Mediterranean Festival 2025 in Ajaccio: Ten Days of Action and Dialogue to Save the Sea
From May 16 to 25, Ajaccio is hosting the 4th edition of the Mediterranean Festival. Exhibitions, workshops, sports challenges, clean-up operations, and masterclasses will drive this committed event, which places youth and ocean preservation at the heart of its mission—serving as a prelude to the upcoming UN Ocean Conference.
For its fourth edition, the Mediterranean Festival aims to actively contribute to ecological mobilization in Corsica. Organized by the association Sauver la Méditerranée, with the support of the HLD Méditerranée fund and many partners, this year’s festival is part of the “2025, Year of the Sea” campaign and precedes the major United Nations Ocean Conference scheduled in June in Nice.
Over the course of ten days, Ajaccio’s Citadel, Place Foch, and the Gulf of Lava will become the epicenters of a rich and inclusive program open to all audiences.
Youth at the Forefront for the Mediterranean
The festival kicks off on May 16 with a sports day dedicated to schoolchildren, organized in collaboration with USEP and UNSS. Activities such as orienteering races and ergometer challenges aim to raise awareness among youth about coastal protection.
On May 22 and 23, educational and artistic workshops led by students and associations will take center stage. These include marine biodiversity discovery sessions, immersive experiences, water cycle awareness activities, and creative art using plastic waste collected from beaches.
Children will become true ambassadors of the sea, speaking during masterclasses and media events, and actively participating in performances and exhibitions.
Exhibitions to Inspire and Educate
Throughout the festival, the Citadel will host an art exhibit showcasing student creations made from plastic waste, highlighting both the fragility and beauty of the Mediterranean. At Place Foch, a photography and educational science exhibition—developed in partnership with Naeco, Mare Vivu, and the STARESO scientific base—will invite visitors to explore marine biodiversity, understand the threats facing the sea, and commit to its protection.
The CNRS and University of Corsica’s Stella Mare research platform will also present its work on ecological engineering and coastal biodiversity.
Concrete Actions for the Sea
Beyond raising awareness, the festival promotes real-world action. On May 21, a major clean-up and waste characterization operation will be held at the Natura 2000 site of the Gulf of Lava, engaging associations, students, and the general public.
On May 24, the “Mégothon” (Cigarette Butt Marathon) will take over the streets of Ajaccio—a public campaign to fight beach and ocean pollution by collecting cigarette butts. These actions, in partnership with Corsica Clean Nature and CAPA, underscore the idea that protecting the Mediterranean starts with everyday gestures.
A Welcoming, Festive, and Committed Festival
The festival also features festive and cultural moments, such as the Jeudis Sonores de la Citadelle evening in collaboration with Jazz in Aiacciu, and a live public recording of Génération Méditerranée, a France 3 Corse Via Stella program, on May 24 at Place Foch. Two special episodes will be broadcast in June during the UN Conference, showcasing Corsican and Mediterranean initiatives.
Source: stampa-paese
