The Lisbon Port Authority (APL) and the World Monuments Fund Portugal have launched a new phase of restoration for the eight Almada Negreiros murals at the Alcântara Maritime Station. This follows the restoration of the artist’s murals at the Rocha do Conde d’Óbidos Station. The public-private partnership project includes educational outreach with school groups, digital dissemination via Google Arts & Culture, and the opening of an Interpretation Center dedicated to this unique artistic heritage, highlighting Lisbon Port’s role in 20th-century cultural history. The initiative is part of the broader urban redevelopment of the area surrounding the maritime station, further strengthening the port-city connection.

In the ports of San Diego (USA) and Narbonne (France), boats decorated with Christmas lights will be presented to the public. Port Botany (Australia) saw 50 volunteers from the port community unite to pack gift bags for seafarers who won’t be home during the holidays. The port of Corpus Christi (USA) held its annual “A Tree for All” event, distributing 400 Christmas trees to deserving families throughout the community. Barcelona’s Port Vell and the Port of Tarragona (Spain) are organising week-long free event programs where the sea takes centre stage during the festive season. The Old Port of Montreal (Canada) is wrapping up the festivities by bringing back a large-scale New Year’s Eve celebration with Grand Minuit as part of its History & Magic winter campaign.

Gimpo City (South Korea) announced an investment of 9 billions won (€ 5M) in the 2026 budget for design costs for Daemyeong Port, a key step toward its elevation to a national fishing port. This is expected to lead to a national investment of approximately 80 billions won (€ 46,5M). Between 2027 and 2031, the city plans to reclaim adjacent public waters to secure port land and proceed with the construction of a new seafood wholesale market, a seafood distribution centre, and a marine leisure complex. The city has collected feedback from local fishermen. The project will be linked with the Fishing Village New Deal 300 initiative, which would enhance the functional and tourism value of the port.

The Empresa Portuaria de Valparaíso (Chile) is leading the transformation of the coastal edge with flagship projects such as Parque Varón and the renovation of Muelle Prat, highlighting the Port Center, an educational and interactive space that will showcase port logistics and the history of the port to visitors and the community. Parque Varón will connect the Wheelright promenade with Muelle Varón and the cruise terminal, incorporating green areas, a skate park, and the historic Bodega Simón Bolívar, as a potential UN headquarters for marine biodiversity. Both developments promote sustainable transport, tourism, culture, and recreation, and advance sustainability through water efficiency and nature-based solutions, following the agreement signed with the Chilean Chamber of Construction of Valparaíso, consolidating models of urban-port integration and resilience in the city.

The official launch of the Cotonou Port Foundation (Benin) marks a new milestone in the port’s development by fully integrating a social dimension into its mission. Designed as an operational tool, the foundation plans to take direct action on the ground through projects supporting riverside communities, the port environment, youth, and professional training. By implementing educational, cultural, sports, and ecological initiatives, the foundation aims to create a measurable and lasting impact on community well-being. It reflects the port’s commitment to go beyond its economic role and become an active driver of human development and social cohesion in Benin.

Following the Nou Passeig Maritim project in Palma, which included a significant participatory component, the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (Spain) is seeking to engage stakeholders (local authorities, economic partners) and citizens in the South Shore of the Port of Mao project. A web page has been created to provide information, share the schedule, and collect comments from the public. A series of participatory meetings and workshops with the various stakeholders have been held since September to define “The port you love” and jointly design the future of the waterfront. This initiative is part of the “Port Mao, Horizon 2030” project, in which the port affirms its commitment to inclusive, sustainable, transparent urban transformation focused on residents and dialogue.