Virgin Islands to Host 2026 Overseas Territories
The Virgin Islands will host Attorneys General and senior legal advisers from across the British Overseas Territories, the Crown Dependencies and the United Kingdom from 13–17 April 2026 for the annual Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference, the Government has confirmed. The conference, held under the theme Stronger Together: Common Challenges, Collaborative Solutions, will run formal plenaries and working sessions on 14–15 April covering constitutional and human rights issues, maritime law, sanctions implementation, governance, judicial modernisation, criminal justice and cross-border crime, and will conclude with a joint communiqué and agreed action plan (Government of the Virgin Islands).
The Virgin Islands will host Attorneys General and senior legal advisers from across the British Overseas Territories, the Crown Dependencies and the United Kingdom for the annual Overseas Territories Attorneys General Conference from 13–17 April 2026, the Government of the Virgin Islands has announced.
This year's conference carries the theme Stronger Together: Common Challenges, Collaborative Solutions and is described by organisers as a forum for frank, practical discussions on matters of direct relevance to the participating jurisdictions (Government of the Virgin Islands). Formal plenaries and working sessions on 14–15 April will centre on constitutional and human rights issues, maritime law, sanctions implementation, strengthening governance systems, judicial modernisation, criminal justice and cross-border crime (Government of the Virgin Islands).
Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Dawn J. Smith, said: "Each Overseas Territory takes turns hosting this important Conference, and we are honoured that the Virgin Islands serves as this year’s host. I look forward to engaging with my colleagues in substantive discussions on the legal challenges confronting our jurisdictions and to exchanging experiences, insights, and best practices." She emphasised that the conference theme "underscores the value of collaboration, reminding us that, through collective effort, we can achieve far more than we can alone" (Office of the Deputy Governor).
Delegations attending will include representatives from the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories listed by the Government: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Antarctic Territory; British Indian Ocean Territory; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; and Turks and Caicos Islands (Government of the Virgin Islands).
For BVI residents, the programme has direct local relevance. Sessions on sanctions implementation and cross-border crime are particularly important for a jurisdiction that serves as a regional financial services centre and a busy maritime hub. Discussions on judicial modernisation and governance could influence future reforms to court processes, case management and access to justice in the Territory.
The conference will also offer technical workshops and opportunities for local lawyers, prosecutors and government legal staff to share best practices with counterparts. Organisers say the conference will conclude with a joint communiqué and an action plan agreed upon by delegates to guide collaborative work across the territories in the year ahead (Government of the Virgin Islands).
The announcement and arrangements have been issued by the Office of the Deputy Governor and the Government communications team; media and local stakeholders seeking further information were directed to the Government's communications contacts (Eusa Z. Adams, Communications Officer, Office of the Deputy Governor, and BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com) (Government of the Virgin Islands).
Local stakeholders interested in engagement or observing any public sessions should watch for further guidance from the Government of the Virgin Islands as the April dates approach. The Government says it remains committed to strengthening legal cooperation and the rule of law across the British Overseas Territories while hosting the event (Government of the Virgin Islands).
Primary source: BVI Government