Antigua and Barbuda is continuing preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), with more than 12,000 registrations recorded for the international gathering and its associated activities.
Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene announced that the accreditation department had recorded 12,426 registrations. The total includes local personnel supporting the event and therefore should not be interpreted as the number of overseas visitors alone.
International participation was approaching the approximately 5,000 visitors organisers had anticipated. The summit is scheduled for November 1–4, 2026, bringing together representatives from Commonwealth member countries for high-level discussions and related activities.
The gathering is expected to create opportunities for local businesses, particularly accommodation providers, restaurants, transportation operators and vendors. It will also require coordination among government agencies, emergency services, security personnel and hospitality providers.
For Antigua and Barbuda, hosting the summit provides an opportunity to showcase its tourism industry, culture and capacity to accommodate major international events. However, the benefits will depend partly on how effectively local businesses can participate and how smoothly the event is managed.
As preparations continue, the registration figures offer an indication of the scale of the undertaking facing the country ahead of the summit.
