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Gov’t launches new retirement planning guide

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Gov’t launches new retirement planning guide

The resource was prepared by the Ageing Well Committee in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors

The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors advises that the “Envision Your Retirement: 2026 Planning Guide to Retirement” guidebook is now available online, providing Bermuda’s pensioners and residents approaching retirement with easy and convenient access to this important Government resource. The guidebook has been prepared by the Ageing Well Committee in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors and is intended to support individuals in planning for a secure, informed and fulfilling retirement.

The 2026 Planning for Retirement guidebook has been developed in response to the growing need for proactive retirement planning as Bermuda’s senior population continues to experience increased longevity and maintain active lifestyles. Following appeals from seniors, caregivers, employers and other stakeholders for a comprehensive and targeted resource, the Ageing Well Committee worked collaboratively with the Ministry to produce a guide that offers practical, locally relevant information. The guidebook consolidates guidance and official contacts from both Government and the private sector to assist individuals in navigating the complexities of retirement planning in Bermuda.

The guidebook is designed to assist residents entering the workforce and nearing retirement by providing clear guidance on key planning areas, including housing and living arrangements, healthcare and health insurance options, budgeting and debt management, estate planning and financial readiness. It encourages early and thoughtful planning, promotes informed decision-making, and supports individuals and their families in preparing for retirement with greater confidence and peace of mind. The guide also reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to promoting healthy, purposeful ageing and ensuring seniors have access to reliable and affordable resources.

Members of the public may view the Envision Your Retirement: 2026 Planning Guide to Retirement guidebook online, and those who require a printed version may collect a hard copy from Ageing and Disability Services or from the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters. The Ministry also advises that they will be looking to facilitate educational sessions in the future, to assist and support individuals seeking a better understanding of the guide and the retirement planning process.

To view the digital version of the Envision Your Retirement: 2026 Planning Guide to Retirement, click here: 2026 Planning Guide to Retirement.pdf.

Pink and Green ferry routes running, Blue under assessment

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Pink and Green ferry routes running, Blue under assessment

Government provides a post-storm update on public transport

The Department of Marine and Ports Services has advised that as of this morning , 9 February, 2026, the Pink Route service is operating on schedule. The Green route is operating , however, the Blue is still being accessed. The Department will continue to provide service updates throughout the day.  

EU threatens temporary measures to stop Meta blocking AI rivals from WhatsApp

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EU threatens temporary measures to stop Meta blocking AI rivals from WhatsApp

The European Commission said on Monday that it has sent a statement of objections, or charges, to Meta over violation of the bloc’s rules

International News via Reuters:

EU competition regulators have threatened to stop Meta Platforms from blocking artificial intelligence rivals from its WhatsApp messaging service while it investigates suspected abuse of a dominant position by the U.S. tech giant.

The European Commission said on Monday that it has sent a statement of objections, or charges, to Meta over violation of the bloc’s rules and intends to impose interim measures to prevent serious and irreparable harm to rivals, mirroring moves by Italy’s competition watchdog in December.

“We must protect effective competition in this vibrant field, which means we cannot allow dominant tech companies to illegally leverage their dominance to give themselves an unfair advantage,” EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement.

“That is why we are considering quickly imposing interim measures on Meta, to preserve access for competitors to WhatsApp while the investigation is ongoing and avoid Meta’s new policy irreparably harming competition in Europe.”

Meta said there was no reason for the EU to intervene.

“There are many AI options and people can use them from app stores, operating systems, devices, websites and industry partnerships,” a Meta spokesperson said in an email.

“The Commission’s logic incorrectly assumes the WhatsApp Business API (software) is a key distribution channel for these chatbots.”

Meta implemented its policy on January 15, allowing only its Meta AI assistant on WhatsApp. 

The Commission’s decision on whether to impose interim measures will depend on Meta’s reply and rights of defence, the watchdog said.

The EU investigation underscores the bloc’s determination to enforce its antitrust rules despite U.S. criticism of European action against big U.S. technology companies.

A Brazilian court last month suspended an interim measure by the country’s antitrust agency against Meta on the same issue.

Reporting by Foo Yun CheeEditing by David Goodman

Italy’s Alpine rescuers urge caution after string of avalanche deaths

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Italy’s Alpine rescuers urge caution after string of avalanche deaths

The latest victim was a 70-year-old hiker, who was found dead overnight in the Veneto region of the country, which is hosting the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in the Alps from February 6-22

International News via Reuters:

Italy’s Alpine rescue service on Monday urged “maximum caution” after avalanches claimed 11 lives in seven days, as exceptionally unstable snow conditions threaten large parts of the Alps.

The latest victim was a 70-year-old hiker, who was found dead overnight in the Veneto region of the country, which is hosting the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in the Alps from February 6-22.

Italy’s rescue service said the risk of avalanches was present across most of the Alpine range from west to east.

With fresh snow accumulating on older and unstable layers, even the movement of a single skier can trigger an avalanche, the rescue service said in a statement.

These conditions make it difficult even for expert off-piste skiers to identify safe routes, it warned.

The rescuers urged anyone heading into snowy terrain to study avalanche bulletins carefully, plan their routes conservatively and ensure they carry standard rescue equipment.

It also advised considering postponing outings until the snowpack had stabilised naturally.

Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi, editing by Alvise Armellini and Anil D’Silva

Sterling slides on Starmer crisis and rate cut bets

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Sterling slides on Starmer crisis and rate cut bets

Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, quit on Sunday, saying he took responsibility for advising the Prime Minister to choose Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein

International News via Reuters:

The pound slumped against the euro and dipped versus the dollar on Monday as traders reacted to the crisis facing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and as expectations of further interest rate cuts weighed on the currency.

Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, quit on Sunday, saying he took responsibility for advising the Prime Minister to choose Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Yet Starmer remains under pressure, with the Epstein saga far from over and tough local elections looming.

The euro was last up 0.49% against the pound at 87.22 pence. That was around a two-week high, though the euro remains flat against sterling this year.

Against the dollar, the pound was a touch lower at $1.3607 after falling as much as 0.2% earlier in the session.

POLITICS IN FOCUS FOR UK ASSETS

British government bonds also slightly underperformed their European peers on Monday as markets focused on Starmer’s situation, although the moves were muted.

Many bond investors worry a new Labour prime minister would shift policies to the left and increase spending, while currency markets traditionally abhor political instability.

The government now faces the potentially embarrassing release of almost all private communications between officials about Mandelson’s appointment.

An election for a parliamentary seat in Manchester later this month and local elections in May could deal another blow to Starmer’s leadership.

“Expect pressure to remain on both sterling and gilts as the market speculates over a change of personnel at numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street,” said Chris Turner, head of global markets at lender ING, referring to the addresses of the prime minister and finance minister.

“Combined with a dovish twist at last week’s Bank of England meeting, sterling is under pressure.”

RATE CUT BETS DIVERGE

The pound was also feeling the effects of a closer-than-expected Bank of England decision to hold interest rates last week, which caused traders to ramp up bets on further cuts this year.

The European Central Bank meanwhile seems likely to keep rates steady for the foreseeable future, with the expectations of lower relative returns denting the appeal of the pound versus the euro.

“The pound looks set to continue trending weaker across the board,” said Neil Jones, managing director for FX sales and trading at TJM Europe. “Political uncertainty is on the increase.”

Three-month risk reversals, which show the difference between the cost of owning an option to buy the euro against the pound versus the cost of one to sell the euro against sterling, rose to 67 basis points, the highest since late November, from a low of 22 bps on Thursday.

The higher the number, the more bullish sentiment is for the euro versus sterling and vice versa.

The euro was also up around 0.4% against the dollar on Monday. Some analysts said a Bloomberg report that China has advised banks to limit their holdings of U.S. Treasuries was weighing on the dollar.

Reporting by Harry Robertson; Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Stocks rise as chip sector rebounds, investors focus on key US data

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Stocks rise as chip sector rebounds, investors focus on key US data

Bargain hunting in some of the markets that were hit by selling last week, like silver, bitcoin and technology stocks, helped shore up overall sentiment

International News via Reuters:

Global equities rallied on Monday, taking heart from a rebound in U.S. chip stocks and other beaten-down assets after a volatile week, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s resounding election win pushed Tokyo shares to a record high.

Bargain hunting in some of the markets that were hit by selling last week, like silver, bitcoin and technology stocks, helped shore up overall sentiment, as did heightened expectation for more policy easing from the Federal Reserve that, in turn, weighed on the dollar a little.

A rate cut by June is now seen as an odds-on bet, with a slew of economic data this week on jobs, inflation and spending expected to reinforce the case for stimulus.

A Bloomberg News report, citing unnamed sources, that China had urged banks to curb U.S. Treasury exposure weighed a little further on the dollar and pushed Treasury yields a tad higher.

In stocks, Japan’s Nikkei headlined the gains with a rise of 3.9%, hitting all-time highs as the decisive majority for the ruling LDP party clears the way for more spending and tax cuts.

The yen strengthened across the board, but most notably against the dollar, which had recovered almost all of a steep slide against the Japanese currency in late January. 

“The key focus for investors will be the scale of fiscal expansion. In particular, developments around the temporary food tax cut pledged during the election campaign will be closely followed,” Sree Kochugovindan, senior research economist at Aberdeen, said.

 “The LDP landslide does not give Takaichi free rein to just spend. The LDP are fiscally conservative and Takaichi has been very mindful of bond investors,” she said.

The prospect of more borrowing pushed two-year Japanese government bond yields up to their highest since 1996 at 1.3%.

Equity investors took heart from the removal of some political uncertainty in Japan, coupled with a sense of relief over the apparent end to last week’s aggressive selloff in both the companies that are spending hugely to roll out artificial intelligence, as well as in those that investors see as most vulnerable to disruption from it. 

Europe’s STOXX 600 index edged up 0.2% towards record highs, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were mostly flat. The indexes bounced more than 2% on Friday to break a run of heavy losses.

Concerns remained about whether the massive amounts being spent on AI will ever make a return. The four largest U.S. tech giants alone plan to spend $650 billion on capex this year.

US DATA TO TEST FED WAGERS

U.S. data this week could prove pivotal in setting expectations for monetary policy. Reports on jobs, inflation and consumer spending all land in the coming days and, in order to keep sentiment intact, they would need to be benign enough to keep rate cuts alive, but not so weak as to threaten consumer demand and earnings.

In currencies, the dollar eased against a basket of major currencies, falling 0.45% against the yen to 156.57, while the euro was up 0.4% at $1.1865.

The pound was under pressure against the euro, which rose 0.5% on the day, leaving the single currency at 87.22 pence, as uncertainty grew over the political survival of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“Should Starmer be replaced, gilt yields initially rise and the pound weakens,” said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics.

“The most likely longer-lasting influence is a loosening in fiscal policy that leads to higher gilt yields than otherwise and a weaker pound than otherwise.”

In commodity markets, silver rose 4.5% to $81.44 an ounce, after swinging wildly from a 15% loss to a 9% closing gain on Friday, while gold rose 1.1% to $5,015, up from last week’s low of $4,403.

Additional reporting by Wayne Cole in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul, Neil Fullick and Emelia Sithole-Matarise

Thailand PM Anutin consolidates power with dominating election win

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Thailand PM Anutin consolidates power with dominating election win

Anutin set the stage for the snap election in mid-December during a border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia

International News via Reuters:

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party won a clear victory in Sunday’s general election, raising the prospect that a more stable coalition may now succeed in bringing an end to a period of prolonged political instability.

