Diving Talks 2026 Reveals Awesome Full Schedule and Speaker Line-Up as Tickets Go On Sale
International diving community set to descend on Lisbon from 23–25 October
The full schedule and speaker line-up for Diving Talks 2026 have been revealed, with tickets now on sale for the sixth edition of the international diving event, taking place from 23–25 October at Cordoaria Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal.
Described as the “TED Talks of Diving”, Diving Talks brings together explorers, scientists, underwater photographers, physicians, educators, innovators, conservationists and world-record holders for three days of presentations, discussions and networking.
The 2026 programme has been organised into a series of thematic panels, bringing different perspectives together around some of the key questions facing the underwater world.
The programme will cover subjects ranging from exploration and science to technology, human performance, underwater heritage, ocean conservation and the future of diving. Speakers will also look at how the diving community can attract and prepare the next generation of divers.
Friday evening will open the event to the general public with Ocean Tales, featuring stories, images and adventure, alongside a live connection with an ocean expedition and a musical world premiere.
Across the weekend, the programme will take audiences from polar environments and submerged caves to historic shipwrecks, marine megafauna, human physiology and the future of diving technology.
One of the most significant discussions of the weekend will focus on the Maldives diving accident and subsequent rescue and recovery operation.
Maldives: What Must We Learn?
Diving Talks will close with Anatomy of an Accident: How the Maldives Rescue Operation Was Carried Out, bringing together people directly connected with the search and recovery operation.
The Maldives accident resulted in the deaths of five divers, while another person died during the subsequent search and recovery operation. Diving Talks says the discussion is intended to move beyond headlines and speculation, examining what happened, the challenges faced during the operation and the lessons that can be learned by the wider diving community.
Chiara Ferri, Cristian Pellegrini, Laura Marroni and Sami Paakkarinen will bring different perspectives to the discussion, covering diving medicine and safety alongside the operational realities of search, rescue and recovery.
The organisers say the session will examine decisions, challenges and human factors involved when a diving emergency develops into a complex rescue operation, with the aim of considering what the diving community can do differently in the future.
Three days of diving conversations
Alongside the talks and panels, Diving Talks will provide opportunities for attendees to meet speakers, manufacturers and brands, discover new technology, network with other divers and reconnect with friends and colleagues from around the diving world.
The event’s organisers are positioning the Lisbon gathering as more than a series of presentations, with the informal atmosphere and opportunities to continue conversations between sessions forming an important part of the experience.
NAUI Worldwide returns as a supporter for the 2026 edition. The organisation, which has supported Diving Talks previously, has a long-standing focus on diver education and safety.
DAN Europe will also return as the Diving Safety Partner. DAN Europe has been involved with Diving Talks since its first edition in 2021, contributing speakers and bringing diving medicine, research, accident prevention and diver safety into the programme.
With the speakers confirmed and the full schedule now published, the organisers are encouraging divers to make their plans for Lisbon.
Diving Talks 2026 takes place from 23–25 October at Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal. You can by tickets here.
