4th Edition of the Marine Forests Festival
The Marine Forests Festival returns to Vila Nova de Milfontes from May 13 to 22, 2026. Organised by CCMAR and partners, the event celebrates marine ecosystems with educational activities, workshops and scientific knowledge sharing.
The 4th edition of the Marine Forests Festival (Festival das Florestas Marinhas) takes place in Vila Nova de Milfontes from May 13 to 22, 2026, bringing ten days of activities dedicated to environmental awareness and marine discovery.
Organised by CCMAR – Centre of Marine Sciences of the Algarve, in partnership with Colégio Nossa Senhora da Graça, the Municipality of Odemira and the University of the Algarve, the festival's central goal is to bring the public closer to the importance of marine forests and the role they play in ocean health.
Marine forests – including seagrass meadows, kelp forests and reef systems – play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, producing oxygen and capturing carbon, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. Despite their importance, these ecosystems remain largely unknown to the general public.
Over the ten-day programme, visitors can take part in environmental awareness initiatives, marine environment discovery activities and scientific knowledge-sharing sessions. The festival combines science, education and direct contact with nature in one of the Alentejo's most beautiful coastal areas.
Vila Nova de Milfontes, located at the mouth of the Mira River and within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, is the perfect setting for this event connecting the community to the sea. The detailed programme for the 4th edition will be announced soon.
Entry is free for most activities, making the festival accessible to families, students and tourists visiting the region during the month of May.
