Greenport Maritime Festival cancels 2026 event, as organizers shift focus

Greenport’s annual maritime celebration won’t set sail in 2026.

The East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation has canceled next year’s Greenport Maritime Festival, pausing a long-running event that has drawn thousands of visitors each year.

Museum officials said dropping anchor on the uber popular event will allow them to focus on major projects, including modernizing museum facilities, restoring the Bug Lighthouse and expanding educational and conservation programs across the East End.

“Pausing the festival allows us to focus on the projects that best serve our mission,” the museum said in a statement. “This is not a goodbye — it’s a return to our roots.”

The festival has long been a centerpiece of Greenport’s working waterfront, offering boat tours, maritime demonstrations, family activities and community celebrations.

While it will not return in 2026, museum leaders said they are developing year-round opportunities for the public to connect with local maritime history and conservation efforts.

Officials said the pause is a step toward ensuring the museum can protect the region’s bays and preserve maritime traditions for future generations.

_{Top photo: Instagram/East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation}