Prepare to immerse yourself in the cutting edge of maritime technology as Seawork Southampton 2026 returns to the waterfront at Mayflower Park from Tuesday 9 June to Thursday 11 June 2026. As Europe’s largest annual commercial marine, workboat, and marine civils exhibition, this massive international trade show brings together over 400 exhibitors and 7,500 industry professionals from more than 60 countries. It serves as an incredible showcase for anyone eager to explore floating plant equipment, high-speed security vessels, and the groundbreaking zero-carbon propulsion systems shaping the global maritime sector.
Seawork 2026 Schedule and Timings
The extensive three-day exhibition features a packed schedule of live vessel demonstrations, technical conferences, product launches, and industry networking events. Note the official daily schedule for Seawork 2026:
Every-Day Events
These events will run at the same time and place each day of Seawork.
- 09:00: NETWORKING — SMI Networking Breakfast
- 10:00: NETWORKING — Mercy Ships UK Talk & Treat Sessions
- 11:00: DEMONSTRATION — ESVAGT A/S Vessel Demonstration
- 14:00: NETWORKING — Mercy Ships UK Talk & Treat Sessions
- 14:30: DEMONSTRATION — ESVAGT A/S Vessel Demonstration
Tuesday 9 June 2026
Morning (AM)
- 08:30: NETWORKING — NOC Networking Breakfast
- 09:45: SEAWORK EVENT — Get Set for Workboat 2050 – Extending Vessel Life & Reducing Emissions: Do the Numbers Stack Up?
- 09:45: CONFERENCE — The Floodfighters Conference
- 10:00: PRODUCT LAUNCH — Hybrid Package
- 10:00: CONFERENCE — Future Ports: Sustainable Solutions & Smarter Infrastructure (Day 1)
- 11:00: SEAWORK EVENT — Seawork Official Opening
- 11:00: PRODUCT LAUNCH — Datalogger
- 11:00: DEMONSTRATION — Datalogger and SPECTRE M5 Demonstration
- 11:30: CONFERENCE — The Future of UK Maritime: Government Strategy meets SME Opportunity
- 11:30: DEMONSTRATION — MIMO GO Case
- 11:30: DEMONSTRATION — Champagne Reception
Afternoon (PM)
- 12:00: NETWORKING — Superyacht Tech Talk Networking Lunch
- 13:00: CONFERENCE — HM Government Networking Lunch
- 13:00: CONFERENCE — British Superyacht Tech Talk
- 13:30: PRODUCT LAUNCH — Product Launch: Ocealis
- 14:00: DEMONSTRATION — Demonstration: Integrated Propulsion Solutions for next generation autonomous and Mission-ready Craft
- 14:00: DEMONSTRATION — Demonstration: ROYPOW
- 14:15: NETWORKING — Subsea Xplorer Training Centre Announcement and Sign Up
- 14:30: NETWORKING — Workboat Association Networking Drinks
- 14:45: NETWORKING — Volvo Penta & Tidal Transit Drinks Reception
- 15:30: NETWORKING — Goodchild Marine Drinks Reception
- 16:00: CONFERENCE — A Showcase of Maritime Innovation in the Solent, presented by the University of Southampton
- 16:00: NETWORKING — Inland and Coastal – Product Talk and Networking
- 17:30: SEAWORK EVENT — Seawork Awards sponsored by Nova Shipyard
Wednesday 10 June 2026
Morning (AM)
- 08:00: NETWORKING — Seawork Exhibitor Networking Breakfast
- 09:45: CONFERENCE — Floodfighters CPD Workshop
- 10:00: PRODUCT LAUNCH — ASL Group Company Announcement
- 10:00: CONFERENCE — Autonomy in the Real World: Uses, Savings and Setbacks
- 11:00: DEMONSTRATION — Demonstration of Hydraquip’s Smart Tag
- 11:00: NETWORKING — UK Harbour Masters Association AGM
- 11:30: PRODUCT LAUNCH — LOKI L-Track
Afternoon (PM)
- 12:00: NETWORKING — Lunch: Mercy Ships
- 12:00: DEMONSTRATION — ROAM RX Beachlander
- 12:00: CONFERENCE — Autonomy at Sea – The Future
- 12:00: NETWORKING — Workboat Association Networking Lunch
- 12:00: CONFERENCE — Propulsion in Practice: Matching Systems to Operations
- 12:30: NETWORKING — UKHMA
- 12:30: NETWORKING — Hypro Marine 50th Anniversary
- 12:45: CONFERENCE — Small Ships Forum: AGM, Industry Insights & Networking
- 13:00: CONFERENCE — £271M for Green Maritime: UKSHORE Funding, CMDC & ZEVI Opportunities Unpacked
- 13:30: NETWORKING — Nova Shipyard
- 14:00: NETWORKING — Vulkan Industries Ltd Cocktails Event
- 14:00: DEMONSTRATION — Demonstration of T6 UHD Boom
- 14:00: CONFERENCE — AI at Sea: Drive it – don’t build the engine.
