2026 Rising Together: The Bay Adapt Summit

We are excited to invite you to this year’s , a unique climate change adaptation gathering, presented by BCDC in partnership with the Exploratorium and Greenbelt Alliance.

For the third consecutive year, this dynamic and immersive gathering brings together climate practitioners, scientists, advocates, and community members to celebrate regional progress in sea level rise adaptation and highlight the latest on-the-ground actions across our neighborhoods. From unique field trips at iconic shoreline locations to engaging sessions and panels, Rising Together combines cutting-edge knowledge with today’s stories about what’s happening.

We also look forward to presenting this year’s Bay Adapt Awards, recognizing individuals who are leading the way with exemplary contributions to addressing the critical challenges posed by sea level rise. These awards aim not only to celebrate outstanding contributions but also to inspire broader community action in response to the most pressing challenges of our time.

Note: The afternoon portion of the summit is sold out, but you can join the waitlist. There are tickets available to join the evening reception and Bay Adapt Awards.

The summit will kick off with optional field trips, with limited availability, on Sunday (November 8)! * and look for a separate email in the coming days to register for a field trip!

On Monday, we will gather at the iconic Exploratorium on the San Francisco waterfront for a day of inspiration, learning, and collaboration. In the morning, you can choose to attend optional pre-summit workshops starting at 10 a.m.

In the afternoon, the Summit kicks off with a diverse array of panels, sessions, and talks. We are excited to announce Los Angeles Times journalist Rosanna Xia as the keynote speaker.

*Program and schedule are subject to change at any given time without prior notice.

Follow these steps to secure your FREE tickets to the Bay Adapt Summit:

STEP 1. Click on "Reserve Spot" and select one Afternoon Summit + Reception ticket.

STEP 2. OPTIONAL: You will receive an email within a few days of registering with a form to choose your first and second choices for field trips and morning sessions. These are optional events and are subject to availability.

Reach out to us if you have any questions or need accommodations; email Victorina Arvelo at [email protected].

Photos: Ida Hoyrup/Exploratorium

Info: How do you help people feel sea level rise and not just read about it? This hands-on workshop puts some of the Bay Area's most creative public engagement tools in your hands. We'll start with a quick tour of each tool, then break into small groups so you can try them out yourself. Whether you're a planner, educator, or community organizer, you'll leave with new ideas for bringing the public into adaptation conversations in ways that are engaging, accessible, and fun. Stay for the afternoon Visualizing Sea Level Rise breakout to hear directly from the teams behind these tools. Key takeaways will be shared at the afternoon breakout.

Info: Have questions about adaptation science or policy? Curious about how to get some specific projects funded or implemented? Or an adaptation or resilience issue that has been hard to solve? Tiering from the success of last year’s “Solutions Room” at the Summit, this session connects local governments, community-based organizations, and project teams with technical assistance providers across the region, from the State, and through federal programs. No matter what stage your work is at, there is likely a TA provider for you!
Come ready to share what you're working on and where you're stuck. Please fill out the pre-session questionnaire and talk with the BayCAN TA Navigator help desk once you arrive to find your way. Whether your needs are in policy development, funding strategy, community engagement, data and modeling, project design, or something else, you'll meet potential partners one-on-one and leave with concrete next steps for moving your project forward.

Info: This workshop brings together regional experts and practitioners to work through ownership and coordination challenges and create a toolkit for future projects. The agenda includes a collaborative activity designed to identify practical tools, decision points, and interim steps to incorporate into an NbS governance workbook, as well as a discussion of barriers to implementation currently experienced in the region. Through these activities, the workshop aims to help clarify project roles and responsibilities, align stakeholders and project champions, and establish actionable frameworks for collaboration and accountability. Registrants will also be invited to a one-hour webinar, planned for the week before the Summit, to learn from global and national models for successful NbS implementation, setting the stage for the in-person workshop. Key takeaways will be shared in the afternoon Who’s in Charge? Re-imagining what local governance looks like for Bay shoreline resilience breakout.

Info: Across the region, communities are rising to the challenge of sea level rise with bold, creative, and community-centered solutions. This session shines a light on the climate adaptation successes taking root throughout the Bay Area — from shoreline restoration and flood protection projects to community-led planning efforts and innovative policy wins. Join us to celebrate the progress we’ve made, hear inspiring stories from local leaders, and recognize the partnerships and perseverance that make these accomplishments possible. It’s a moment to reflect, uplift, and recharge for the work ahead. With:

Dana Brechwald, Assistant Planning Director for Climate Adaptation, SF BCDC
Luiz Barata, Port of San Francisco (2025 Bay Adapt Awardee)
Keta Price, Hood Planning Group (2025 Bay Adapt Awardee)

Info: Choose among simultaneous sessions happening around the Exploratorium:
1. Who’s in Charge? Re-imagining what local governance looks like for Bay shoreline resilience
2. Visualizing Sea Level Rise Through Interactive Tools
3. Building Capacity Today for Community Resilience Leaders of Tomorrow
4. Regionalism: What can it do for Bay Area Climate Adaptation?
5. Rising Together Tool Cafe: A hands-on session exploring support tools for sea level rise adaptation.
6. Tribal Partnership

Info: Hear inspiring words from Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she specializes in stories about the coast and ocean. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2020 for her reporting on sea level rise, and her celebrated book, “California Against the Sea,” received the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, a gold medal from the California Book Awards, and a “Great Reads from Great Places” citation from the Library of Congress, among other honors.

Info: Join a fireside chat with a new generation of leaders shaping climate adaptation across the Bay Area. As the region faces rising seas, current-day high tides, and growing community needs, what’s on the horizon? This conversation will explore emerging ideas, bold approaches, and new opportunities for collaboration—and how this next wave of climate leaders is reimagining what it takes to build a more resilient, equitable, and climate-ready region. With:
Moderator: Larry Goldzband, Executive Director, BCDC
Sean Elsbernd, President and CEO, SPUR
Julie Beagle, Executive Director, SFEP
Laura Tam, Chief Executive Officer, Bay Planning Coalition
Nadia Seeteram, Chief Climate Officer, Marin County

Info: Join us in honoring our 2026 Bay Adapt Awardees, individuals who are leading the way with exemplary contributions to addressing the critical challenges posed by sea level rise. These awards aim not only to celebrate outstanding contributions but also to inspire broader community action in response to the most pressing challenges of our time.

At the reception, enjoy drinks, appetizers, and wines from Azizam, our guest climate-adaptive winemaker.

Event venue & nearby stays

Exploratorium, Green Street, San Francisco, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag