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VIENNA, 29 June 2026, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) invites the 79 million people in the 14 Danube countries to take part in Danube Day – this year under the motto: “United by Danube”. On 29 June, communities from the Black Forest to the Black Sea will share celebrations on riverbanks, in parks, and at local venues to honour the Danube River and its vital role in providing water, food, power, recreation, and livelihood.

With just one month to go until Danube Day 2026, preparations are well underway across the Danube River Basin. On 29 June, countries, communities, schools, institutions and organizations throughout the region will come together to celebrate the Danube and the shared responsibility to protect it.

On 29 June 2026, countries across the Danube River Basin will once again come together to celebrate Danube Day, an annual tradition launched by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) in 2004.

Award ceremonies are taking place across the Danube River Basin, facilitated by relevant ministries in the winning countries. Over the coming months, further national award presentations will follow, highlighting young perspectives from across the basin.

A remarkable discovery has been made in the Drava River: an angler in Croatia recently caught a ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris), a species long believed to be extinct in the Danube River Basin. Measuring 176 centimetres and weighing 35 kilograms, the fish was safely released back into the river after being identified by local authorities. The sighting is encouraging as it marks the first confirmed record of the species in many decades.

The ICPDR applauds the recent signing of the"goMURra" Declaration by Austrian Water Minister Norbert Totschnig and Slovenian Minister for Natural Resources Jože Novak. The declaration, signed on 11 November 2025 at the UNESCO 5-Country Biosphere Reserve, marks a significant step forward in transboundary water management and ecological restoration in the Danube River Basin.

We’re pleased to feature an insightful article on the newly released book, “The Danube River and The Western Black Sea Coast: Complex Transboundary Management,” which delves into the complex dynamics of the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea. The book, co-authored by leading experts in the field offers crucial perspectives on sustainable water management, environmental challenges, and the socio-ecological linkages between these vital regions.