Long-lasting antibacterial materials are becoming increasingly important. They can effectively decrease the consumption of antibacterial agents, thereby reducing the risk of microbial resistance. Also, they play an indispensable role in safe utilization of many medical materials (medical cotton cloth, wound dressings, and implants, etc.). The durable antibacterial property can greatly abate the risk of secondary infections and induced diseases. Therefore, the development of durable, efficient, and safe antibacterial materials has become a research hotspot. In this perspective, we mainly introduce the recent advancement of long-lasting antibacterial materials aimed for surface coatings, medical cotton fabrics, wound healing dressings, in vivo implants, water treatment membranes and other aspects. Finally, the future research in this field is envisaged.