An international conference 26-28 May 2026 organized by the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council in partnership with UArctic. The event is hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands and embedded in UArctic Congress 2026.
Tuesday 26 May 09:00-10:50 WEST
View the Ocean Day Program to watch additional sessions via livestream.
When: 26-28 May 2026
Where: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands - Arena við Tjarnir
What: International ocean conference dedicated to Sub Arctic and High Arctic connectivity.
Who: The conference is part of the official program of the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council (2025-2027) and will be embedded in the UArctic Congress 2026.
Registration: Those registered for UArctic Congress 2026 will have access to the Chairship Ocean Conference. More information can be found on the official UArctic Congress 2026 website.
The Arctic is predominantly covered by oceans. The Arctic seas are of immense importance for the people in the Arctic and in particular Indigenous Peoples and their communities who depend on the health of the sea for their livelihoods and way of life. Ongoing warming and the reduction of sea ice call upon us to step up monitoring developments and to identify the drivers of change thereby enhancing predictability and effective management of the changing marine environment.
The conference will emphasize implications for biodiversity and migrating species, climate change impacts, pollutant transport and the movement of species between regions, including movement of invasive species to the High Arctic. It will also highlight the significance of sustainable management practices for the Arctic marine environment, reinforcing the importance of responsible Arctic marine monitoring and governance. The aim is to facilitate knowledge exchange initiatives and connect research findings and Indigenous Knowledge with a view to establishing best practices. The Ocean conference will be aligned with the Ocean Decade agenda.
Thursday, 28 May is dedicated to Arctic Council work on ocean-related issues. Check the programme schedule to make sure you don’t miss key high-level plenaries, presentations, and panel discussions on ocean connectivity.
"The Ocean Connectivity Conference provides a vital platform to bring together science, Indigenous Knowledge, and governance perspectives, and strengthen collaboration across borders and disciplines. The Arctic Ocean is a living system connecting regions, species, and peoples across vast distances. By strengthening collaboration around ocean connectivity, we strengthen our collective ability to protect Arctic biodiversity for generations to come." Courtney Price, Executive Secretary, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group
Throughout the Congress, Ocean Connectivity Conference sessions will be marked with the three-seal symbol, representing the Kingdom of Denmark’s chairship of the Arctic Council. Roll-up banners will be placed outside session venues to help guide participants to the correct locations.
Enter keyword "Ocean Connectivity Conference" to see the events in the UArctic Congress program linked below
"The Faroe Islands, in their role as Deputy Chair of the Arctic Council, in close cooperation with Greenland and Denmark, are honoured to announce the upcoming Ocean Conference, to be held in partnership with the UArctic Congress 2026 and hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands in close collaboration with the Faroese Marine Research Institute. It is a great priviledge and opportunity to highlight our shared Arctic priorities - especially the future of our oceans, on which our nation and other Arctic partners so deeply depend. Through this collaboration we will advance key Chairship priorities and reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development and Arctic cooperation. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and communities, the conference seeks to foster the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and inspiration across the Arctic and the wider global community." - Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries, the Faroe Islands
As Chair of the Arctic Council, the Kingdom of Denmark has five priorities: Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the Arctic, Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions, Oceans, Climate Change in the Arctic and Biodiversity.
The Ocean Connectivity Conference is part of the Kingdom of Denmark's Oceans priority.
Read more about the Chairship program.
The Ocean Connectivity Conference will be embedded within the UArctic Congress 2026 held in the Faroe Islands on 26-29 May 2026. UArctic Congress 2026 is hosted by The University of the Faroe Islands, in collaboration with The Faroe Marine Research Institute and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade.
The 2026 Congress themes align with the Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council Chairship priorities. The UArctic Congress 2026 is the fifth Congress organized to date.
Learn more about UArctic Congress 2026.