HavExpo 2026 was officially opened as usual with a broad and solid professional and politically anchored opening celebration, where several of the most important voices in the Norwegian marine industry contributed to the ceremonial opening.
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Mariann Sivertsen Næss, Director of Fisheries Frank Bakke-Jensen, County Mayor Jon Askeland, Director of the Institute of Marine Research Nils Gunnar Kvam and Mayor of Øygarden Tom Georg Indrevik stood on stage during the opening, setting the framework for the days to come.
The presentations highlighted how important marine industries are for value creation along the coast, and how crucial the interaction between industry, management and research is in meeting future challenges. Themes such as sustainability, technological development and food production from the sea were recurring themes in several of the speeches.
– The ocean will play an even more important role in the future, and meeting places like HavExpo are crucial for bringing the industry together and driving development forward, was a consistent message from the speakers.
The opening marks the start of three days of high activity in the exhibition halls, where several hundred exhibitors present solutions and technology for the future of the marine industry.
