World Owl Conference 2026

Where Islands Meet Owls

For the first time, the World Owl Conference will be held in the Caribbean, with Aruba as its host. The venue, Joia by Iberostar, is especially fitting. Conservation is woven into their vision, evident in the ‘Shoco Boulevard’ on the resort grounds and the dedicated sanctuary at Tierra del Sol, which features 30 artificial burrows for the burrowing owl.

The 2026 year’s conference will place special emphasis on the challenges faced by island-dwelling owls worldwide—species that often encounter heightened threats and demand innovative, context-specific conservation strategies. Aruba’s own burrowing owl, the Shoco (Athene cunicularia arubensis), will serve as a central emblem of these efforts.