Homepage - United Nations World Oceans Day

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UN World Oceans Day 2026 is hosted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) in partnership with and made possible by Oceanic Global.

8 June 2026

STAY INFORMED

For too long, we have treated the ocean as something vast, distant, and separate from us. We created that distance ourselves. The ocean has always flowed through us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the climate that makes our lives possible. Now we are being called to reimagine that relationship. For the first time in a generation, humanity has chosen to govern a significant part of our shared ocean together. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is not the end of negotiation but the beginning of a transformation that no treaty alone can complete.

'Reimagine' asks us to close that distance together. To move from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future. To govern not just beyond our borders but beyond our blind spots, beyond the habits of taking, operating in silos, and the belief that the way things have been is the way they must remain.

Join us in reimagining our relationship to the ocean and integrate these topics from the UN WOD thematic discussion guide into your global World Oceans Month dialogues.

8 June 2026

DOWNLOAD THE UN WOD DISCUSSION GUIDE

UN WOD Event Reach

73M

Reach via Social Media

300K

Program & Video Views

175

UN Member States Reached

Ocean Leaders

Wonder is the key to having the world pay attention to the ocean.”

Fabien Cousteau - Founder & Chief Oceanic Explorer

To protect our planet’s beating heart, we need to awaken new depths within our own.

MICHAEL B. JORDAN - ACTOR, PRODUCER, AND DIRECTOR

We know that protecting nature offers at least 30% of what’s needed to reach our emission reduction goals, but only 2% of global climate finance is actually being directed towards these solutions.

SHYLA RAGHAV - CHIEF CLIMATE OFFICER, TIME MAGAZINE

We must become stewards of the entire planet and we know that the ocean is by far the dominating biological, physical, and chemical system on planet Earth.

JOHAN ROCKSTRӦM - DIRECTOR OF THE POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE IMPACT RESEARCH

Who are we on this planet, and what is our responsibility to make this world thrive, not survive?

XIYE BASTIDA - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RE-EARTH INITIATIVE

The ocean is a priceless, incredible asset. The most important asset to our planet, and yet we don’t include it on any balance sheet; it’s not thought about economically.

KAREN SACK - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OCEAN RISK AND RESILIENCE ACTION ALLIANCE

The biggest challenge that I see [with the discussion around the ocean] is a lack of awareness. We have to close that gap between perception and reality.

SWETA CHAKRABORTY - CEO OF NORTH AMERICA, WE DON’T HAVE TIME

Humanity can count on the ocean, but can the ocean count on us? Today and every day let’s put the ocean first.”

António Guterres - United Nations Secretary-General

The more I see irresponsible human activity – pollution, acidification, extraction- devastating the ocean, the more I find myself asking….
Has humanity forgotten that the ocean not only covers the planet, but also sustains it?”

Jason Momoa - Actor and UN Environment Programme Advocate for Life Below Water

It’s the first time that we know what we know and it’s maybe the last best chance we’ll ever have to make peace with nature.”

Sylvia Earle - Explorer at Large, National Geographic & Mission Blue

Our stories are the sacred medicine that ocean decision-making needs.”

Mpume Mthombeni - Performer & Co-founder, Empatheatre

I can think of no task more essential than caring for our oceans and maintaining the delicate balance of their depths.”

Lucas Bravo - Actor and Activist

Now, more than ever, health is on the forefront of public consciousness – but, we must understand that our health, human health, is dependent on the health of our oceans and the health of our planet.”

Cara Delevingne - Actress, Model & Co-Founder, EcoResolution

[The ocean] is more than twice the size of all continents combined, and it’s all unexplored. The cost effectiveness of exploring the ocean is radically greater than exploring outer space.”

Ray Dalio - Founder and Chief Investment Officer Mentor of Bridgewater Associates and the Co-Founder of both Dalio Philanthropies and OceanX

It’s always better to be actively involved in change, even when the problems seem insurmountable.”

Ellie Goulding - Multi-Platinum Selling Singer/Songwriter

*Metrics reflect average UN WOD event reach since 2017