Adopted 27 February 1967, Antigua and Barbuda’s flag has a red field with an inverted triangle containing black, blue, and white bands and a rising golden sun. Black reflects African heritage; blue hope and the sea; white beaches; the sun a new era; the V‑shape victory. Retained at independence in 1981; law governs proportion, conduct, and dignified retirement.
Antigua and Barbuda’s flag dates to 27 February 1967, the start of associated statehood with the UK. Chosen via a national competition from more than six hundred entries, local artist Reginald Samuel’s design was raised that day as a marker of internal self‑government. The country retained the same flag at full independence on 1 November 1981, entrenching it as the enduring emblem of the state.
The red field frames an inverted isosceles triangle reaching to the flag’s centre. Within the triangle appear three horizontal elements—black at top, blue in the middle, and white at base—surmounted by a stylised rising golden sun. Each element has a defined meaning: black represents the African ancestry of most citizens; blue denotes hope and the surrounding Caribbean; white signifies the famed beaches; and the rising gold sun promises a new era. The triangle’s V‑shape is widely read as victory.
Government guidance standardises the flag’s geometry and colours and sets out respectful handling: it must never touch the ground, should be illuminated if flown at night, and is retired ceremoniously when worn. The national flag is displayed on government buildings, at schools, during Carnival and Independence events, and at overseas missions; half‑masting follows executive order in times of mourning. Maritime practice follows the British‑influenced ensign system, with the national flag serving as the civil and state ensign where applicable.
The flag’s constancy since 1967 reflects broad acceptance of its symbolism, which unites landscape, heritage, and aspiration in a single, legible composition.