2026 Newport International Boat Show Map

Charting the Course: The 2026 Newport International Boat Show Map

Artist, Illustrator, Designer: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: Informa Markets

I'm the guy who makes these maps. If you plan on attending the show please visit the show's website to make sure you're getting all the latest information on The Newport International Boat Show at NewportBoatShow.com

Some maps are about getting from point A to point B. This one is about getting lost in the right way.

The Newport International Boat Show does not exist in a sterile convention center or a sprawling fairground. It is woven into the fabric of a historic city, spreading across wharfs, marinas, and streets that have been part of New England's maritime story for centuries. The line between the show and the neighborhood is intentionally blurred, making it one of the most charming and complex venues to map.

When you navigate this show, you are not just finding the brokerage basin or the Windward VIP Lounge. You are discovering Newport itself.

The Style Has a Purpose

Last year the goal was to bring the Newport map into a more consistent visual family with the other events produced by Informa Markets. The more realistic illustrated look is the style developed for their shows, so updating Newport to match felt like the right move.

Map styles are not one size fits all. There are plenty of venues where a more playful isometric approach is exactly the right fit. The best style is always the one that serves the client's needs and the map's purpose.

Here the grounded illustration makes Newport feel approachable and familiar. You can recognize the curve of a waterfront street or the roofline of a historic building and orient yourself almost instinctively.

The Heavy Lifting Is Done

This year's map is an update, but with a project of this scale an update is still a significant undertaking. The foundation is the three dimensional model I built of the entire Newport waterfront. This was the heavy lifting, a digital reconstruction of the dense buildings and the precise shoreline.

The model is now permanent. My work each year focuses on the temporary elements that make the show come alive: the floating docks, the show tents, and the layout that changes from year to year. These are rendered, refined, and woven into the base illustration.

The final step takes place in Adobe Illustrator, where I add the keying, the labels, and all the navigational information that turns a beautiful illustration into a usable guide for the 450 boats and countless exhibitors on display.