Sea Days in Menton: sails, dolphins and a beach clean
At the end of August Menton traditionally becomes a focal point for those concerned about the fate of the Mediterranean Sea. On 28 and 29 August 2026 the seventh festival “Sea Days”, organised by the French Riviera community, will take place on the Esplanade des Sablettes. Here, outdoors among palm trees and sea breeze, you can learn how the underwater world of the Côte d’Azur lives and understand that each of us can help preserve it. The programme promises to be full: from sailing trips to beach cleans and open-air film screenings. Dates and the programme are confirmed by riviera-francaise.fr.
A little history: how Sea Days were born
The idea of holding Sea Days in Menton did not come out of nowhere. This town at the eastern tip of the French Riviera has long been famous for its mild climate and unique location: mountains on one side, and the sea on the other, which is particularly clean here thanks to underwater currents. Local environmental associations and authorities long noticed that residents and visitors often do not realise what wealth lies beneath the water. Thus a project was born to combine education, entertainment and real action to protect nature.
The first Sea Days took place in 2020 and immediately attracted attention. Since then the festival has become an annual event, and each time the organisers try to surprise the public with new formats. 2026 is the anniversary seventh edition, and it promises to be especially spectacular. The main aim is not just to talk about problems, but to show that the sea is a living organism that needs our care every day, not only on special occasions.
Festival programme: from dawn to dusk
Two days — 28 and 29 August — will be filled with events from morning to evening. The organisers have prepared a programme in which everyone will find something to their taste: from peaceful strolls to active environmental actions, and you can also drop by the neighbouring Menton’s beaches, which have been in the spotlight of the town all summer.
- From 10:00 on the Esplanade des Sablettes a village of associations is open: stands, masterclasses, games for children and adults.
- At 18:00 on Friday — presentation of a collective graffiti project by the artist Mr One Teas.
- On Saturday at 10:00 — a clean walk, a beach clean with separate waste collection.
- On Saturday evening — an open-air screening of the documentary «Souffles de vie».
In addition, during both days there are scheduled sailings on schooners and traditional boats, as well as guided scuba sessions with instructors. All activities are free, but sailing trips require prior booking through the Menton tourist office website.
At sea under sail: whale and dolphin watching
One of the main events of the festival will be sea trips aboard the schooner «Santo Sospir» — an elegant sailing vessel based in Menton harbour. Accompanied by biologists from the association SOS Grand Bleu, participants will be able to head into waters where cetaceans live. This is a unique opportunity to see dolphins in their natural environment, and if lucky — fin whales, which come into these waters in search of food.
Routes pass through the protected marine areas of Cap Martin and Capo Mortola, and also touch part of the famous Pelagos reserve. This international sanctuary, created in 1999, covers a vast area between France, Italy and Monaco and serves as a home for many species. Whale watching here is not just entertainment but an important research tool that allows scientists to collect data on populations. We have already written about how complex the relationship between humans and the sea giants on the Riviera can be in the piece about the transfers of dolphins and orcas from Antibes.
«We want people not just to admire the sea, but to understand its fragility. Every trip to sea is an ecology lesson that stays with you for life», — says Jean-François Ottonello, coordinator of environmental programmes for the French Riviera community.
Art in defence of the ocean: graffiti and documentary cinema
The festival is not limited to just a scientific and educational programme. This year, for the first time in Menton, the well-known French graffiti artist Mr One Teas has been invited; his real name is Anthony Alberti. He is known for his large-scale works on nature and the ocean. Throughout Friday he will work on a collective canvas with visitors, and at 18:00 will present the finished piece. It is not just a painting but a symbol of unity among people who want to preserve the sea.
And on the evening of Saturday 29 August, at 18:45 there will be a screening of the documentary «Souffles de vie» (translated — «Breath of Life»). The film tells of an expedition organised in 2021 by the Monegasque association Live Together. Scientists and filmmakers set sail to study how human activity affects large cetaceans of the Mediterranean. The film has been recognised at several environmental festivals and will now be shown outdoors on the Esplanade des Sablettes.
— — — Photo: Diego F. Parra / Pexels