National Day of Prayer in Antigua and Barbuda Date in the current year: September 10, 2026

Antigua and Barbuda is a small island nation in the Caribbean. The country consists of two main inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the uninhabited island of Redonda and dozens of smaller islands. The islands were originally settled by several indigenous cultures. Christopher Columbus was the first European to sight the islands in 1493, but Spain did not colonize them.

The British successfully colonized Antigua in 1632 and used slave labor to grow cash crops such as sugarcane, indigo, tobacco, and ginger. In the decades that followed, sugar became the primary crop in the colony. During the 18th century, the British Royal Navy’s Caribbean fleet was headquartered in Antigua. Slavery was abolished in Antigua and other British colonies in 1833.

From 1671 to 1816, Antigua and Barbuda were administered as part of the British Leeward Islands. In 1816, the British Leeward Islands were divided into two colonies: Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat and Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. The split was short-lived, however, as the British Leeward Islands colony was reinstated in 1832 and existed until 1956. After its dissolution, Antigua and Barbuda became a separate colony.

In 1958, Antigua and Barbuda became part of the West Indies Federation, which also included Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Trinidad and Tobago. The federation dissolved in 1962. Antigua and Barbuda then became an associated state of the UK, gaining full internal autonomy in 1967 and full independence in 1981.

Although Antigua and Barbuda is a secular state whose constitution guarantees freedom of religion and conscience, Christianity is deeply embedded in its public culture. According to various estimates, more than 64% of the population identify as Christian. The main denominations are Anglican, Seventh-day Adventist, Pentecostal, Moravian, Catholic, and Methodist. A small proportion of the population belongs to other faiths, such as Baha’i, Islam and Hinduism, and less than 6% identify as non-religious.

In this context, the establishment of the National Day of Prayer comes as no surprise. It was first observed in 2024 as a half-day event. The following year, the government of Antigua and Barbuda designated it as a full public holiday dedicated to prayer and fasting, with the aim of encouraging greater participation. On this day, banks, and public offices are closed. Shops and other private businesses that do not close must pay their staff holiday pay.

National Day of Prayer events include special church services and a national march. Additionally, the sale and consumption of alcohol are banned during the designated hours of the day (from 6 am to 6 pm). Since the country is officially secular, citizens are encouraged to participate in the prayer and fasting activities, but this is not compulsory.