Rain or Shine, Coralpalooza 2026 Made Waves of Impact for Florida’s Coral Reef

The 11th Annual Coralpalooza brought together divers, snorkelers, and ocean advocates from near and far to take action for coral reefs in the Florida Keys. Coralpalooza (which is also celebrated around the world) demonstrates what can happen when people come together with a shared commitment to protecting the underwater world.

This year, stormy conditions in the Florida Keys shifted Coral Restoration Foundation’s plans from outplanting corals on the reef to cleaning Coral Trees in our offshore nurseries. While different from what we had planned, cleaning Coral Trees is an essential part of coral restoration, helping young corals stay healthy as they grow.

Thanks to the dedication and flexibility of our incredible community, Coralpalooza 2026 was another inspiring reminder that every effort helps move reef restoration forward. Here’s a snapshot of the impact we made together across the Florida Keys:

• 190 divers participated
• 100 Coral Trees cleaned
• 15 boats
• 514 hours spent underwater
• 1,500+ attendees at land-based educational events

A Party with Purpose

Our annual Friday Evening Social once again brought the Coralpalooza community together for an evening of connection, conversation, and fun at the Caribbean Club in Key Largo. This year, the event featured our first-ever Conservation Village and a lineup of sustainable local vendors, truly making it a party with purpose.

Coralpalooza partipants (and the general public) enjoyed live music, food trucks, educational games, and opportunities to connect with these local conservation organizations and eco-conscious businesses:

Even More Impact Above the Surface

While Coralpalooza made waves of impact below the surface, it clearly isn’t just about what happens underwater.

In addition to the Friday Evening Community Night & Bazaar, we kicked things off at Zoo Miami with interactive and educational coral restoration activities celebrating World Reef Awareness Day. We then wrapped up World Ocean Week at the Key West Aquarium, where Coralpalooza participants and Keys locals explored reef exhibits, saw Captain Coral shows, and learned how they can help protect Florida’s Coral Reef.

Coralpalooza Gear That Gives Back

This year’s Coralpalooza collection features gear inspired by reef restoration, dive culture, and ocean conservation. The collection features something new: a microfiber towel poncho made by local Florida Keys company Kahu Tribe is designed for divers, boat days, and post-dive warm-ups anywhere in the world. Made from 20 recycled plastic bottles, this quick-dry poncho features a bold Coralpalooza design and packs easily into any dive bag for life on and off the water.

The collection also features Coralpalooza shirts, hats, and leggings. Every purchase supports Coral Restoration Foundation’s work to restore Florida’s Coral Reef.

The Sponsors Behind The Impact

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors and dive boat operators, whose generosity made Coralpalooza 2026 possible:

Want to Join Us for Coralpalooza 2027?

Whether you want to join us again, or are hoping to experience Coralpalooza for the first time, now is the perfect time to start planning. Sign up for the Coralpalooza 2027 First Alert List to receive exclusive registration updates and be among the first to know when next year’s event will take place.

Featured Coralpalooza Coverage:

• Coralpalooza: An Annual Reminder That We Can All Make a Difference (PADI)
• Hundreds Help Restore Florida’s Reef Tract During Coralpalooza (Keys Weekly)
• Celebrating Coralpalooza 2026 Around The World