Anutin set the stage for the snap election in mid-December during a border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, a move political analysts said appeared to be timed by the conservative leader to cash in on surging nationalism.

It is a gamble that paid off for a prime minister, who – having taken over after premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the populist Pheu Thai party was ousted over the Cambodian crisis – then dissolved parliament less than 100 days later.

“Bhumjaithai’s victory today is a victory for all Thais, whether you voted for Bhumjaithai Party or not,” Anutin told a press briefing. “We have to do the utmost to serve the Thai people to our full ability.”

With nearly 95% of polling stations reporting, preliminary results released by the election commission showed the Bhumjaithai Party winning about 192 seats, compared to 117 for the progressive People’s Party, and 74 for the once-dominant Pheu Thai party.

A handful of other parties won a combined 117 spots in the 500-seat parliament, according to a Reuters calculation of election commission data.

‘POWER TO GOVERN’

When Anutin dissolved parliament in December, he cited dysfunction and infighting between rival parties as making it impossible to lead a minority government.

While the Bhumjaithai Party was unlikely to win a majority outright, the results suggest it is in a strong position to push through campaign pledges, said Napon Jatusripitak, a political scientist at the Bangkok-based Thailand Future think-tank. Those include implementing a consumer subsidy programme and ditching an agreement with Cambodia over maritime claims.

“For the first time in a long time, we will likely have a government that has sufficient effective power to govern,” he said. “We are seeing what I would describe as a marriage of convenience between technocrats, conservative elites, and traditional politicians.”

Critical to Anutin’s success were his embrace of nationalism and Bhumjaithai’s strategy of winning over politicians from rival parties in rural areas, analysts said.

“The scale of its victory was unanticipated, perhaps demonstrating that the more nationalist political environment and its ability to consolidate the conservative electorate all worked in its favour,” said Mathis Lohatepanont, an independent political analyst.

PEOPLE’S PARTY REJECTS COALITION BID

Speaking as results were coming in, People’s Party leader Natthaphong Rueangpanyawut conceded that, while some votes had yet to be counted, his party did not look likely to win.

Natthaphong said the party would not join a Bhumjaithai-led government but would also not form a competing coalition.

“If Bhumjaithai can form a government, then we have to be the opposition,” he told a press conference.

With a message of structural change and reforms to Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, the People’s Party had led most opinion polls during the campaign season.

But in a survey conducted during the campaign’s final week and released on Sunday, the National Institute for Development Administration projected that Bhumjaithai would be the winner with between 140 and 150 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, ahead of 125-135 for the People’s Party.

The progressive party’s earlier support for Anutin as prime minister was likely a severe miscalculation, undermining its own ideological purity and allowing Bhumjaithai to attain the benefits of incumbency, Mathis said.

Speaking to Reuters, Natthaphong said he did not see the election as the result of any mistakes by his party, but instead highlighted that its opponents had not been complacent.

“I’m not blaming any factors. Our responsibility now has to be to focus on the grassroots,” he said. “We’ve done a lot already but haven’t been able to crack what they have. It wasn’t good enough.”

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

Thai voters were also asked during the vote to decide if a new constitution should replace a 2017 military-backed charter that critics say concentrated power in undemocratic institutions, including a powerful senate that is chosen through an indirect selection process with limited public participation.

The election commission’s early count showed voters backing the referendum by a margin of nearly two to one.

Thailand has had 20 constitutions since the end of its absolute monarchy in 1932, with most of the changes coming in the wake of military coups.

The new government and lawmakers can start the amendment process in parliament with two more referendums required to adopt a new constitution.

Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Thomas Suen, Minh Nguyen, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Napat Wesshasartar and Orathai Sriring; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Joe Bavier, Helen Popper and Ros Russell

Oil drops more than 1% as concerns about possible US-Iran conflict ease

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Oil drops more than 1% as concerns about possible US-Iran conflict ease

Brent crude futures fell 89 cents, or 1.31%, to $67.16 a barrel by 2309 GMT

International News via Reuters:

Oil prices dropped more than 1% at Monday’s open as concerns about a possible conflict in the Middle East between the U.S. and Iran eased after both countries finished a round of talks on Friday.

Brent crude futures fell 89 cents, or 1.31%, to $67.16 a barrel by 2309 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $62.76 a barrel, down 79 cents, or 1.24%.

Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that nuclear talks with the U.S. mediated by Oman were off to a “good start” and set to continue, in remarks that could help allay concern that failure to reach a deal might nudge the Middle East closer to war.

Reporting by Florence Tan; Editing by Jamie Freed

Portugal elects Socialist as president by landslide, but far right grows

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Portugal elects Socialist as president by landslide, but far right grows

A succession of storms in recent days failed to deter voters, with turnout at about the same level as in the first round on January 18, even though several small municipalities had to postpone voting by a week due to floods

International News via Reuters:

Moderate Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro secured a landslide victory and a five-year term as Portugal’s president in a runoff vote on Sunday, beating his far-right, anti-establishment rival Andre Ventura.

Seguro, who received backing from prominent conservatives after the first round amid concerns over what many see as Ventura’s populist, authoritarian tendencies, becomes the first Socialist head of state in 20 years, succeeding Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative, after two terms in office.

“The response the Portuguese people gave today, their commitment to freedom, democracy, and the future of our country, leaves me naturally moved and proud of our nation,” Seguro, 63, told reporters.

A succession of storms in recent days failed to deter voters, with turnout at about the same level as in the first round on January 18, even though several small municipalities had to postpone voting by a week due to floods.

With 95% of votes counted, Seguro garnered 66%. Ventura trailed behind at 34%, still set to secure a much stronger result than the 22.8% his anti-immigration Chega party achieved in last year’s general election.

Ballots in large cities such as Lisbon and Porto are counted towards the end. Two exit polls placed Seguro in the 67%-73% range and Ventura at 27%-33%.

Last year, Chega became the second-largest parliamentary force, overtaking the Socialists and landing behind the centre-right ruling alliance, which garnered 31.2%.

VENTURA’S POLITICAL CLOUT  

Despite his loss on Sunday, 43-year-old Ventura, a charismatic former TV sports commentator, can now boast increased support, reflecting the growing influence of the far right in Portugal and much of Europe.

“The entire political system, across both right and left, united against me,” Ventura told reporters as he left a Catholic mass in central Lisbon. “Even so… I believe the leadership of the right has been defined and secured today. I expect to lead that political space from this day forward.”

Portugal’s presidency is a largely ceremonial role but holds some key powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and block legislation under certain circumstances.

Some analysts suggest the conservative support for Seguro, along with Ventura’s high rejection rate of roughly two-thirds of the electorate, could indicate that even if Chega eventually came out on top in the next general election, a potential centrist alliance would preclude it from governing.

SEGURO’S WARNING

Seguro has cast himself as the candidate of a “modern and moderate” left who can actively mediate to avert political crises and defend democratic values.

Still, he had warned that if elected he would not enact the minority government’s proposed labour reform legislation unless unions, which see it as favouring employers at the expense of workers’ rights, agree to it first.

The government argues the overhaul of the labour code is essential to boost productivity and economic growth.

Reporting by Michael Gore, Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira; Writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Diane Craft

US plans initial payment towards billions owed to UN, envoy Waltz says

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US plans initial payment towards billions owed to UN, envoy Waltz says

U.N. officials say more than 95 percent of what is owed to the regular U.N. budget is owed by the United States

International News via Reuters:

The United States will make an initial payment towards the billions of dollars it owes to the United Nations in a matter of weeks, the U.S. ambassador to the world body told Reuters on Friday, while stressing the need for the U.N. to continue reforms.

