Emancipation Festival, also known as August Festival, is a public holiday celebrated in the British Virgin Islands. They are observed on the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in August each year.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into force, as well as the abolishment of slavery in the British Virgin Islands on August 1, 1834.
The British Virgin Islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean Sea, which consists of 4 main islands Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and many small islands and cays. Christopher Columbus first discovered the islands in 1493 during his second voyage.
In 1672, the British captured Tortola from the Dutch and got Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680. The British introduced sugar cane, which became the main economic support of the islands. However, a great demand for labor for plantations led to the slave trade on the islands until the abolishment of slavery in the middle of the 19th century.
The festival takes place across the country and lasts two weeks in late July and early August each year. Many celebrations, including parades, music performances, and traditional food fairs, were held during the festival.
The following is the list of Emancipation Festival in the British Virgin Islands from 2022 to 2026.
| Name | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emancipation Festival | Aug 01, 2022 | Aug 02, 2022 | Aug 03, 2022 |
| Emancipation Festival | Aug 07, 2023 | Aug 08, 2023 | Aug 09, 2023 |
| Emancipation Festival | Aug 05, 2024 | Aug 06, 2024 | Aug 07, 2024 |
| Emancipation Festival | Aug 04, 2025 | Aug 05, 2025 | Aug 06, 2025 |
| Emancipation Festival | Aug 03, 2026 | Aug 04, 2026 | Aug 05, 2026 |
Please check more public holidays in the British Virgin Islands: