Overview   Global

IMDIS 2026 will take place in Split, Croatia, from 30 November to 3 December 2026, organised by the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IOF) in collaboration with SeaDataNet AISBL, IFREMER, MARIS, NOC and INGV, many of whom are long-standing EMODnet partners. The conference will bring together experts from across the marine data community to showcase advances in data infrastructures, interoperable systems, tools and platforms, and the transformation of marine data into knowledge and decision-support products.

The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB) 2026 will take place from 17–20 November 2026 in Bruges, Belgium, with organisation led by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). This flagship global event will gather scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore the latest research, innovations, and solutions for marine biodiversity observations, data, conservation and sustainable ocean management. The Call for Abstracts is open until 17 March 2026 (23:59 CET), and registration is now available via the WCMB 2026 registration portal, with early-bird rates valid until 18 June 2026. Find all submission details and updates on the WCMB 2026 website.

The call for abstracts for the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026 (WCMB 2026) is now open until 17 March 2026. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are invited to submit abstracts across the conference themes, including a dedicated EMODnet session focused on “Science that makes a difference: supporting knowledge-based policies.” This session will explore how marine knowledge and data can better inform policy and decision-making processes. Find out more and submit an abstract: Call for abstracts: https://www.wcmb2026.org/call-abstracts
EMODnet session: https://www.wcmb2026.org/6-science-makes-difference-supporting-knowledge-based-policiesTitle: EGI Conference 2026: Advancing Digital Infrastructure for Science and Innovation

The call for challenges for Ocean Hackathon® 2026 is now open, inviting innovators, researchers, and organisations to shape the future of the blue economy. EMODnet Secretariat's Angeliki Karampourouni and Matteo Mikos co-presented EMODnet's service offer at the online warm-up sessions in April ahead of the event taking place from 16–18 October 2026 across multiple locations worldwide. The hackathon will bring together multidisciplinary teams to transform marine data into practical, prototype solutions addressing ocean sustainability and real-world needs. Submit your challenge before 30 May.

On 23 April, the European Commission launched a public consultation to help shape the European Ocean Act, following an earlier call for evidence in January 2026. Open until 16 July, this questionnaire invites stakeholders to share their views, including those from public authorities and administrations, experts, citizens, and coastal communities. Find out more

The European MSP Week 2026 will take place in Brussels, Belgium, from 1-5 June 2026, bringing together projects and initiatives from across Europe dedicated to Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP). Organised with contributions from EU-funded projects, the week will feature a range of events, including the first Great North Sea Basin Initiative Stakeholder Conference, fostering exchange and collaboration across the MSP community.

The European Maritime Day 2026 will take place 21-22 May in Limassol, Cyprus, bringing together Europe’s maritime community to highlight the breadth of sea-related activities and the vital role oceans play in our daily lives. Organised by the European Commission and Cypriot partners, the event offers a vibrant platform for Ocean leaders in private, policy, academic and society sectors to connect, share insights and shape joint action for sustainable Blue Economy.

The EuroGOOS International Conference, taking place from 18-20 May 2026 in Larnaca, Cyprus, will bring together Europe’s ocean observing and forecasting community to discuss the latest advances in operational oceanography.

The Riding the Wave conference will take place in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on 11–12 May 2026, bringing together policymakers, scientists, industry and investors to support the implementation of the EU Ocean Pact and accelerate innovation in the blue economy. The programme will explore ocean governance, marine restoration, climate neutrality, pollution mitigation and ocean observation, alongside investment and innovation pathways for ocean technologies. Kate Larkin will contribute as a speaker in the keynote session on translating ocean knowledge into policy impact, highlighting the role of data and services in supporting evidence-based decision-making.

BioMOnWeek, taking place from 4-8 May 2026 in Montpellier, is the new European conference dedicated to advancing biodiversity monitoring. The event will bring together Europe’s biodiversity monitoring community—from researchers and monitoring professionals to policymakers, industry and students—to explore strengthened transnational cooperation, harmonised monitoring standards, shared best practices, and the use of emerging technologies and citizen science.

