Moby-Dick Marathon 30th Anniversary

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Moby-Dick Marathon with the Melville Society Cultural Project and Friends!

January 2-4, 2026

at the New Bedford Whaling Museum

From January 2 to 4, 2026, the New Bedford Whaling Museum invites you to join one of the world’s most renowned readings of Herman Melville’s iconic American novel, Moby-Dick. The Moby-Dick Marathon features a 25-hour read-a-thon from Saturday to Sunday, interspersed with exciting Melville-inspired activities. Enjoy engaging conversations with Melville scholars, live performances, hands-on activities, and more.

Join members of the Melville Society Cultural Project for Stump the Scholars, Moby-Dick Extracts, and both Chats with Melville Scholars!

The New Bedford Whaling Museum has marked the anniversary of Melville’s 1841 departure from the Port of New Bedford and Fairhaven aboard the whaleship, Acushnet, with this mid-winter tradition since 1997.

Are you ready to join us on the hunt for the elusive white whale?  Museum admission is free for the weekend (Saturday & Sunday).

For more information and a full timetable of events, visit the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s official website.