2026 Ocean Awards

The ocean event of the year!

The Ocean Awards is an energizing and fun soirée to meet, mingle and celebrate champions of our ocean and Great Lakes. The reception held every year anchoring Capitol Hill Ocean Week is the place to network with colleagues old and new, luminaries in the ocean community, and the business leaders and policymakers that are invested in our waters. 

This reception is a fantastic opportunity to form partnerships with shared missions, host clients, gather with friends, broaden networks, enjoy sustainable US seafood and most importantly – celebrate our collective commitment to improving the health of our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes and the communities that depend upon them. 

This year, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation honors Dr. James P. Delgado with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award and Viking with the 2026 Conservation Innovation Award! This year, we are proud to partner with the National Maritime Historical Society. The National Maritime Historical Society will present their 2026 NMHS Maritime Heritage Distinguished Service Award at the Ocean Awards.