ASSOCIAÇÃO F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais and the F/262 – International Photography Festival have officially been accepted as local organisers of World Cleanup Day for the Lagoa de Óbidos / Foz do Arelho area in Portugal, joining the global movement coordinated by Let’s Do It World.

This recognition places F/SOS and F/262 within an international network that mobilises millions of volunteers around the world to reduce waste, protect ecosystems, and promote active environmental citizenship. The official registration of Cuidar as Margens | Shaping Shores on the World Cleanup Day platform marks an important new step in the festival’s sustainability programme and in the environmental work developed by the association.

A Community Action for Lagoa de Óbidos

On 20 September 2026, residents, volunteers, local institutions, and partner organisations will gather once again at Lagoa de Óbidos for a large-scale coastal and lagoon clean-up focused on the removal of plastic and marine debris from vulnerable shoreline areas affected by tides and seasonal activity.

The action will begin at 09:30, with teams organised from the meeting points in Foz do Arelho and Nadadouro, and activities continuing throughout the day according to tide conditions.

More than a clean-up, Cuidar as Margens is a public invitation to care for a shared landscape. The initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between people and place while encouraging direct participation in the protection of one of the most important lagoon ecosystems in central Portugal.

Closing the Festival Through Environmental Action

The event carries a special symbolic meaning. F/262 2026 will close in the same way it began: through a collective gesture of care for the territory, the environment, and the community.

This action forms part of the F/262 Circular Culture Lab, the festival’s sustainability platform dedicated to exploring the relationship between photography, territory, circular economy, and social participation. Throughout the festival, environmental awareness is approached not only as a theme but as a practical field of action.

From Waste to Creative Resource

One of the project’s distinctive features is the creative reuse of selected materials collected during the clean-up. Plastics and other suitable debris may be transformed into artistic and educational outputs linked to the festival, including experimental objects, exhibition materials, and awareness initiatives developed with partner organisations.

This approach turns waste into a resource and encourages reflection on marine pollution, one of the most urgent environmental challenges affecting coastal ecosystems today.

A Proven Community Impact

The first edition of Cuidar as Margens, held in April 2026, brought together around 100 participants and resulted in the removal of approximately 550 kg of waste from the margins of the lagoon. The strong response from volunteers, local associations, and public institutions demonstrated the community’s willingness to take an active role in protecting Lagoa de Óbidos.

For the September edition, participation is expected to grow significantly, reinforcing the initiative as one of the festival’s major public sustainability actions.

Event Information

• Date: 20 September 2026
• Starting time: 09:30 (adjusted to tide conditions)
• Duration: Throughout the day
• Location: Lagoa de Óbidos, Foz do Arelho / Nadadouro, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

The action is open to the public and suitable for all ages, with children participating under adult supervision. The organisation will provide gloves, bags, and basic clean-up materials. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable outdoor clothing and closed shoes and to bring water and sun protection.

Join the Movement

By taking part in Cuidar as Margens | Shaping Shores, volunteers become part of both a local environmental action and the worldwide World Cleanup Day movement. Together, we can help protect the shores of Lagoa de Óbidos while supporting a cultural project that places sustainability, community engagement, and environmental responsibility at its core.

https://www.worldcleanupday.org/event?name=_cuidar_as_margens_%7C_shaping_shores_%E2%80%93_world_cleanup_days__QtQ

We invite everyone to join us on 20 September and help close F/262 2026 with a meaningful act of collective environmental care.