Spring Break ’26 in Full Swing at The Florida Aquarium

March 17, 2026

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Spring Break is officially underway at The Florida Aquarium, where families are spending the week immersed in marine life while enjoying up-close animal experiences, extended hours, and interactive activities. With air-conditioned indoor exhibits, the Aquarium is the perfect place to stay cool, dry, and entertained—no matter what the weather. Located in downtown Tampa in the heart of the Channel District, the Aquarium is just steps from Sparkman Wharf and Water Street Tampa—making it easy to turn an Aquarium visit into a full day of nearby dining, culture, and waterfront experiences.

New video and photos released today capture the excitement of guests meeting unique animal ambassadors that are typically behind the scenes and experiencing the Aquarium’s expanded lineup of Spring Break programming running through March 22.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEW VIDEO & PHOTOS
OF SPRING BREAK ’26 AND POP-UP ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

Extended Hours – More Time to Explore
To give guests more time to experience it all, the Aquarium will be open today from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. for the rest of Spring Break week. More time means more animals, more shows, and more memorable moments.

Up-Close Animal Encounters
Meet some of the Aquarium’s most popular residents face-to-face—from Cayenne the tamandua to African penguins, Apaporis and Liana the sloths, and Salvator the Asian water monitor lizard. Animal ambassadors are appearing throughout the Aquarium for special pop-up encounters and photo opportunities.

Live Music: AquaTunes Spring Tunes
Spring Break gets even more festive with live AquaTunes performances on the outdoor lawn. Guests can enjoy family-friendly favorite songs with several performances scheduled daily through March 22.

Special Encounters & Add-On Adventures
Guests can elevate their visit with unforgettable add-on adventures, including:

• SeaTREK: A guided underwater walking tour – offered multiple times a day during Spring Break. For the first time, Aquarium staff will feed the fish during the experience, surrounding participants with awe-inspiring schools.
• Wild Dolphin Cruise: Available at 1:00, 2:30, and *4:00 p.m. (*new departure time)
• Stingray Feeding Experience: Get closer to cownose stingrays than ever before
• Undersea Explorer Virtual Reality Experience: A VR journey into breathtaking underwater worlds without leaving the Aquarium.

Hands-On Exploration
Guests can connect directly with marine life at Moon Bay, Stingray Beach, and The Tide Pool, the Aquarium’s newest cold-water touch habitat. Recently ranked among the Top 5 Best New Attractions in the U.S., The Tide Pool features 350+ marine invertebrates, including colorful anemones and sea stars, offering a truly immersive experience.

AquaCamp: Animal Groups
For families looking for a full-day option, AquaCamp: Animal Groups runs from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. on March 23 with free extended care from 8-9 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. Designed for children ages 5–11 (grades K–5), campers will enjoy animal encounters, arts and crafts, science experiments, tours of the Aquarium, and interactive conservation activities.

Spring Break is one of the Aquarium’s most popular weeks of the year, so guests are encouraged to get tickets and plan their visit by going to flaquarium.org.