After a year of collaboration, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is celebrating a successful debut partnership with Polo For Heart, Canada’s one of the longest-running charity sporting events that combines elite equestrian competition with life-changing philanthropic work. This collaboration marks the first milestone in a multi-year commitment that lets the Caribbean destination showcase its unique culture, hospitality and brand of relaxed luxury to Canadian audiences while supporting critical regional cardiac care initiatives.
Now entering its 46th year of operation, 2026’s Polo For Heart gathering brought hundreds of guests to the Toronto Polo Club for three days of polo matches, community celebration, and fundraising on behalf of Southlake Health. This year’s event raised critical funds through a mix of general ticket sales, direct public donations, and a popular silent auction, with every dollar of proceeds directed to expanding and enhancing access to life-saving cardiac care services for patients and their families across the Greater Toronto Area.
As the new official destination partner for the event, Antigua and Barbuda wove the iconic warmth and vibrancy of the islands into every layer of the weekend’s programming. From the opening reception to daily interactive activations, the destination built an immersive experience that let attendees connect with Caribbean culture beyond postcard-perfect beach imagery, including a dedicated showcase of work by local Antiguan and Barbudan artists.
“Polo For Heart’s core mission aligns perfectly with the values that define Antigua and Barbuda: community connection, radical generosity, cultural celebration, and bringing people together,” explained Tameka Wharton, Director of Tourism for Canada at the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “This cause is rooted in real, tangible good for local communities, and we were proud to both support life-saving cardiac care and introduce our island home’s unmatched warmth and energy to Canadian guests.”
To kick off the weekend, the tourism authority co-hosted a specially themed opening night called *Polo in Paradise*, which transformed the Toronto polo grounds into a slice of the Caribbean. Attendees enjoyed handcrafted tropical cocktails, authentic island cuisine, live performances from traditional steelpan musicians, and a post-polo celebration featuring DJ sets and open dancing that carried late into the evening.
Gail Christian, Antigua and Barbuda’s Consul General who attended the opening night festivities, praised the tourism authority’s work to bring the destination’s identity to life. “What we saw at *Polo in Paradise* was the very best of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism offering made tangible for guests right here in Canada,” Christian said. “The team created an authentic sense of the warmth, hospitality, and understated luxury that define our islands. Bringing that immersive experience to a beloved Canadian sporting event makes clear how eager we are to share our paradise with Canada and the entire world.”
Throughout the rest of the weekend, Antigua and Barbuda hosted a custom destination-inspired pop-up space that offered guests Caribbean music, on-site massages, and small wellness touches designed to evoke the laid-back tranquility of a Caribbean vacation. The destination also donated a premium four-night stay at Curtain Bluff, the iconic boutique luxury resort on Antigua’s southern coast, to the event’s silent auction to boost fundraising totals. On the event’s closing Family Day, the team added kid-friendly interactive activities, including a large collaborative coloring mural that let young guests engage with Antigua and Barbuda’s culture in a playful, creative way.
One of the most widely praised additions to the weekend’s programming was the curated art showcase highlighting work from emerging and established Antiguan and Barbudan artists. The exhibit offered attendees a deeper look at the destination’s thriving creative community, with works that center the stories of local people, the dramatic landscapes of the islands, and the cultural traditions that shape Antigua and Barbuda’s national identity far beyond its world-famous beaches.
Karen White, Executive Director of Polo For Heart, noted that the partnership added an entirely new, vibrant layer to the annual event. “Antigua and Barbuda was such a natural fit for Polo For Heart from our very first conversation,” White said. “They bring that signature warmth, color, and joyful celebration that perfectly matches the spirit of our event. This first year of collaboration gave our guests an incredible new experience, from the opening night celebration to the music, art, wellness, and family activities, and we’re incredibly excited to build on this partnership in the coming years.”
The collaboration with Polo For Heart is part of a broader strategic shift for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, which is increasingly focusing on expanding its reach to new travel audiences through values-aligned, meaningful partnerships. At the same time, the work reinforces the destination’s positioning as more than a beach getaway: it’s a place with a rich, dynamic culture, world-class hospitality, innovative cuisine, growing wellness offerings, a thriving arts scene, and one-of-a-kind experiences for every type of traveler.
For the destination, the event delivered far more than brand exposure: it created a meaningful opportunity to contribute to a critical public health cause, build direct connections with prospective Canadian travelers, and share the authentic spirit of Antigua and Barbuda in a community-focused, philanthropic setting.