Mike Waltz made the comments in a telephone interview after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on U.N. finances in a January 28 letter to member states and warned that the 193-country organization is at risk of “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid fees, the majority of which are owed by Washington.

“You’ll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly,” Waltz said. “It’ll be a significant … down payment on our annual dues … I don’t believe that the ultimate figure is decided, but it’ll be in a matter of weeks.”

U.N. officials say more than 95 percent of what is owed to the regular U.N. budget is owed by the United States – $2.19 billion by the start of February. The U.S. also owes another $2.4 billion for current and past peace-keeping missions and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals.

On December 30, the U.N. General Assembly approved $3.45 billion for the regular U.N. budget for 2026, following weeks of negotiations. This covers costs of running U.N. offices around the world, including the headquarters in New York, staff salaries, meetings and development and human rights work.

The U.N. funding crisis comes at a time when the United States under President Donald Trump has been retreating from multilateralism on numerous fronts. U.S. arrears to the United Nations have grown substantially during his presidency, even though America’s history of falling behind on its U.N. payments stretches back decades.

U.N. officials say the U.S. did not pay into the regular budget last year and owes $827 million for that, as well as $767 million for 2026.

CONGRESSIONAL SPENDING BILL

On Tuesday, Trump signed into law a spending bill that includes $3.1 billion for U.S. dues to the U.N. and other international organizations.

Asked if the money he spoke of would go towards last year’s dues or those for 2026, or both, Waltz said: “just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we’ve seen.”

Under Trump, as well as refusing to make mandatory payments to the U.N.’s regular and peacekeeping budgets, the U.S. has slashed voluntary funding to U.N. agencies with their own budgets, and moved to exit U.N. organizations including the World Health Organization.

Waltz said the United States was very supportive of Guterres’ UN80 reform effort and called it an important first step that needed to be continued. 

“It doesn’t go far enough, but it’s an important step. I wish the secretary-general had made it in year one or two of his tenure, not year nine,” he said.

“We’re very focused … on getting back to basics, on peace and security. And … the president is rightly asking, how can we get the UN back to realizing its full potential?  

“All of those conversations are currently being had and are in play, and we expect to see more reforms coming,” Waltz said.

‘TOUGH LOVE’ 

“This is some tough love. The current model is unsustainable for a lot of countries, and we’re trying to get the UN back, fit for purpose and focused, and stop trying to do everything for everyone.”

Waltz said reducing duplication was a key aim, saying that for example, there were seven UN agencies with climate change as their primary mission. 

“Now, regardless of the climate change debate, we don’t need seven,” he said, adding that the U.S. also supported consolidation of logistics and back offices at humanitarian agencies.

“The UN bureaucracy has grown too large, and needs to be much more efficient and effective,” he said.

Guterres launched his UN80 reforms last year, seeking to cut costs and improve efficiency. The approved 2026 regular budget is roughly $200 million higher than he proposed, but about 7 per cent lower than the approved 2025 budget.

He warned last month that the U.N. could run out of cash by July and cited a “Kafkaesque” requirement for it to credit back hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent dues to states each year even if it never received the money. 

Waltz said member states should change this rule.

He said U.S. peacekeeping arrears were in part due to a “statutory disconnect” between what the U.N. assesses and U.S. law allows to be paid and added: “That’ll be addressed the next time we negotiate our assessments, which I believe is next year.”

Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Diane Craft

Calling all young artists

Bermuda Broadcasting Newsdesk
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Calling all young artists

Poster competition to promote healthy smiles

Overseas file image

The Oral Health Section of the Department of Health is inviting children and young people aged 4 to 16 to participate in the Oral Health Month Poster Competition. This year’s theme, “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life,” encourages young artists to highlight the importance of good oral hygiene and its impact on overall wellbeing. Entries must be submitted by 20 February.

