World Ocean Celebration Returns to Miami, May 30 to June 8

Few American cities live as closely with the ocean as Miami, and for the past six years World Ocean Celebration has been turning that proximity into something more deliberate. The annual program returns from May 30 through June 8, 2026, with ten days of public events spanning South Beach to Biscayne Bay.

Hosted by ARTSail and Blue Scholars Initiative and presented by Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation, WOC 2026 is built around a straightforward idea: the case for protecting the ocean lands hardest when people can see it, swim in it, and recognize what is at stake in their own waterways. Most events are free or low-cost and open to the public, with some requiring advance registration. Full details are at worldoceancelebration.miami.

A few highlights from the program:

• Neon Reef and Reefline Guided Snorkel (May 31, Miami Beach), a guided in-water exploration of the reef just offshore.
• Sheroes of the Ocean Panel (June 5, University of Miami Climate Resilience Institute), the annual conversation with women leading in ocean science, conservation, and advocacy.
• Splash and Sand Celebration (June 6, 81st Street, Miami Beach), a free family morning of beach activities, cleanup, and ocean education.

The ten days build toward World Ocean Day on June 8, when WOC will issue a public call to action around Miami Beach’s Neon Reef. Located just 600 feet off South Beach, the reef sits alongside one of the country’s most visited coastlines yet remains unseen by many Miamians and outside formal federal protection. WOC is asking the community to support two measures: relocating the buoy line beyond the reef to improve swimmer safety, and establishing a Miami Beach Marine Park to safeguard the ecosystem it supports. The push gives this year’s official World Ocean Day theme, Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet, a direct local expression.

“World Ocean Celebration matters because it connects Miami to the wider global movement taking shape around World Ocean Day,” said Ombretta Agrò Andruff, founder of ARTSail and co-founder of World Ocean Celebration. “For us, the value of the event is in making that connection tangible here, in Miami, through a program that invites people to experience the ocean not as a distant cause, but as part of the life and the future of this city.”

Adam Steckley, executive director of Blue Scholars Initiative and co-founder of WOC, added that the range of programming is part of the point. “We’re most proud of how this festival gives people different ways to connect with the ocean, whether through culture, conversation, or being physically close to the water together. That range is part of what makes the week meaningful, because it gives Miamians a shared way to reflect on why living in a coastal city matters.”

WOC 2026 is supported by a wide group of partners and sponsors, including the Dolphins and Rainbows Swim Group, Miami Beach Rising Above, Ocean Bank, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach Department of Tourism and Culture, and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, among others. SEVENSEAS Media is a proud media partner.

About the organizations

ARTSail is a Miami-based platform fostering collaborations between cultural creators and climate experts to develop climate advocacy initiatives across South Florida. Its programs span artist residencies, exhibitions, and community outreach. Founded in 2016 by Ombretta Agrò Andruff, ARTSail became a standalone organization in 2018.

Blue Scholars Initiative engages Miami’s youth in marine biology, marine ecology, and watershed science through hands-on learning. Students investigate local biodiversity, conduct citizen science, and build a grounded connection to South Florida’s coastal environment.