Date: Monday, 8 June 2026; 18th Annual Day.
Sponsor: United Nations
Coordinator: UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
Objectives:
World Oceans Day is annually observed for the following purposes:
- to recognize the crucial role the oceans and seas play in our lives and their importance to the achievement of sustainable development goals,
- to raise awareness of the adverse impacts of human activities and climate change on the marine environment, habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystems, and
- to promote sustainable development, management, and use of the resources of the oceans and seas.
Inception:
World Oceans Day was first officially held on 8 June 2009
History:
World Oceans Day was proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
On 5 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 8 June of each year as World Oceans Day by its resolution A/RES/63/111.
How to Celebrate the Day
Learn, share, and action!
Since 2009, many organizations and communities have annually a range of educational and promotional events on the Day, including seminars, lectures, conferences, forums, and social media campaigns, to raise and spread awareness of ocean-related issues.
The United Nations proposes a theme for World Oceans Day each year to focus on a pressing ocean-related issue.
Annual theme in recent years:
2026 theme: “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet.”
2025 theme: “Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate.”
2024 theme: “Awaken New Depths.”
2023 theme: “Planet Ocean: Tides Are Changing.”
2022 theme: “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.”
2021 theme: “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”.
2020 theme: “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.”
2019 theme: “Gender and Oceans.”
2018 theme: “Clean our Ocean!”
2017 theme: “Our Oceans, Our Future!”
2016 theme: “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet.”
Official websites:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day
