Welcome to the twin islands!

Hans Christian Anderson famously said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” When you are thinking of adjectives to describe Antigua & Barbuda, words certainly don’t fail; breath-taking, stunning, dazzling, glorious and sublime all easily spring to mind. But another thing is for certain, music is at the heart and soul of the twin islands and the Caribbean region.

Pretty much every moment we celebrate in our lives is tied to music - and in Antigua & Barbuda, this is no exception. Indeed, the joyous nature of the local population and its deep-rooted culture means celebrations are simply part and parcel of life in this tropical paradise. Calypso and Soca are at the core of the colourful annual Carnival, which takes place from the end of July to the beginning of August. Events like the world-famous Antigua Sailing Week held in April each year, international cricket matches, Barbuda’s Caribana Festival and even Independence Day are chock full of music, concerts and festivity. Across the islands, at celebrations, beach bars, and the weekly Sunday party at the Shirley Heights Lookout, one can hear the unmistakable sweet melody of a steel pan band – a sound truly synonymous with the Caribbean. And sipping a cocktail under a swaying palm on an idyllic beach while listening to the soothing sounds of reggae may be a stereotypical scenario, but it is still on everyone’s Caribbean bucket list. Music is most definitely the backdrop to these stunning islands.

But for the people of Antigua & Barbuda, music means much more than celebration and happiness. It serves as a direct connection to their enslaved West African ancestors who brought their rhythms and instruments to the islands – a connection of freedom, pain and joy which weaves itself through the music language, food and character of the people.

The traditions and culture of the twin islands mix seamlessly with all the trappings that a vibrant economy, stable political climate and modern infrastructure provide. As well as offering an authentic Caribbean feel and a natural beauty that takes your breath away, anyone who chooses the twin islands to make their home will enjoy good healthcare, excellent communications and great education, including several universities, amongst which you will find the fourth landed campus of the University of the West Indies. Fabulous restaurants, hotels and resorts, the UNESCO Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard and a host of watersports and other activities make up the mix. And with flights taking just four hours to New York and eight hours to London, the island is anything but isolated.

Antigua & Barbuda’s CBI programme is one of the best in the Caribbean and is in the top five of the Professional Wealth Management’s CBI 2021 Index carried out by the International Financial Times Group. Citizenship to the islands allows visa-free travel to 165 jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and Schengen area.