Antigua and Barbuda presents its 2026 destination update with new experiences and tourism improvements

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) officially launched the Destination Update 2026, a comprehensive proposal that incorporates new experiences for visitors and significant improvements to the tourism offering, with a focus on community, culture, and infrastructure.

The advertisements invite visitors to begin their journey on the destination's iconic beaches and continue exploring its identity through gastronomy, sailing, adventure activities, and cultural experiences. In this context, ABTA Executive Director Colin C. James emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda is an open and welcoming country, and that by 2026, the goal is to enhance developments that offer more authentic experiences, along with investments that elevate the quality of the tourism product.

A calendar of events that sets the pace for 2026

The year's agenda will kick off in April with the addition of the Antigua Racing Cup, to be held from April 9-12, 2026. This event joins the destination's prestigious nautical calendar, alongside Antigua Sailing Week and the RORC Caribbean 600. This new event will launch a month dedicated to sailing, reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda's position as a Caribbean benchmark for international regattas.

During the same month, from April 11 to 12, the AUA Rohrman Trail and Swimming Festival will take place, a sporting event that combines trail running, open water swimming and children's triathlons, bringing together athletes of different levels in emblematic natural settings of the islands.

In May, Antigua and Barbuda's Culinary Month returns, a celebration dedicated to chefs, food traditions, and local ingredients. The program will include "Eat Like a Local" experiences, Restaurant Week—May 3-17—with prix-fixe menus, and the FAB (Food, Art & Beverage) Festival on May 23. This year's edition will feature guest chefs of Caribbean descent from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, further solidifying the destination's position as a culinary hub in the region.

That same month, Antigua and Barbuda will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Run in Paradise, one of the most outstanding races in the Caribbean, with distances of half marathon, 10 km and 5 km, running along the coast of the island to the historic beach of Fort James.

The calendar will continue with the Antigua and Barbuda Carnival, from July 25 to August 4, 2026, one of the most important cultural expressions of the destination, which for almost two weeks brings together music, parades, calypso and soca competitions, and community celebrations that reflect the identity and history of the islands.

In November, Antigua and Barbuda Art Week will once again transform the destination into an open-air gallery, with exhibitions, workshops, fashion shows, live performances and interactive activities, giving visibility to more than fifty local and diaspora artists.

New hotel openings and improvements

The year 2026 will be marked by significant developments in the hotel sector. Moon Gate will inaugurate a contemporary luxury boutique property, featuring standard, premium, and penthouse suites, designed for an elegant and intimate hospitality experience.

Hermitage Bay completed a comprehensive renovation program that included villa suites, upgrades to the Hillside Pool Villa and Garden Pool Villa—now with private pools—and updates to its oceanfront spa. Meanwhile, Curtain Bluff undertook renovations to its suites and restaurants, adding new Signature Pool Suites and expanding its beachfront dining options.

Heritage, gastronomy and adventure

Experiences linked to maritime and cultural heritage continue to strengthen with proposals such as seafood Fridays at the Copper and Lumber Store Hotel, the "Rum in the Ruins" program in Dow's Hill and the new Friday Night Party in Shirley Heights, which expands the nightlife offering at one of the destination's most emblematic viewpoints.

On the gastronomic front, the Rocks Group added Fat Urchin to its portfolio, a new bar and coastal kitchen in Jolly Harbour Marina, with a proposal that combines seafood-based cuisine, live music and a community atmosphere.

The adventure offering is also expanding with new Rock Adventures experiences, such as transparent boat rides and glass kayak and snorkel excursions, designed to explore marine life in an innovative way.

Investments in tourism infrastructure

Key infrastructure improvements include the rehabilitation of the runway at VC Bird International Airport, scheduled for completion in November 2026. Additionally, the Port of Antigua will inaugurate a new terminal in St. John's as part of the Upland Development Project, designed to accommodate a higher volume of passengers and offer enhanced services, including recreational and leisure areas.

With this comprehensive update, Antigua and Barbuda reaffirms its position as a diverse and constantly evolving Caribbean destination, ready to offer a more complete, authentic, and community-connected tourism experience in 2026.