New England Aquarium to celebrate World Ocean Day with free programming and shuttles on Sunday, June 7

BOSTON, MASS. (May 20, 2026) – The New England Aquarium is celebrating World Ocean Day with free activities for the public to learn about the ocean and take action to protect it.

People of all ages are invited to Central Wharf on Sunday, June 7, for a day of special educational programming along Boston’s waterfront. This year’s celebration features opportunities to meet scientists face-to-face, encounter a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale, explore the connection between Indigenous fishing practices and Boston Harbor’s ecosystem, and engage with a striking climate art installation.

As part of its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity on Boston’s downtown waterfront, the Aquarium is again partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to provide free shuttles to Central Wharf from the Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club in Dorchester and the Yawkey Club of Roxbury. Pre-registration is required; interested participants should contact their local Boys & Girls Club for timing and availability.

Guests can participate in free activities between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Aquarium in the Harbor Terrace Tent and on the Aquarium’s front plaza. Educational opportunities will be available inside the Aquarium for guests who purchase tickets. World Ocean Day is also a Boston Family Days Sunday, so students who live in Boston and their families can utilize this program for free entry to the Aquarium.

Free programming will include:

• Aquarium’s front plaza
  • NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary – Meet representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary alongside “Salt,” a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale, and learn about whale anatomy and ocean conservation (weather permitting).
  • Fish weir building with the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag – Members of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag will lead a hands-on fish weir building activity, offering an immersive experience of traditional fishing practices and the cultural and historical significance of these sustainable methods to the Indigenous peoples of the Boston Harbor area.
  • Harborside Water Quality Testing – Learn how the Aquarium monitors water quality with live demonstrations.
  • Artists For Humanity – From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., join local youth artists to help complete a mural, designed uniquely for this event. Participants will also receive a postcard of the same design as a keepsake of the day’s festivities.
• Harbor View Terrace and Tent
  • “Ask a Scientist” booth – Scientists from the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation team, Animal Care department, and BalanceBlue Lab will meet visitors and answer questions about their work protecting the ocean and marine animals.
  • Community partner tables – Representatives from the Hispanic Access Foundation, the American City Coalition, the Stone Living Lab, the Neponset River Watershed Association, Surfrider Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Boston Sea Rovers, Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation, the New England Aquarium Dive Club, and Rajji Desai will be onsite with activities and information about ocean and environmental stewardship.
  • Glitter Dolls Face Painting – The locally-based Glitter Dolls team will be onsite for ocean-themed face painting.
  • Book signing – From 2 to 4 p.m., book author Liza Ketchum will sign copies of Turtles Heading Home! at the New England Aquarium Membership table.
  • Art exhibition and activity – At an interactive, family-friendly table, guests can create unique pins using youth artwork created as part of Bow Seat’s annual Ocean Awareness Contest.
  • KultureCity Sensory Activation Vehicle – This mobile sensory experience provides a quick sensory refuge for those with sensory needs.
  • Temperature Tapestry: A Climate Stripes Art Installation – With locations just outside the tent, this colorful installation displays 174 years of global average temperature data, with each stripe representing a year and illustrating the dramatic impact of carbon pollution on Earth over the past decades.
• Simons Theatre
  • Film premiere – The Aquarium’s Simons Theatre will be offering free screenings of the new film Ocean Dreams at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The new documentary, narrated by actress Shailene Woodley, is an epic adventure from the deep fjords of Norway where orcas teach their young to hunt, to Raja Ampat in Indonesia, home to the richest biodiversity on Earth and where a groundbreaking project is saving endangered sharks with help from aquariums in America. Admission to the free screenings will be on a first-come, first-served basis on June 7.
• Full programming details can be found on the Aquarium’s website

Programming for guests who purchase Aquarium tickets:

• Remarks by Robert Lewis – At 11 a.m., Robert Lewis, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, will speak at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank about his extensive work empowering youth and strengthening community.
• Remarks by Commander Crystal Schaefer – Hear from 78th Commanding Officer, USS Constitution, Commander Crystal Schaefer at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank at 2 p.m., where she will discuss maritime culture, naval service, and the upcoming Sail Boston 2026.
• Conservation Learning and Animal Care presentations – Staff from the Aquarium’s Interpretation & Engagement, Marine Mammals, and Penguins teams will deliver short presentations throughout the day explaining how they care for animal communities and how visitors can take action in their own communities.

World Ocean Day programming is, in part, thanks to event sponsors: the Lowell Institute, the Barr Foundation, and WBZ-TV CBS Boston.

The Aquarium’s summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Tickets for Aquarium admission can be purchased in advance at neaq.org.

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