With a highly successful Scottish Skipper Expo 2026 over, its partner event the Irish Skipper Expo is now set to make a return in 2027 to its original home in Galway, after a few years of being held in Limerick.
‘Galway has always been a natural home for the Expo, and we are delighted to bring this news to the industry. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027 for what we are confident will be a well-supported and worthwhile event for all involved,’ said Mara Media commercial fishing manager Sharon Boyle.
The Irish Skipper Expo was first held in Galway in 2007, and has grown steadily to become a focalpoint of the Irish fishing sector. Although originally held annually, it’s now held every second year – alternating with the Aberdeen event that has just concluded.
Next year’s Irish Skipper Expo will take place at the High-Performance Centre, Dexcom Stadium, 13th-14th May, reaffirming its longstanding connecton with Galway.
The move to the High-Performance Centre at Dexcom Stadium – home of Connacht Rugby – provides a modern, purpose-built facility that will support the continued growth and development of the Expo.
‘We’ve taken the time to listen carefully to industry feedback and felt it was important to wait for the new venue at Dexcom to be fully ready before confirming our plans,’ said Sharon Boyle said.
‘The Expo remains firmly focused on what matters most – face-to-face engagement, showcasing innovation, and supporting the strength of the fishing community. We’ll again feature a comprehensive range of exhibitors, representing all areas of the industry – from vessel equipment and marine technology to safety, services, and seafood processing.’
The Galway announcement follows on the heels of this year’s Scottish Skipper Expo in Aberdeen, which saw its strongest turnout for some years with visitor numbers 20% up on the previous event in 2024 – reinforcing the decision by the organisers to switch to a bi-annual format, alternating events in Ireland and Scotland.
‘Congratulations to the Mara Media team for another well-organised, well-run and well-attended Skipper Expo. We look forward to the next one,’ said Peterhead Port Authority CEO Graeme Reid, while SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald commented that this year’s event was an ‘excellent show, very well organised and a good buzz around it.’
Exhibitors reported excellent footfall, serious enquiries and steady business discussions across both days, and coupled with positive visitor feedback, this indicates a successsful event, not least as many exhibitors confirmed that they would be back for the Aberdeen exhibition in 2028.
‘The decision to move Scottish Skipper Expo to a two-year cycle was widely welcomed by exhibitors, many of whom commented positively on the renewed energy and strong attendance levels seen throughout the show,’ Sharon Boyle said, and confirmed that away from the exhibition stands, the seven vessels displayed inside the hall once again proved a major attraction for visitors.
‘This is a unique feature that continues to set Scottish Skipper Expo apart within the commercial fishing exhibition sector,’ she said.
‘We are were delighted with the success of Scottish Skipper Expo 2026. The strong attendance, positive feedback and overall atmosphere throughout the event reflect the importance of industry collaboration and the continued support the exhibition receives from across the commercial fishing sector. It was extremely encouraging to see so many companies, vessel owners, skippers, crews and industry professionals coming together once again in Aberdeen, and we now look forward to welcoming the industry back again in 2028.’
