Whale Seasons

Whale festivals

13 whale festivals, counts and watch weeks in the towns we cover, in calendar order. 4 have published dates for their next edition. For the rest we give the last edition's dates and when it usually runs.

Dates from each festival's own site or its tourism board, checked October 22, 2026

  1. Jan3 festivals
  2. Feb1 festival
  3. Mar3 festivals
  4. Apr1 festival
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul1 festival
  8. Aug1 festival
  9. Sep
  10. Oct2 festivals
  11. Nov
  12. Dec1 festival

Dates already set

  1. October 23, 2026Whale of a Celebration (3rd annual)
  2. March 5, 2027Festival of Whales (56th annual)
  3. March 13, 2027Pacific Rim Whale Festival
  4. April 10, 2027Whalefest Monterey (17th annual)

January

Sanctuary Ocean Count

Usually the last Saturday of January, February and March, 8 am to 12:15 pm. 2027 dates not yet posted (2026: January 31, February 28 and March 28)

Volunteer shore sites on Hawai'i Island, O'ahu and Kaua'i

Whale watching nearby: Kona

February

World Whale Day (Pacific Whale Foundation)

Usually February; 2027 dates not yet announced (the 2026 week ran February 9 to 15, with the parade on February 15)

South Kihei Road, from Kamaole I to Kalama Park, Kihei

Whale watching nearby: Maui

March

April

July

Hervey Bay Whale Festival

2027 dates not yet announced; the 2026 festival ran on 10 July (Blessing of the Fleet) and 29 to 30 August 2026

Hervey Bay: Urangan Harbour boat ramp car park for the Blessing of the Fleet, City Park and Seafront Oval for the festival day

Whale watching nearby: Hervey Bay

August

October

Whale of a Celebration (3rd annual)

October 23 to 25, 2026 (museum evening October 23 at 6:30 pm; Condor Express whale watch October 25, 10 am to 2 pm)

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and aboard Condor Express

Whale watching nearby: Santa Barbara

Hermanus Whale Festival

2027 dates not yet announced; the 2026 festival ran 2 to 4 October 2026, during peak whale season

Hermanus, with venues including Gearing's Point and Grotto Beach

Whale watching nearby: Hermanus

December

Winter Whale Watch Week

Usually late December (the 2025 edition ran December 27 to 31, 10 am to 1 pm at 14 volunteer sites, with the Whale Watching Center open 10 am to 4 pm)

Whale Watching Center, Depoe Bay, and volunteer sites along the Oregon Coast

Whale watching nearby: Depoe Bay and Newport

Each name links to the festival's own page, which has the final dates, tickets and parking. Know of a festival we've missed? Tell us.