private estates and hospitality venues internationally.