World Water Wedding DaY
World Water Wedding Day: Sunday 22nd March 2026
World Water Wedding is an XRUK Dirty Water campaign, inspired by Meg Avon, a writer and campaigner from Bristol. The date has been chosen to fall on the United Nations’ World Water Day.
Water is the most precious of all resources, the basis of life itself. Yet many of our beautiful streams, rivers, lakes and oceans are polluted by sewage and in a terrible state of health.
We invite you to join (or plan!) a ceremony to love and honour your local water body and commit to protecting it ‘in sickness and in health’.
Planned Ceremonies
In the UK, the following ceremonies are planned. You are invited! (please note: a couple of these ceremonies are on Saturday 21st March)
Thames beach
Sun 22nd Mar
12.00-14.00
Thames Beach (near the OXO tower) SE1 9PP
RoR London Drummers, XR Rhythms, XR London, XR Camden, River Wye Goddess.
Drumming on the beach as part of London Drum Break. Visiting goddess from River Wye.
Email xrcamden@gmail.com
Shrewsbury
Sun 22nd Mar
Meet at 11:00 for procession starting 12:00
Abbey Gardens, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AA
A procession to celebrate the regenerative and healing power of our waterways and to express our grief, sadness and anger at their current state.
Dress code Blues and Greens. Bring a flag, Banner or a representation of a river creature.
Email xr.shrewsbury@gmail.com
Matlock Bath
Sun 22nd Mar
13:00-15.00
Whistlestop Centre, DE4 3PT
XR Peak, Friends of the Derwent
Join us in a water wedding ceremony to the River Derwent, as part of the World Water Wedding campaign and World Water Day.
- Meet at 1pm outside Whistlestop Hub which is near the Matlock Bath rail station.
- Please wear Wedding attire or blue clothes. There will be music/drums.
- 1:30 procession to the River Derwent (about 10 minutes) walking along road/pavement and then on paths through a park.
- 2pm World Water wedding participants can get wed to the river or witness / observe / support the ceremony.
Ilkley
Sun 22nd Mar
14:00 – 15:00
Ilkley Old Bridge, Ilkley riverside, LS29 9EU
Join us in a celebration ceremony to the River Wharfe. We will celebrate the river and our commitment to looking after it, with a short procession led by the Blue Rebels, followed by a reading and an offering of flowers. We will be encouraging all who join us on the day to make a personal pledge to protect our river.
Outreach on the day will also include talking to people about what they love about the river, and raising awareness about the issues facing it, from pollution to biodiversity loss, and ways we can all step up to help.
Tyneside
Sun 22nd Mar
10:30 – crafts and chat
12.00 – water love ceremony
NE1 3DU
Join us in a ceremony to express our anger, grief and sadness at the state of our waterways, whilst celebrating their regenerative and healing powers, and demonstrating our love for all life.
Join us to celebrate our love of the Tyne. Share stories of what the Tyne means to you. Craft and create something to show your love. Join a ceremony to show that we love our Tyne!
Gather for crafts and chat from 10.30 am
Water love ceremony at 12.00
Bewdley
Sun 22nd Mar
11:00 – 14.00
Bewdley
XR Wyre Forest, Communities Against River Pollution (CARP) & Green Party members will be out in Bewdley to canvas local opinion and raise awareness about all of the issues raised in the Ch 4 Docudrama “Dirty Business”.
The River Severn is a vital part of our town’s heritage, its present and its future. CARP’s focus is the health of our river and how that is being damaged by many forms of pollution.
There will be an interactive poll board, a petition to sign, a model letter for our MP to take away and some street theatre to enjoy!
brighton
Sat 21st Mar
13.00-15.00
Beach Hut cafe, BN1 1FW
From 13.00 Drummers gather at Beach Hut café
13:30 Procession sets off from FMH with Sea Levels are Rising banner
14.00 Banner drop near Beach Hut Café; Sea Spirits arrive at Seafront
14:30 Sea blessing at Groyne
14:45 Speakers: Greens & Surfers Against Sewage
15.00 Finish
15:30 – 16.00 We eat food together @Shelter Hall
All Welcome. Bring banners & Placards
Taunton
Sat 21st Mar
09.00 am
Longrun Meadow cafe, TA1 5AT
Water Action at Long Run Meadow; meet at the cafe at 9am and connect with the town’s parkrun community as they enjoy their post-run coffees.
The XR local group will have information cards and a petition to sign. They will then move to Goodland Gardens near the Vegan Market to continue their conversations and outreach, focusing on the state of our rivers (especially the River Tone).
Bristol
Sun 22nd Mar
13:45
Meet near the bus station
Action starts at 1.45pm near the bus station.
‘Floody Hell’ street theatre action by the Harbourside at 14.30.
Barrow mump
Sun 22nd Mar
17.30 until sunset
Barrow Mump, Avalon TA7 0RB
Ceremony led by Abigail Hope.
You are invited to join in celebration of our sacred waters. Bring your beloved water source in a vessel and we will wed communally.
Joining events like these is a fantastic way to get involved with a group of local people taking action. Find the above groups and others in your area by viewing our local group map.
Plan a Ceremony of Your Own
If this campaign captures your imagination (as we hope it will!), we have an Action Pack you can use to set up a ceremony of your own. View our Action Pack below.