The Hon. Kim Wilson, Minister of Health, JP, MP, said, “Oral Health Month is your chance to inspire healthy habits, and I want our children to be part of that message. Good oral health supports overall health, confidence, and wellbeing, and simple daily routines started early can make a lifelong difference. This poster competition is a positive way for children to learn, reflect, and encourage their families and friends to protect their smiles.”

The competition is open in three age categories: ages 4 to 6, ages 7 to 11, and ages 12 to 16. Posters must be submitted in person to the Oral Health Section at the Hamilton Clinic, 67 Victoria Street. Each entry must include the child’s first and last name, age, school, and a contact number on the back. Emailed submissions will not be accepted.

All submitted posters will be available for public viewing at City Hall from 25 to 26 February, with the display opening at 10.00 am. The winner will be announced on 27 February.

Parents, guardians, and schools are encouraged to support children in creating posters that promote healthy mouths and healthy lives, and to submit entries ahead of the 20 February deadline.

For more information, please contact the Oral Health Section at the Department of Health, email: oralhealth.gov.bm, and telephone contacts: (441)-444-1715 or (441) 332-8932.

City unveils its events line-up for 2026

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City unveils its events line-up for 2026

Hamilton – February 5th, 2026

The City of Hamilton is pleased to announce its 2026 schedule of signature events, offering a year of thoughtfully curated experiences designed to bring people together, animate City spaces, and support local businesses. These events play a key role in driving foot traffic into Hamilton, boosting restaurant and retail activity, and contributing to the broader economic health of Bermuda’s capital. From family-friendly favourites to marquee cultural celebrations, the calendar reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to community, creativity, and economic vitality in the heart of Hamilton.

The season begins on April 4 with Fresh Air Films: Drive-In Edition at the City Hall Car Park. This much-loved movie night returns with a double feature enjoyed from the comfort of attendees’ vehicles, complemented by on-site food and beverage vendors. The Fresh Air Films series continues on June 20 with Sunset Cinema at Point Pleasant Park (Albouy’s Point), inviting audiences to unwind with an open-air screening set against the evening sky.

Victoria Park will once again be the setting for Summer Sunday: City Funday on July 12. This all-ages celebration fills the park with live entertainment, interactive games, a dedicated Kids Zone, food vendors, and light-hearted competitions, creating a vibrant day out for families and friends.

In October, the City hosts one of the most anticipated events on the annual calendar: Taste of Bermuda, taking place from October 8–11. This signature culinary experience highlights the island’s diverse food culture through chef and beverage centric showcases and Bermuda’s largest food festival.

The festive season officially begins in Hamilton on November 27 with Rockin’ Around the City Tree. The annual tree lighting event brings families together for seasonal music, warm treats, and a visit from Santa, as the City ushers in the Christmas season.

Closing out the year, the City Christmas Boat Parade returns on December 12. The parade features a flotilla of creatively decorated vessels competing for top honours, alongside festive entertainment and activities at the Viewing Village, making it a highlight of the holiday calendar.

Jessica Astwood, Director of Marketing and Communications for the City of Hamilton, said:

“Our focus with these events is to offer programming that adds energy to the City across the seasons and gives people reasons to engage with Hamilton beyond their day-to-day routines. The 2026 calendar reflects that approach, with a thoughtful mix of familiar traditions and fresh experiences that invite people to enjoy Hamilton in new ways.

“These events also deliver measurable value to Hamilton’s economy, driving foot traffic into the City and supporting the restaurants, retailers, and small businesses that power Hamilton’s commercial life. Together, they have a tangible economic impact, helping sustain year-round activity throughout the City.”

The City of Hamilton invites the public to take part in these events throughout the year and experience the energy, culture, and community spirit that define Bermuda’s capital.

For event updates and announcements, residents are encouraged to subscribe to the City’s e-newsletter, The CityZen, at www.cityofhamilton.bm, and follow the City on social media: Instagram & X (Twitter): @citylifebda Facebook: CityofHamiltonBda

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