A Round Up of the European Ocean Days 2026

The European Ocean Days have been eventful bringing together policymakers, scientists, investors, youth representatives and industry leaders in Brussels for its third, and arguably most impactful, edition.

Against the backdrop of a year packed with critical milestones and challenges for EU fisheries and maritime affairs, the event was more than just a gathering. It was a moment to pay tribute to our ocean, reflect on how far we've come with the Ocean Pact, share views during various stakeholders' consultations, and confront the vast horizon of work still ahead, preparing the ground from planning to action.

Unveiling a new initiative

The week began with President Ursula von der Leyen unveiling OceanEye, the EU's new ocean monitoring and observation initiative. She called for an International Alliance to reinforce and expand ocean monitoring and observation and announced the EU contribution of €50 million from Horizon Europe to this International Alliance for 2026-2027.

The President's announcement came hand-in-hand with an immersive exhibition of the European Digital Twin Ocean - a dynamic, open-source, virtual replica of the ocean. With a striking large-scale display at the venue's centre, visitors directly interacted with the tool to explore: steering through simulations that tracked drift patterns of endangered turtle species, watching coastal towns light up under future flood risks, and testing mitigation scenarios for marine plastic pollution. Watch EDITO online.

Throughout the week, this sense of momentum continued with a deeper dive into the European Ocean Pact. Bringing together all EU ocean-related policies for the first time, the Pact provides a single strategic framework to ensure coherence across initiatives.

Inspiring panels were featured on various topics including ocean diplomacy, research and innovation, ocean health, competitiveness, blue careers, coastal communities, maritime security and the forthcoming 'Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture'.

Highlighting the arts

Beyond announcements and discussions, the European Ocean Days highlighted that the arts are not to be forgotten as a powerful means for advocacy and engagement. On opening day, EMKA's violin performance layered a duet of human and ocean voices that set the tone for the week, and Porto's Blue Together drove a powerful message of collective, multidisciplinary action through a stirring blend of live music, dance and acrobatics.

Throughout the week, immersive exhibits invited visitors to dive in and explore the ocean from within the walls of the venue. Sea of Sounds allowed participants to swim alongside orcas or dive to the benthic zone in search for rarely seen creatures, while Sounds of the Ocean offered an immersive auditory journey through the ocean's depths.

Blue Investments

The BlueInvest Day delivered encouraging news: the blue economy is gaining real momentum. The latest Investor Report revealed 159 active investors and €3 billion dedicated to blue investments, alongside a new wave of startups pitching solutions from sustainable aquaculture to marine renewables as they competed for the BlueInvest Award.

Beyond investment, tangible progress was also showcased at the Mission Ocean and Waters Forum: initiatives like VeriFish are helping seafood consumers make informed and sustainable choices, while Blutopia's integrated aquaculture-tourism model in Rhodes demonstrates how innovation can be both local and scalable. Meanwhile, the Danube Wetlands Restoration project showcases the power of rewilding to boost biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.

A call to action

From the OceanEye announcement to cutting-edge technologies and powerful artistic expression, European Ocean Days 2026 showcased both the scale of ambition and the diversity of approaches shaping Europe's ocean future. It was a week of ideas, but also of alignment - bringing together policy, science, innovation, and society around a shared vision.

Yet the message throughout was clear: momentum must now translate into decisions-made, and action taken. The tools are emerging, the frameworks are taking shape, and the investment is growing. The next step is to scale up what works, accelerate implementation, and ensure that the transition to a sustainable blue economy is both inclusive and effective.

Watch the event

Blue Invest Days