OCEAN WEEK 2026 RECAP:
By: Fundy Biosphere Region
Ocean Week Fundy 2026 took place from June 1st to 8th, bringing communities together across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to celebrate the Bay of Fundy’s marine and freshwater environments. Now in its third year as the Fundy hub for Ocean Week Canada, Ocean Week Fundy was once again co-hosted by UNESCO-designated Fundy Biosphere Region and Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. While Ocean Week officially ran from June 1st to 8th, several related events before and after the week helped extend opportunities for learning, stewardship, and community engagement throughout the region.
This year’s celebration featured 22 events that highlighted the Bay of Fundy’s globally renowned tides, diverse ecosystems, rich cultural connections to water, and the importance of ocean stewardship.
Event Highlights Included:
Opening Day at the FUN-dy Discovery Aquarium and Riverkeeper Splash Days helped launch the season by connecting families and students to marine and freshwater ecosystems through hands-on learning and exploration.
On June 2, Ocean Week programming began with A Celebration of Porpoise Song in Saint John, the Johnson’s Mills Shoreline Cleanup, and a screening of Hands in the Current, each offering unique perspectives on our relationship with the ocean.
Events on June 4 and 5 included the DIY Coastal Charms Workshop in Moncton, the Ocean Week Coastal Walk in Saint John, and Understanding the Health of Our Oceans in St. Andrews, combining creativity, outdoor exploration, and discussions about marine conservation.
June 6 featured the largest concentration of events, including Navy Island Kayak Tours, Fantastic Beasts of the Bay of Fundy, World Ocean Day at the FUN-dy Discovery Aquarium, Celebrate Ocean Day at New River Beach, Ocean Week Canada Discovery Day, and EnviroFest. Additional activities included a geology tour at Fort La Tour, The Water Carries Stories Indigenous youth program, and Junior Palaeontologist Day at Joggins.
On June 8, World Ocean Day, students explored the connection between the Wolastoq (St. John River) and the Bay of Fundy during Connections: The Wolastoq and the Sea, while audiences in St. Andrews attended a performance of Taking on Water, a play examining life on a changing coastline.
Ocean Week Fundy continued beyond June 8 with a climate adaptation site visit at New River Beach Provincial Park, a BioBlitz at Fundy Trail Provincial Park, and Black Beach Education Day, which also kicked off celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area.
Ocean Week Fundy is part of Ocean Week Canada, a national initiative led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition in support of the UNESCO Ocean Decade, which aims to advance ocean knowledge and stewardship around the world.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the educators, Indigenous leaders, scientists, artists, volunteers, municipalities, community organizations, and partner groups who made Ocean Week Fundy 2026 possible. Thank you as well to everyone who participated. We hope you had a great time, and we look forward to celebrating Ocean Week Fundy with you again in 2027.Blue Beige Aesthetic Modern Photo Collage A4 Document
