This October, Boatshed is heading to Albania for the second Balkans Sea Fair at Marina Orikum, near Vlorë.

The Fair runs from 16 to 18 October 2026 and is bringing together boats, marine businesses, marinas, equipment companies and people involved in developing the region's fast-growing marine economy. Alongside the boat show itself there is now a three-day Balkans Blue Economy Summit covering marina development, technology, skills, infrastructure and cooperation across the Adriatic and Ionian region.

But our interest in Albania goes rather further than walking around another boat show.

For nearly 30 years Boatshed has been interested in the machinery that allows ordinary people to go boating. Boats themselves are only one part of it.

You need places to keep them. Somewhere to lift and repair them. Engineers, surveyors and brokers you can trust. Straightforward ways of arriving and clearing into the country. Good information about anchorages, fuel, water, weather and local services. Charter operators. Training. Used boats. And, increasingly, good digital information before anybody has even left home.

Albania is particularly interesting because much of that ecosystem is developing now.

It sits between some of Europe's most established cruising grounds, with Italy on one side of the Adriatic and Greece and Montenegro close by, but it is still comparatively unfamiliar to many recreational boaters.

That creates an opportunity.

The Balkans Sea Fair itself is becoming part of that development. Its 2026 exhibitor list already includes Albanian and international boat companies, equipment suppliers, marinas, brokers and marine service businesses. Dedicated business matchmaking is also being organised at the Safin Hotel during the event.

We'll be spending more than just the three show days in the area because we want to understand what is happening on the ground.

Where are people already boating?

What makes things difficult?

Who are the good local marine businesses?

Where are boats being bought and sold?

What information is missing for visiting sailors?

And could the Boatshed network help connect some of those pieces?

There is also a much bigger question behind the trip.

We talk a great deal in the marine industry about new marinas, large yachts, waterfront developments and investment. All of those things matter. But a healthy boating economy also needs the thousands of ordinary sailors, motorboaters and families who simply want to get afloat.

That is the bit we're particularly interested in.

If you're going to be at the Balkans Sea Fair, are already boating in Albania, or work in the Albanian marine industry, come and find us.

There are plenty of boats in the world already.

We need more boaters !