Holidays in the British Virgin Islands are predominantly religious holidays, with a number of additional national holidays. The most important holiday in the Territory is the August festival, which is celebrated on the three days from (and including) the first Monday in August to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the British Virgin Islands.
Where fixed date holidays (such as Christmas Day and Boxing Day) fall on a weekend, the holiday is normally taken in lieu on the next succeeding working day. However, in 2010 when Christmas Day fell on a Saturday and Boxing Day fell on a Sunday, only one day off was given in lieu. An official explanation offered by the Attorney General's department was that because those two days are both "common law holidays" and not statutory holidays, both of them were deferred to the same date – the next Monday. The position taken by the Attorney General was somewhat surprising, as it differed with the common law position expressed to be taken in the United Kingdom.[1]
| Date | Name | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | ||
| 7 March | Lavity Stoutt's Birthday | A day of recognition for the longest serving Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands | |
| — | Commonwealth Day | Observed on the second Monday in March;[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] since 2021 no longer an official holiday[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] | |
| — | Good Friday | Friday before Easter[15] | |
| — | Easter Monday | Monday after Easter | |
| — | Whit Monday | Monday falling 50 days after Easter | |
| — | Sovereign's Birthday | Normally observed on the second Friday in June; has previously generally been on the second Saturday until 2018 | |
| 1 July | Virgin Islands Day | Exists since 1956, first as Colony Day, 1978 renamed to Territory Day, since 2021 current name[16] [17] [18] | |
| — | Emancipation Monday | 1st Monday in August; celebrating emancipation in the Territory; called Festival Monday until 2020 | |
| — | Emancipation Tuesday | called Festival Tuesday until 2020 | |
| — | Emancipation Wednesday | called Festival Wednesday until 2020 | |
| 21 October | Saint Ursula's Day | Patron saint of the British Virgin Islands; since 2021 no longer an official holiday | |
| — | Heroes and Foreparents’ Day | Observed on the third Monday in October; should originally be named Heroes and Forefathers Day;[19] replaces Saint Ursula's Day since 2021 | |
| — | The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day[20] | Observed on the fourth Monday in November; first observed in 2021 | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | ||
| 26 December | Boxing Day |