- 14:00: NETWORKING — Griffon Marine Networking Drinks Reception
- 14:00: NETWORKING — Charity & Taylor 50 years strong!
- 14:15: CONFERENCE — Operating for Offshore Wind in a Changing Market
- 14:15: CONFERENCE — Navigating Risk: GNSS Interference and Maritime Safety Insights
- 14:45: NETWORKING — Volvo Penta & Diverse Marine BBQ
- 15:00: NETWORKING — Society of Maritime Industries Networking Reception & Drinks
- 15:00: NETWORKING — ScaffFloat Live Music & Cornish Beer
- 15:15: CONFERENCE — Powering Maritime Innovation through Collaboration: NSO, MarRI UK and SMI
- 15:30: NETWORKING — Women in Marine Industry Networking Event In Partnership with WISTA UK
- 15:30: NETWORKING — MAN Engines Early Oktoberfest with German beer and cocktails
- 16:00: NETWORKING — Scottish Maritime Cluster Networking Drinks Reception
- 16:00: NETWORKING — Inland and Coastal – Product Talk and Networking
- 16:00: NETWORKING — British Superyacht Networking Reception
- 16:00: NETWORKING — Clarus Networking Event
- 16:00: NETWORKING — British Marine Drinks Reception
- 17:30: SEAWORK EVENT — Seawork Cardboard Boat Regatta
Thursday 11 June 2026
Morning (AM)
- 08:30: NETWORKING — Workboat Association Committee Meeting (Invite only)
- 10:00: CONFERENCE — Built for Mission, Certified for Safety: The Naval Boat Code Explained
- 10:00: CONFERENCE — Future Ports: Sustainable Solutions & Smarter Infrastructure (Day 2)
- 10:30: CONFERENCE — Joint Workboat Association & SMI Meet the Buyer event: Owner‑Led Insights for the Workboat Supply Chain
- 11:00: CONFERENCE — OPS for Workboats and Leisure – MCS, batteries, CCS etc: Building the Infrastructure for Decarbonisation
Exhibition Layout and Key Features
The extensive layout spans both land and water at Mayflower Park, creating an interconnected hub of commercial shipping innovation:
- The Purpose-Built Pontoons: Walk out along 250 meters of floating structural pontoons to inspect, board, and tour a massive fleet of over 70 working commercial vessels, rib interceptors, tugboats, and multi-cat work platforms.
- Undercover Exhibition Halls: Explore extensive indoor exhibition pavilions housing over 400 trade stands representing marine engineering, navigation software, commercial diving gear, and deck machinery providers.
- The Innovations Showcase: A specialized focal zone dedicated to exploring eco-friendly marine renewables, hybrid vessel design, subsea robotics, autonomous drones, and zero-carbon battery propulsion systems.
- Live Water Demos: Head to the park’s quayside viewing areas to witness high-speed tactical maneuvers, remote survey asset deployment, and real-time vessel trials out on the open water.
