Ferretti Group was the multiple-award-winning protagonist of the Blue Design Summit 2026, the prestigious international event with a focus on innovation, design culture and yacht design, held from May 18 to 20 in La Spezia, in the heart of the Miglio Blu.

The Summit brought together the yachting sector’s leading players to discuss various topics affecting the industry, from sustainability and innovation in yacht design to coastal development and interior design.
The promoters of the Blue Design Summit 2026 are the Municipality of La Spezia, the Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea, the Riviera di Liguria Chamber of Commerce, Confindustria La Spezia, Liguria International and Miglio Blu.

The contributors included Ivan Polidoro, the Director of Riva’s La Spezia shipyard, who spoke during the Summit’s opening session on the panel entitled “La Spezia’s Miglio Blu: where UNESCO creativity is born”.
There was also great interest in Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design – the studio that has designed all Riva boats on an exclusive basis for over 30 years – who shared their ideas and experience during the panel discussion entitled “Lines on the water: two visions of design”.

Ferretti Group was also centre stage at the Blue Design Awards 2026, where the Riva and Ferretti Yachts brands won three major prizes awarded by the panel of experts, confirming the design and style excellence that have kept the group at the forefront of international yachting.

The “Best Motoryacht under 24 metres” prize was awarded to Ferretti Yachts 800, the flybridge yacht that has played a significant role in the brand’s evolution. With exteriors designed by Filippo Salvetti and interiors by the idearella team, the award recognises the yacht’s bold yet refined stylistic personality, which successfully combines timeless elegance, dynamism and innovative design with features typically found on larger yachts.

The commercial created for the launch of Riva Cento, the open yacht for collectors presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, won the “Best Advertising Video” award. In the expert opinion of the jury, the video captures the essence of the Riva brand with an extraordinarily effective visual narrative that conjures up Italian style, heritage and beauty, transforming a product into an icon and a launch into a cultural moment.

Riva was also awarded the prestigious “Italian Yachts Ambassador” title, recognising the brand’s success in embodying and promoting the very concept of Italian-made yachting elegance around the world. From the legend of the shipyard founded in 1842 to today’s yachts designed by Officina 

Italiana Design; the Blue Design Awards 2026 have recognised Riva’s uniqueness as a legendary shipyard and a symbol of craftsmanship, design vitality and innovative drive.

“These recognitions are a tribute not only to the beauty and innovation of our yachts, but above all to the extraordinary Italian creativity, craftsmanship and passion that continue to inspire the world through our brands. To see both Ferretti Yachts and Riva honoured on such an important international stage is a source of immense pride for all of us at Ferretti Group. For decades, iconic brands such as Riva and Ferretti Yachts have represented far more than products. Around the world, they have become symbols of elegance, timeless beauty, emotion and the uniquely Italian ability to transform craftsmanship, engineering and design into true works of art. This heritage carries both an honour and a responsibility. Every day, thousands of talented people across our shipyards dedicate their skill, discipline and passion to preserving and strengthening this extraordinary brands for future generations.

At Ferretti Group, we see ourselves as custodians of some of the most admired Italian brands in the world. Our ambition is not simply to build yachts, but to continue elevating the experience, desirability, quality and innovation that have made these brands globally iconic. The recognition received at the Blue Design Awards confirms once again that Italian beauty, Italian craftsmanship and Italian creativity continue to capture the imagination of people all over the world. And we remain deeply committed to ensuring that this unique Italian spirit continues to inspire the future of global yachting for many years to come.” commented Stassi Anastassov, Global CEO of Ferretti Group.