Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — In coastal Alabama, true belonging isn't defined by a timestamp or the number of years you have spent by the water. Instead, locals are measured by what they do for the community, not how long they have lived here. This deep sense of shared responsibility is exactly what shines brightest each autumn during the region's premier conservation tradition.

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon, residents and visitors alike will gather for the 39th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup. This massive environmental effort spans neighborhoods, local parks, streets, storm drains, beaches, and bays. It is a powerful event that brings everyone together from all walks of beach life—from local business owners and lifelong commercial fishers to newly arrived families and seasonal tourists—all working side-by-side to protect the delicate marine environments that define the coast.

The cleanup serves as Alabama's contribution to the International Coastal Cleanup, a global campaign that began in 1987. Since then, more than 110,000 volunteers across the state have dedicated their morning to clearing debris from the coastline. Coordinated by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Lands Division and Alabama People Against a Littered State (Alabama PALS), the event emphasizes that keeping land clean directly prevents trash from traveling through storm drains and rivers into Mobile Bay and the Gulf.

The cleanup is supported by a robust network of local and regional sponsors, including Coca-Cola United, the City of Orange Beach, the City of Gulf Shores, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, NOAA, Alabama Power, Home Depot, and Alfa Insurance. Iconic local venues like Flora-Bama and LuLu's at Homeport also continue their longstanding tradition of supporting the event.

If you are ready to show your commitment to the coast, you can find a cleanup zone and register online at alabamacoastalcleanup.com.