The Two Oceans Aquarium is hosting the International Zoo Educators (IZE) Conference this year

16 January, 2026 - Ocean Campus, Press Releases, Courses, Our team, Foundation, Events

The Two Oceans Aquarium has won the bid to host the 27th biennial International Zoo Educators (IZE) Conference from 12 to 16 October 2026. The internationally renowned conference offers a valuable opportunity for the global community of educators, communicators, and changemakers working in the zoological, aquarium, environmental, and conservation spaces to share ideas, inspire innovation, and discuss impactful ways to advance conservation education.

“It is an honour to have been chosen to host the 2026 IZE Conference at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. In 52 years, this is only the second time the IZE Conference has been held in Africa (the first time being in 2006). Bringing the world’s zoo and aquarium educators to Africa will broaden their perspectives, enable them to experience diversity in culture and indigenous knowledge, and learn about some of the conservation and education challenges which their African colleagues experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for staff at African zoos, aquariums, and other environmental and conservation organisations to share their expertise and knowledge with their peers from other facilities around the world,” said Helen Lockhart, Conservation and Sustainability Manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The theme of the conference is “One Planet, Many Voices: Educating for Biodiversity and Connection”. Just as ecosystems thrive when many species coexist and support one another, the global zoo and aquarium community flourishes when many voices come together with a shared purpose to nurture empathy, inspire responsible action, and create resilient futures for people and our planet.

Submit your abstracts for IZE 2026

This year's theme, "One Planet, Many Voices: Educating for Biodiversity and Connection", offers delegates an exciting and diverse range of categories under which to submit abstracts. The categories are as follows: Storytelling: Building empathy and connection; Behaviour change for action; Strengthening evidence for conservation education; Interconnectedness: Partnerships for and with nature; Building a culture of conservation education; Innovation and imagination for a diverse future; Growing the future: Leadership and professional development.

The Aquarium invites the IZE community to submit abstracts for the 2026 IZE conference by 17h00 GMT on 28 February 2026.

Find out more about this exciting conference here

Download the abstract submission form here

The Two Oceans Aquarium is excited to welcome the IZE community

The International Zoo Educators Association connects conservation educators from zoos and aquariums across the globe to share best practices and inspire positive change through keynote talks, interactive workshops, and cultural experiences. As a leader in curriculum-aligned environmental education for 30 years, the Two Oceans Aquarium is excited to welcome and host the IZE Conference in 2026. Through its non-profit Foundation’s ocean education initiatives, the Aquarium is making marine education widely accessible and contributing to the conservation of the world’s largest ecosystem: The ocean.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation currently reaches over 100 000 learners a year across its early childhood development and school programmes. In addition, it offers a wide range of enrichment courses for children and adults, job shadowing and internship opportunities, and outreach via mobile vans and puppet shows for those who cannot visit the Aquarium.

“Over the years, many young people who have come through the Foundation’s educational programmes have gone on to become scientists, environmental educators, conservationists, and activists,” explained Bianca Engel, Deputy Head of Ocean Campus. “Now, more than ever, we need conservation champions to drive impactful change for the future.”

Join the IZE community at the southern tip of Africa

Hosting IZE is an opportunity for the Two Oceans Aquarium to showcase the education work it has been doing for 30 years. It is also an opportunity to share ideas and solutions for conservation education for future generations. Join the IZE community at the southern tip of Africa for an unforgettable exchange of knowledge, culture, and collaboration in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.