University of Galway will host a major summit on the future of the Atlantic Ocean as part of Ireland’s current presidency of the European Union.
The Marine Institute, University of Galway, and Atlantic Technological University, with the support of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, this week unveiled a two-day programme from October 8, with pre-registration now open for Atlantic Summit Galway 2026.
Senior officials from Dublin and Brussels are expected to attend Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 as Europe’s leading blue water strategists, researchers, policymakers, innovators, and communities meet to shape the future of the Atlantic.
Cypriot biologist Costas Kadis is the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, but his attendance has not been confirmed for the Galway event.
Under the theme ‘Advancing Europe's Ocean Research, Innovation and Skills Agenda during Ireland's EU Presidency’, the meeting will provide a unique forum for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic exchange at a pivotal moment for European ocean policy and international cooperation.
The Atlantic connects us, it drives our economy, it shapes our climate and it holds enormous potential for Europe’s future. At a time of growing environmental, economic and geopolitical challenges impacting the Atlantic, the Summit will focus on several strategic objectives.
These including defining priorities and raising ambition for Atlantic Ocean research and innovation; implementation of the EU Ocean Pact and Ocean Act; accelerating Europe's competitiveness in ocean science and technology; and addressing future capacity, training and skills requirements to support sustainable blue economy development.
The summit will convene senior representatives from the European Commission, national governments, research organisations, industry, regional authorities, civil society and international ocean initiatives, creating a unique opportunity to strengthen Atlantic cooperation, foster new partnerships and help shape future priorities for ocean research, innovation, and governance.
At a time when ocean challenges increasingly transcend national boundaries, organisers say they hope to provide a platform for collaboration across disciplines, sectors and countries, enabling shared solutions to shared challenges.
“Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council falls during the second half of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development,” says Dr Rick Officer, CEO of Ireland’s Galway-head quartered Marine Institute. “For many years Ireland has played a leading role in advancing Atlantic Ocean research and we are proud to make Galway the location yet again to set future ocean research and policy priorities. The Summit will help build the partnerships and solutions needed to address shared challenges for a healthy, resilient, and productive Atlantic Ocean."
Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said the summit would provide a platform for connecting research, policy and practice.
"As Europe looks to address increasingly complex ocean challenges, robust scientific knowledge and evidence-based decision-making have never been more important,” he said.
Dr Orla Flynn, President of Atlantic Technological University, said she was looking forward to the summit bringing together talent from across Europe and the wider Atlantic region to build partnerships.
"The Atlantic region has enormous potential to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and societal benefit. Realising that potential will require investment in people, skills, and collaboration alongside research and technological advancement,” she said.
Located on Europe's Atlantic seaboard, Galway was chosen as an internationally-recognised centre of excellence for marine and ocean science, research and innovation, making it an ideal location for this important gathering.
Over two days, participants will engage in a dynamic programme of keynote addresses, high-level policy dialogues, plenary discussions, and networking exchanges.
The Summit will explore some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing Europe and the wider Atlantic region, including resilient coastal communities, the future of Atlantic economies, ocean observation and innovation, healthy and productive oceans, and the role of science diplomacy, governance and geopolitical change in shaping the future of the Atlantic.
At a pivotal moment for Europe's ocean agenda, the insights and recommendations emerging from the Summit will contribute to implementation of the EU Ocean Pact and Ocean Act and help inform Europe's future ocean priorities. The summit will build ambition among European decision-makers and stakeholders for stronger and more targeted investment in ocean research and innovation under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF ) and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10 ).
