Emancipation Wednesday in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a public holiday, forming the third and final official holiday of the annual Emancipation Festival. It honors the abolition of slavery on August 1, 1834, when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 freed enslaved Africans across the British Empire, including the Virgin Islands.

When is Emancipation Wednesday?

Emancipation Wednesday is observed on the first Wednesday in August.

The following is the list of Emancipation Wednesday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Emancipation Wednesday?

On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire, ending slavery in the Virgin Islands and freeing thousands of enslaved Africans. The day marked a turning point in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) history, laying the foundation for its modern society and culture.

In the years following emancipation, August 1 was commemorated with religious services, thanksgiving gatherings and community reflection. These early observances were solemn, focused on remembering slavery's hardships and celebrating newfound freedom.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, celebrations expanded beyond church ceremonies, incorporating music, dance and food. Over time, emancipation observances stretched across multiple days, gradually evolving into today's Emancipation Festival, the largest annual event in the BVI.

To reflect this growth, the government officially recognized a sequence of three public holidays Emancipation Monday (first Monday in August), Emancipation Tuesday (first Tuesday) and Emancipation Wednesday (first Wednesday).

Today, Emancipation Wednesday serves as the third and final official public holiday of the festival week. While Monday is best known for the Grand Parade, Wednesday maintains the festival's rhythm, closing the official observances with community unity and cultural pride.