Food, Refreshments, and Networking
The event features complete catering facilities right on the park grounds, making it easy to grab lunch or host client meetings without leaving the exhibition:
- On-Site Cafes & Food Courts: Multiple catering points and pop-up bars are located within the indoor halls and across the open-air avenues, offering hot lunches, quick snacks, coffees, and drinks.
- The Waterfront Restaurant: The central hospitality hub hosting the official evening events, offering a relaxing spot overlooking the floating marina for extended networking.
Registration and Entry Requirements
While the event is free to access, it operates under clear attendance guidelines:
- Free Professional Entry: Entry is completely free for business professionals, marine operators, students, and trade visitors. However, all attendees must complete a digital registration form online via the official Seawork portal to secure their entry badge.
- Age and Attendance Restrictions: As a live commercial trade exhibition with working heavy machinery and deep-water pontoons, general public access is restricted. However, aspiring maritime students aged 13 and above are warmly welcomed for the dedicated Careers Day on Thursday.
How to Get to Mayflower Park
The event is located at Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AN.
- By Train: The park is roughly a 15-to-20-minute flat walk from Southampton Central Railway Station. Alternatively, visitors can hop on local city center connection buses right from the station entrance.
- By Ferry: Located directly adjacent to the Red Funnel Ferry Terminals, the venue is incredibly convenient for cross-Solent commuters arriving from the Isle of Wight via the high-speed Red Jet or vehicle ferry links.
- By Bus: Major routes stop at the Westquay shopping district or Town Quay, leaving you with a brief 3-minute walk to the main exhibition entrance gates.
Public Parking Options
There is no public visitor vehicle parking inside Mayflower Park itself during the event, as the grounds are fully utilized for industrial exhibits. Drivers should use the nearby city center multi-storey car parks:
- Town Quay Parking: Limited pay-and-display spaces are available directly on Town Quay pier, located a short walk from the entrance.
- Westquay Shopping Centre Parking: Multi-storey car parks at Westquay provide thousands of secure parking spaces less than a 10-minute walk away from the venue.
- City Council Long-Stay Lots: Affordable multi-storey lots like Grosvenor Square and Eastgate Street are located nearby, offering single-stay parking rates if you plan to attend across multiple days.
Local Tip: If you want to see the vessels in action, make sure to plan your pontoon visits around the high-speed sea trials on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon when operators display their fast maneuver capabilities in the main shipping channel.
Explore More Summer Live Music
Looking to pair your weekend with incredible open-air performances right in the city center? Explore our comprehensive visitor guide to the Southampton Summer Sessions 2026 to find full star-studded lineups, gate opening times, and essential concert details.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to pay for an entry ticket to attend Seawork 2026?
- No, entry to the main exhibition halls, quayside spaces, and the floating pontoons is entirely free for commercial marine professionals, trade operators, and students. However, you must pre-register online via the official Seawork website to secure your visitor pass badge before arrival.
- Where exactly does the exhibition take place?
- The event is hosted at Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AN. The site includes temporary undercover exhibition pavilions erected across the park grounds alongside a purpose-built 250-metre floating marina pontoon structure extending into the River Test.
- Can members of the general public attend the trade show?
- Seawork is strictly an international business-to-business commercial maritime trade exhibition, meaning it is not open to the general public or young children due to active machinery operations. However, aspiring maritime students aged 13 and above are warmly welcomed to explore career paths during Thursday’s dedicated Maritime Training & Careers Day.
- What is the Seawork Cardboard Boat Regatta?
- The Cardboard Boat Regatta is a popular, high-energy networking event taking place on Wednesday 10 June at 17:30. Teams from various maritime companies build custom vessels entirely out of cardboard to race them on the water outside the pontoons, with prizes awarded for fastest times and most dramatic sinkings.
- Is there food and drink available on the park grounds?
- Yes, the exhibition features complete on-site catering setups. This includes multiple food courts, espresso bars, and pop-up refreshment kiosks distributed throughout the indoor pavilions, alongside the permanent Waterfront Restaurant hub overlooking the floating marina.
