Abolition Day 2025, 2026 and 2027 in Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe, Abolition Day is a public holiday observed every 27 May, when the final abolition of slavery was proclaimed and enforced in Guadeloupe in 1848.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2025	27 May	Tue	Abolition Day
2026	27 May	Wed	Abolition Day
2027	27 May	Thu	Abolition Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

France had colonised Guadeloupe in the 1600’s, and it soon became a centre of slavery and of the slave trade. As early as 1794, a declaration ending slavery was proclaimed and supposed to apply throughout all French colonies.

But then, slavery was reinstituted in 1802 when Guadeloupe’s plantation owners threatened to secede and join the British Empire, which still allowed the slave trade at the time. When slavery was again established after eight years of freedom, a rebellion broke out on the island, but it was suppressed.

Napoleon again abolished slavery throughout all French domains in 1815, but this was not enforced. Plus, Napoleon was soon out of power. On 27 April, 1848, slavery was abolished in Guadeloupe yet again, but this abolition was not immediately enforced. It wasn’t until 27 May that same year that the slaves were finally permanently freed and the slave trade ended once and for all.

One of the most popular places to visit on Abolition Day in Guadeloupe is the Monument to Abolition of Slavery, the earliest monument ever erected to the abolition of slavery in modern times.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	27 May	Mon	Abolition Day
2023	27 May	Sat	Abolition Day