Registrations for the Big Beach Clean 2026 are Officially OPEN
Keep reading to find out more about how you can sign up for the Big Beach Clean 2026 and make a positive impact on Ireland’s coastline!
Clean Coasts, supported by Kia Ireland, are thrilled to announce the return of the Big Beach Clean for 2026, running this year from the 18th to 20th of September.
Registrations are now open!
The Big Beach Clean is an annual call-to-action as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. This annual action, which began in 2011 encourages individuals, communities and volunteers from around the country to remove litter from the Irish coast and waterways at the end of the Irish bathing season.
Each year volunteers are also called upon to get involved in a worldwide citizen science project, by recording the quantities and types of litter found on Irish beaches during this clean-up. By filling out Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards (which can be found below) or by using the Clean Swell app, this data can be recorded to inform and increase awareness about the issue of marine litter on our island and help shape future policies and campaigns.
Last year in 2025, in an extraordinary display of environmental stewardship and community spirit, almost 11,000 Clean Coasts volunteers from over 500 registered clean-ups rolled up their sleeves and removed approximately 60 tonnes of litter all across the country as part of the Big Beach Clean weekend!
Registrations are now OPEN for 2026!
When you register for the Big Beach Clean, you will receive all you need to host a clean-up and join in the citizen science project.
Each pack will contain bags, gloves, hi-viz vests and marine litter data cards, to record information on the types and quantities of litter you find. If you have any clean-up kit materials from previous calls-to-action, you can opt out from receiving more if not required.
When you register for the Big Beach Clean you will automatically be registered as a Clean Coasts group and your information will be added to our database and used for Clean Coasts communications only. If you do not want to receive these communications, you can unsubscribe at any time.
Marine Litter Data Collection Card
During the Big Beach Clean, Clean Coasts volunteers are asked to be part of an excellent round the world citizen science data collection project and to carry out marine litter surveys to quantify the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches. These surveys are aimed at heightening awareness about the issue of marine litter and serve as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem. We also encouraged our groups to use the Clean Swell App by Ocean Conservancy.
We hope everyone enjoys being part of the movement for litter free seas, and the world’s largest coastal clean-up event and marine litter survey!
Download the marine litter data card HERE or submit your data online by clicking on the button below.
Filling out your Marine Litter Data Cards
By recording data on the litter you find using our Marine Litter Data Cards you will collect valuable information about marine litter in Ireland.
When you register for the Big Beach Clean, you will receive a number of Marine Litter Data cards to fill out during your clean-up. These cards feature the most common types of litter found along our coastline.
We recommend conducting the survey with a friend during your clean-up. One person litter-picks while the other counts the items collected on the survey cards. A quick and easy way to do this is to try using the 5 bar gate count. For each instance of an item found during your litter pick draw one straight line down, and on the fifth item, draw a diagonal line. At the end of your litter pick, you can then easily tally up each litter item you found.
Then, once you have completed your clean-up, please gather all of your survey cards together or tally up all your results onto one card! If you are returning multiple cards, make sure to label each card with your group name and number them in order so that we know they are from the same clean-up!
To submit your findings for the global citizen science action, all you have to do is visit, www.cleancoasts.org and upload your results to our online form, email us a photo at cleancoasts@antaisce.org or post your cards to us at: Clean Coasts, An Taisce, 5 Foster Place, Dublin 2, D02 VOP9
Why be a Citizen Scientist?
Becoming a citizen scientist can be a truly rewarding experience for individuals passionate about science and the natural world. By actively participating in scientific research and data collection, citizen scientists contribute invaluable insights to the scientific community.
Regardless of academic background, citizen scientists have the unique opportunity to make a tangible impact. Engaging in citizen science projects fosters a sense of connection to the environment and empowers individuals to play an active role in addressing global challenges. By joining a citizen science project, one becomes part of a collaborative effort to drive positive change for a better future.
When it comes to the Big Beach Clean, taking the time to identify and count litter found on our coastline is incredibly important. Not only does it give an indication of the scale of the marine litter issue, it also helps us to identify the types of activities and industries that create the most common litter items.
In return we can create and focus campaigns and initiatives to reduce and eliminate these items from our environment and assist policy changes around these common litter items.
Kia Ireland are supporting the Big Beach Clean
Kia Ireland are delighted to return as the the official sponsor of the Big Beach Clean in 2026.
On a global level, Kia are involved with a number of environmental initiatives aimed at reducing their ecological footprint.
Notably, Kia is a global supporter of The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation dedicated to removing plastic pollution from the world’s oceans. In a recent milestone, the Ocean Cleanup successfully retrieved 55 tons of plastic from the Pacific Ocean in a single operation, bringing their total ocean waste collection to 53,000 tons since 2013.
Some of this plastic is then recycled and upcycled for use in the production of Kia electric vehicles. During production, these vehicles use 10 specifically sourced sustainable items, that have either originated from recycled plastic or have been sourced from plant-based materials. This is just one initiative by the brand as part of their 2045 carbon neutrality strategy. In line with these global clean up initiatives, Kia Ireland are encouraging as many people as possible to register for their local beach clean this September.
Further information on these initiatives is available on Kia.com
National Spring Clean is joining the Big Beach Clean
National Spring Clean are encouraging volunteers from everywhere in Ireland to join Clean Coasts for The Big Beach Clean 2026.
National Spring Clean is Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative, which usually takes place in the month of April.
National Spring Clean said: “We are encouraging all our National Spring Clean volunteers to join the Big Beach Clean this year. Did you know that the number one cause of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and cities followed by overflowing litter bins? As evidence has shown that over 70% of plastic pollution affecting our ocean comes from land-based actions, cleaning up cities and towns has a tangible positive effect on our seas and oceans too.
For this reason, we are asking our volunteers to help prevent litter entering our waterways and seas by holding a clean up no matter where they are in the country and tackling the problem at the source.”
Big Beach Clean 2025 Public Clean-Ups Map
Public clean-up locations for 2026 will be added here once we have begun to receive this data!
Join the Social Media Conversation
Want to help us spread the word about the Big Beach Clean? Then join the conversation on our social media.
Share your pictures and reasons why you are signing up, using the hashtags #BigBeachClean26 and #CleanCoasts and tag us:
On Instagram and TikTok: @cleancoasts | On Facebook and LinkedIn: @CleanCoasts | On Bluesky: @cleancoasts.bsky.social
We have provided free editable social media resources for you to use here: Clean Coasts Trello
We’ll keep sharing all your best shots and stories to inspire other people to do something to protect our beautiful coastline!