CHOGM 2026 live coverage begins this weekend as Commonwealth leaders gather in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, for a summit running from November 1 to 4. The main televised moment comes on Tuesday, November 3, when King Charles III addresses the opening ceremony. Calls for slavery reparations are set to dominate the week.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting runs November 1–4, 2026, in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, according to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- King Charles III is due to speak at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, November 3, Reuters and the Jamaica Gleaner reported.
- Leaders plan to meet investors and development partners to fund climate, trade and youth-jobs projects, the Commonwealth Secretariat said, while Caribbean states want reparations on the table.
What is happening at CHOGM 2026, and what will be shown live?
CHOGM is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the summit where leaders of the 56 member countries meet, usually every two years. This year Antigua and Barbuda is the host, and its Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, welcomes delegates at a “One Commonwealth Night” of music and dance.
On Sunday, November 1, the week opens with cricket at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. In a five-over friendly, Caribbean leaders take on a team of leaders from the rest of the Commonwealth, followed by an under-23 match for young players, according to the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Separate People’s, Youth, Women’s and Business forums also run alongside the summit. Then, on Tuesday, the formal opening ceremony takes place on High Street in central St John’s, by the new National Performing Arts Centre. After that, heads of government move into closed sessions, which end with a retreat open only to the leaders themselves.
When is CHOGM 2026 live, in your time zone?
No exact start time has been published. However, police in St John’s will close streets around the venue from 6 a.m. until about 1 p.m. local time on November 3, Caribpulse reported. So the ceremony is expected within that window.
| Road-closure window, Tuesday, Nov 3 | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua (AST, UTC-4) | 6:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| US Eastern (ET) | 5:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. |
| UK (GMT) | 10:00 | 17:00 |
| Central Europe (CET) | 11:00 | 18:00 |
US clocks fall back on November 1, so Eastern time is five hours behind GMT by Tuesday.
Why does it matter for US and European viewers?
For British viewers, the summit puts the monarchy at the center of a political debate. The King is head of the Commonwealth, so his words on slavery will be read closely in London and across the Caribbean.
For viewers in the US and the rest of Europe, the meeting is also about money. Member states include Canada, India, Australia, Nigeria and several Caribbean neighbors of the US. Their leaders will talk about trade, investment and how small island states can pay for climate protection.
What led to the reparations debate?
The issue has followed the King throughout his Caribbean tour, which took in the Bahamas and Guyana before Antigua. In a speech in the Bahamas on October 27, he said it was right to recognize “the great suffering and injustices of the past,” Reuters reported.
Even so, Buckingham Palace signaled that he would not make a formal apology, Reuters added. That position matches British government policy, which also rules out paying reparations. At the previous summit, in Samoa in 2024, the King told leaders that painful parts of the past still echo today, the Gleaner recalled. Caribbean campaigners now want that turned into action.
How have governments and others reacted?
In London, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was open to a structured dialogue with communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade, but he ruled out financial reparations, the Australian Associated Press reported, citing an article he wrote for the Guardian.
Caribbean campaigners are pushing harder. Sir Hilary Beckles, who chairs the CARICOM Reparations Commission, has called this “the reparations CHOGM,” according to the Gleaner.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, told Sky News that a serious conversation on reparations is now due, and that a formal apology would do no harm, the Gleaner reported.
What happens next?
After Tuesday’s opening, leaders hold their sessions and the retreat behind closed doors. The summit ends on Wednesday, November 4. The key thing to watch is whether the leaders’ final statement goes further on reparations than the 2024 wording did.
How to watch CHOGM 2026 live
The King’s opening address is the part most likely to be carried live. These are the official places to look:
- BBC News: the main UK channel for royal events. Our BBC News live stream guide covers the free and paid official options in the UK, the US and Europe.
- Sky News: free on UK TV and on its official app. See our Sky News live guide for every legal way to watch.
- CNN International: covers major world stories for viewers outside the US. Our CNN International guide explains where it is available.
- The Commonwealth Secretariat: its official summit page links to its YouTube and social media accounts, the first place to check for official video.
If you live in the US and want British coverage, our guide to watching UK news channels in the USA lists the official services. For more stories like this, browse our Hot Topics section.
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Frequently asked questions
What time does CHOGM 2026 live coverage start on November 3?
No official start time has been published yet. Road closures in St John’s run from 6 a.m. to about 1 p.m. local time, which is 5 a.m. to noon ET and 10:00 to 17:00 GMT.
Will King Charles apologize for slavery at the summit?
Buckingham Palace indicated that he would not give a formal apology, in line with UK government policy, Reuters reported.
Can I watch CHOGM 2026 live for free?
In the UK, BBC News and Sky News are both on free-to-air TV, although BBC viewing needs a TV licence.
Sources
- Reuters via KSL: King Charles says Commonwealth to confront slavery’s injustices
- AAP via Redland City Bulletin: Charles expresses sorrow, Burnham open to dialogue
- Jamaica Gleaner: Eyes on reparations as King visits Caribbean
- Commonwealth Secretariat: Cricket brings the Commonwealth together
- Caribpulse: November 3 road closures for the opening ceremony
- Commonwealth Secretariat: Secretary-General’s CHOGM 2026 preview
