"FROM policy to practice: Powering maritime excellence" is the IMO’s World Maritime Day theme for 2026 and 2027, culminating in the annual celebration on the final Thursday of September.
For the first time, the theme is to run for two years, highlighting IMO’s clear commitment to put policies into practice.
IMO Headquarters is to be bathed in blue light in the evening of the day to promote the theme. IMO invites Member States, intergovernmental organizations in cooperation with IMO, and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO to light up landmarks.
According to the IMO from policy to practice underscores IMO's core mission of ensuring that the global regulatory framework it develops is not merely adopted in principle but translated into concrete national legislation, enforcement and day-to-day operations across the maritime sector.
According to the IMO, “powering" signals the momentum and targeted support through capacity-building, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing which IMO, together with its partners, provides to drive this transition.
"Maritime excellence" conveys the ultimate objective: a consistently safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sustainable shipping industry, operating to the highest international standards and continually striving for improvement.
Together, the theme is said to convey a holistic, action-oriented commitment: turning collective regulatory decisions into real-world results that deliver tangible benefits for all.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “with at least 80% of international trade moving by sea, maritime shipping keeps our world afloat”.
“For nearly eight decades, countries have worked together to develop conventions and codes,” Secretary-General Guterres said.
“But this critical framework is under strain. Conflicts and geopolitical tensions are infringing on navigational rights and freedoms that must be restored. The lives of seafarers are being threatened, and the global supply of fuel, fertilisers and food has been disrupted.
“These shocks to the global economy have devastating consequences, especially for developing countries.
“That is why the theme of World Maritime Day for 2026 and 2027 is From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence. It speaks to the vital importance of adhering to international law and ensuring it is fully implemented.”