The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) will venture outside the United States for the first time, choosing Glasgow, Scotland, as the host city for its 2026 conference.
Scheduled for February 2026, OSM26 aims to attract over 5,000 delegates worldwide to explore various oceanography aspects. This marks a significant shift from previous venues like San Diego and New Orleans, emphasizing the conference’s expanding global reach.
The conference, endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development, is jointly sponsored by leading scientific organizations including the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), and The Oceanography Society (TOS).
It serves as a crucial platform for researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and NGO representatives to share knowledge, address challenges, and collaborate towards a sustainable ocean future.
Choosing Glasgow, renowned for its commitment to sustainability and recent host of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), reflects the conference’s dedication to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable ocean management.
The selection was facilitated by a collaboration between AGU, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), VisitScotland, the Glasgow Convention Bureau, and Maritz Global Events.
“I’m delighted that Glasgow has been chosen to host this important global gathering in 2026. Scotland has a long and proud heritage and tradition in ocean science and we have a wealth of expertise to share,” said Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. “The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the ocean to every aspect of our lives and people’s lives all around the world. Our Blue Economy Vision sets out how by 2045, Scotland’s shared stewardship of our marine environment supports ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, food security, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and wellbeing.”