Join the New England Aquarium for World Ocean Day 2026

Free Programming

Central Wharf Plaza

DJ Mike Amado at Dockside Beer Garden
Enjoy tasty offerings including beer, wine, and cocktails and a variety of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. The menu will also include a few surprise World Ocean Day themed items! DJ Mike Amado will be providing entertainment.

Harborside Water Quality Testing
Learn how we monitor water quality throughout the Aquarium, live with our team.

NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Meet representatives from NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary alongside their 43-foot inflatable humpback whale, Salt (weather permitting).

Glitter Dolls Face Painting
Locally-based Glitter Dolls Face Painting will be onsite for fun and ocean-themed face painting.

The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkopoag
Members of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag will lead a hands-on fish weir-building activity, providing attendees with an immersive experience of traditional fishing practices. This activity will highlight the cultural and historical significance of fish weirs to the Indigenous peoples of the Boston Harbor area. Participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of these sustainable fishing methods and their role in the ecosystem.

Harbor View Terrace and Tent

“Ask a Scientist” Booth
Scientists from our Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation, and Animal Care teams will meet visitors and answer questions about their work protecting our ocean and marine animals.

New England Aquarium Interpretation & Engagement team

New England Aquarium Conservation Policy team

New England Aquarium Dive Club
Learn about the New England Aquarium Dive Club and our efforts to educate the public and conserve and protect the ocean.

New England Aquarium Membership Info Station
Learn more about membership options at the Aquarium. From 2:00-4:00 p.m., Liza Ketchum, “Turtles Heading Home!” author, will be hosting a book signing.

New England Aquarium Volunteer & Internship Programs and Youth Development Info Station

Neponset River Watershed Association

Rajji Desai

The American City Coalition
Participate in a heat island effect activity which educates on the albedo effect and heat islands in Boston. Learn more about engaging with urban and waterfront ecology through a Boston waterfront birding activity.

Insights Shop
Uvida Shop, a minority & women-owned business, is Boston’s first zero-waste and eco-friendly store. Shop plastic-free products for improving home health to protect the environment through their wide variety and ever-expanding selection of affordable and sustainable household goods.

Stone Living Lab
Learn about how our warming oceans impact local species through an activity.

Surfrider Foundation

Hispanic Access Foundation
The Hispanic Access Foundation will share information about the vital relationship between Latino communities and our oceans and coasts. Attendees will learn about our ocean programs, Latino Conservation Week, and our newest short film on sustainable fisheries, “From Sea to Soul.” They will also offer ocean-themed coloring pages for children, immersive ocean VR experiences for all ages, and giveaways.

Boys and Girls Club of Boston

Boston Sea Rovers

Simons Theatre and Lobby

Regularly-scheduled film showings (ticketed)
View current film schedule here.

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program Art Exhibition
An interactive, family-friendly exhibit table where attendees will be able to create their own, unique buttons/pins using youth artwork created as a part of our annual Ocean Awareness Contest.

New England Aquarium Sustainability Committee

For Aquarium Ticket Holders

Inside the Aquarium

Remarks by Robert Lewis, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston • 11:00 a.m.
Hear from local leader Robert Lewis at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank at 11 a.m.where he’ll discuss his extensive work empowering youth and strengthening community.

Temperature Tapestry: A Climate Stripes Art Installation • throughout the day
This colorful art installation displays 174 years of the global average temperature. Each stripe represents a year, forming a vibrant tapestry of color. This illustrates how carbon pollution has had a dramatic ripple effect on Earth over the past decades. Learn more.

Conservation Learning and Animal Care Presentations • throughout the day
Staff from our Interpretation & Engagement, Marine Mammals, and Penguins teams will deliver short presentations explaining the many ways we take care of our animal communities and how we all can take action within our own communities to take care of animals all over the world.

Transportation

The Aquarium is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to provide free transportation from the Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club in Dorchester and the Yawkey Club of Roxbury to Central Wharf on World Ocean Day.

Pre-registration is required and spots are limited. If you are interested in registering for a shuttle, please contact your local Boys & Girls Club for information on timing and availability.

For additional information about traveling to the Aquarium, please visit our Directions and Parking page.

Boston Family Days

We’re proud to partner with the City of Boston for Boston Family Days, an access program that provides students who live in Boston and their families free entry to many of the City’s world-class cultural institutions on the first and second Sunday of each month. World Ocean Day is also a Boston Family Days Sunday, and we hope Boston students and their guests join us for the celebration to collect a stamp for their Boston Family Days passport! Learn more about the Boston Family Days program.

Thank you our sponsors the Lowell Institute and the Barr FoundationWBZ-TV, M&T Bank, Eastern Bank Foundation, Plymouth Rock Assurance Foundation, SLC Managementand Vilms Consulting.