The 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum, said to be the largest gathering of civil society in the Commonwealth system, will take place in Saint John’s, capital city of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, from November 3 to 4, 2026, under the theme, “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”
Organised by the Commonwealth Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, alongside this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place in the same venue, from November 1 to 4, 2026, it will focus on freedom of expression, with special emphasis on small and vulnerable states, women, and youth; as well as climate justice and economic inclusion.
The Forum is designed to provide a platform for Commonwealth citizens to engage with one another, interact with leaders, and contribute to discussions that shape Commonwealth priorities and actions.
The 2026 edition of CHOGM will bring together leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries, alongside representatives of business, civil society, and youth organisations.
According to the Commonwealth Foundation, which has described the Forum as a unique opportunity for citizens to help shape policy and practice across the Commonwealth, the event will examine the challenges and opportunities involved in delivering people-centred governance across the Commonwealth,
The emphasis on freedom of expression is expected to make the Forum particularly relevant to media organisations, journalists, and civil society groups working on democratic governance, access to information, and civic space.
The preparatory activities have included consultations with civil society organisations and other stakeholders aimed at identifying priorities and ensuring that the Forum reflects concerns from different regions and communities.
In the Caribbean, for example, the Foundation convened consultations bringing together civil society organisations, youth-led groups, community-based organisations, regional advocates, and creative practitioners with discussions including issues such as equity, civic space, and reparatory justice.
The organisers have also sought to use creative approaches to broaden participation. One such initiative is the “How to Make a Commonwealth Quilt” project, which invites people across the Commonwealth to contribute creative “threads” representing their perspectives and experiences. The initiative forms part of the creative vision for the 2026 People’s Forum.
The Commonwealth Foundation has also been engaging national civil society stakeholders in Antigua and Barbuda to discuss the priorities for the Forum and ways in which citizens and civil society organisations can remain involved in shaping its programme.
The People’s Forum has historically served as an important civil society component of CHOGM and the Commonwealth describes it as the single biggest opportunity for civil society to engage with Commonwealth leaders and establish partnerships with public and private-sector actors.
The 2026 CHOGM itself will focus on strengthening partnerships, investment, climate resilience, trade, innovation, equality, and sustainable development.
The Commonwealth said the summit is intended to strengthen collaboration among its 56 member countries and promote sustainable and shared prosperity.
The Forum is expected to feed into the broader discussions surrounding CHOGM, giving civil society an opportunity to put forward recommendations and perspectives for consideration by Commonwealth governments.
The focus of the Forum on freedom of expression is particularly significant at a time when journalists and civil society organisations in several Commonwealth countries are confronting legal, economic, and technological pressures that can constrain their ability to scrutinise governments and participate effectively in public debate.
It will therefore provide an important avenue for ensuring that the perspectives of citizens and civil society are reflected alongside intergovernmental discussions.
With the Forum’s emphasis on people-centred governance, freedom of expression, climate justice, health, and justice, its outcome could provide an important civil society contribution to the Commonwealth’s policy agenda and its efforts to strengthen democratic participation and accountability across member states.
