In a formal public advisory issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), new targeted drone operation rules have been rolled out to support the safe execution of the 56th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for 2026. Between October 26 and November 8, 2026, the operation of any unregistered Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), widely referred to as drones, will be fully banned across the twin-island nation. Under the newly enacted Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) (RPAS) (CHOGM) Regulations 2026, all drone owners in Antigua and Barbuda are mandated to complete official registration with the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) before the restricted period commences. Even for drone operators who have finished the mandatory registration process, formal flight authorization is not automatically granted: separate pre-approval from national Air Traffic Services is a non-negotiable requirement for any planned drone flight during the two-week event window. The ABDF has emphasized that these layered rules form a core component of the broader national security framework designed to protect visiting Commonwealth leaders, event venues, and local communities throughout the high-profile summit. Any individual found conducting unapproved drone flights during the restricted period will face formal enforcement proceedings in line with existing national aviation and security legislation. The defence force extended a pre-emptive note of gratitude to the general public for their anticipated cooperation, noting that collective compliance will be critical to delivering a secure, seamless and successful 56th CHOGM hosted on Antigua and Barbuda’s territory.