Aquarium to mark Shark and Ray Awareness Day on July 14 with special programming

BOSTON, MASS. (July 2026) – The New England Aquarium is planning to mark Shark and Ray Awareness Day on July 14 with a variety of special programming for guests.

Sharks and rays play a key role in maintaining ocean health, but a third of shark and ray species are facing extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Shark and Ray Awareness Day is an annual opportunity to highlight collaborative efforts to protect the ocean for future generations. On July 14, biologists and educators throughout the Aquarium will raise awareness about sharks and rays, focusing on solutions-based research in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, species in the Aquarium’s care, and ongoing conservation work.

Programming will include:

• Virtual reality experience – Through virtual reality headsets, guests can experience the excitement of shark tagging research from inside the Aquarium. Join scientists from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the first-floor Blue Planet Action Center to explore high-tech tagging technology, watch field and drone footage, and review real-life tracking data, all while learning from shark experts about how they tag and track some of the ocean’s most remarkable animals.
• Shark talks – Educators and biologists will give shark-themed presentations at the top of the Aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank throughout the day. This interactive programming allows guests to ask questions and learn about both animal care at the Aquarium and research by Anderson Cabot Center scientists. Presentations are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
• Enrichment session – Animal Care staff will host a special enrichment session at the Aquarium’s popular Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank. The mangrove-themed exhibit features several species of sharks and rays for guests to observe and interact with. The 10:30 a.m. session will highlight ways in which the Aquarium provides mental stimulation for sharks and rays, encouraging the animals to problem-solve, navigate changes in their environment, and forage for food.
• Exploration Station activities – Guests can stop by the Aquarium’s interactive educational space on the third floor, the Exploration Station, which will offer both guided and self-led activities themed around sharks and rays.
• Up-close with biofacts – Guests can also get a close-up look at biofacts, including shark teeth and jaws, from educators throughout the Aquarium.

The New England Aquarium is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day. Tickets can be purchased for timed entry slots online at neaq.org. On weekdays, New England residents receive $5 off standard Aquarium admission or admission and movie combinations.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pam Bechtold Snyder—psnyder@neaq.org