EMODnet has launched a new coastal tourism data theme, providing high-resolution indicators on tourism pressure, infrastructure and environmental quality to support sustainable coastal planning and Blue Economy policies.

On 14 April, EMODnet joined the SEArica Intergroup anniversary event at the European Parliament, chaired by MEP Christophe Clergeau, highlighting the need for strong marine knowledge and data to underpin a future European Ocean Pact. This momentum continued at the SEArica event hosted by MEP Jeannette Baljeu, focusing on turning EU maritime and port strategies into action through research, innovation, and data. As an existing, operational data service within the European marine knowledge value chain, EMODnet adds value for the Ocean Pact, from hosting National Maritime Spatial Plans to offering diverse ocean observation data that supports the implementation of EU policies for coasts, land-sea interface, marinas, ports and beyond.

EMODnet participated in the third Ocean Partnership Forum under the EU–China Blue Partnership for the Ocean, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels, followed by a visit by the Chinese delegation to the InnovOcean Campus in Ostend. Bringing together policymakers, industry, academia and NGOs from both regions, the Forum focused on advancing ocean observation and sustainable fisheries—key pillars for effective ocean governance and a thriving blue economy. In Ostend, the delegation engaged with key marine stakeholders, including EMODnet, showcasing how European marine data infrastructures and collaborative frameworks support science-based decision-making.

The deadline for EDITO Call 1 has been extended to 11 May 2026, offering €600,000 in funding to integrate your applications, models, or datasets into the EDITO platform. This first call targets final or near-final solutions—including interoperable tools for biodiversity modelling, ecosystem assessment, and climate scenario analysis—ready to contribute to ocean and coastal challenges and the European Digital Twin Ocean.

A retired civil engineer from the Netherlands, Jan Velders, used EMODnet Bathymetry data to support his archaeological and geological research into historic human activities linked to the search for Atlantis. The EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model confirmed his findings, including a 9 km-long canal in the Plato Seamount. His work, published as a book, also demonstrates how users can explore and verify these findings themselves using EMODnet at home.

Joana Beja, Senior Scientific Data Officer at VLIZ and Coordinator of EMODnet Biology, has joined the External Expert Advisory Board of the Biodiversity Meets Data (BMD) project. Her expertise in marine biodiversity data and the European data landscape will support the development of the Biodiversity Explorer—a centralised platform combining advanced monitoring, AI-driven taxonomic identification, and integrated environmental data. This collaboration reinforces synergies across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine domains, helping turn biodiversity data into actionable insights for policy and conservation.

EMODnet Geology visited Santa Marta-Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, on 13-18 April 2026, to meet with the Caribbean Sea geological surveys collaborating on the development of various thematic geological maps focused on the coastal region.

EMODnet Seabed Habitats (ESH) is organising a three-day workshop in Anguilla (22–24 April 2026). It will facilitate engagement with regional stakeholders and actors in seabed mapping in the Caribbean region, building on existing partnerships. The workshop will provide an overview of ESH work, explore regional habitat mapping efforts, and create space for exchange to ensure EMODnet activities effectively address regional needs.

Blue Tech Europe 2026 will take place in Paris, France, on 21–22 April 2026, at the Centre de conférences internationales – Sorbonne Université, bringing together academia, industry, government and investors to accelerate innovation in marine observing technologies. Organised by EMBRC and aligned with the EU Ocean Pact and the Startup and Scale-up Strategy, the conference will focus on strengthening European autonomy in sensor and marine technology development, scaling autonomous observation systems, and reinforcing Europe’s competitiveness in blue technologies. EMODnet will be present, contributing to discussions on interoperable marine data services and the integration of European ocean observation infrastructures.

Blue Tech Europe 2026 will take place on 21–22 April at Sorbonne University in Paris, bringing together academia and industry to explore cutting‑edge marine observing technologies. Aligned with the EU’s Ocean Pact and Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the conference will highlight innovation, foster collaboration and identify pathways to boost local growth and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in blue technologies.