Public Holidays in Antigua And Barbuda
Statutory public holidays in Antigua And Barbuda, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Antigua And Barbuda at a glance
Antigua and Barbuda’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 1 November alongside Christian feast days and the V.C. Bird commemoration.
Several dates move with Easter, and the annual Carnival in late July and August is the biggest celebration.
Antigua And Barbuda public holidays 2026
Antigua And Barbuda has 13 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 4Mon | National |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Carnival Monday | Aug 3Mon | National |
| Carnival Tuesday | Aug 4Tue | National |
| Independence Day | Nov 1Sun | National |
| Independence Day (observed) | Nov 2Mon | Substitute |
| Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Snr. Day | Dec 9Wed | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Antigua And Barbuda
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Antigua And Barbuda.
St John's
The capital and main port, with a pastel skyline, a cathedral and a market.
Falmouth
A harbour town on the south coast with a historic bay and yachting.
Parham
An old port town on the north coast, once a sugar shipping centre.
English Harbour
A sheltered harbour with Nelson's Dockyard and sailing regattas.
Codrington
The only settlement on Barbuda, a small town on a lagoon.
Top attractions in Antigua And Barbuda
The places that draw most visitors to Antigua And Barbuda.
Nelson's Dockyard
A restored Georgian naval dockyard inside a natural harbour.
Shirley Heights
A restored military lookout with panoramic views and a Sunday party.
Devil's Bridge
A limestone arch on the Atlantic coast where blowholes erupt.
Barbuda's Pink Beach
A long stretch of pink-tinged sand on a low coral island.
Ffryes Beach
A wide white-sand beach on the southwest coast, backed by hills.
Frigate Bird Sanctuary
A mangrove lagoon in Barbuda holding a large frigatebird colony.
Festivals, food and getting around Antigua And Barbuda
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
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🎉
Labour Day
Falls on May 4
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🎉
Whit Monday
Falls on May 25
Food & drink
Getting around
Minibuses run the main routes on Antigua; boats and small planes link the island to Barbuda.
Travelling around Antigua And Barbuda’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Antigua And Barbuda tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Antigua And Barbuda's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Antigua And Barbuda public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Antigua And Barbuda have?
Antigua And Barbuda has 13 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Antigua And Barbuda is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Antigua And Barbuda's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Antigua And Barbuda typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Antigua And Barbuda?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Antigua And Barbuda?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Antigua And Barbuda
School term dates in Antigua And Barbuda
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.