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Although memory usually is associated with recall of past events or previously learned information, an equally important function of memory is to remember to perform intended actions in the future. Remembering to perform an action when there is a delay between the point at which the intention to act is formed and the point at which the action can be carried out is called prospective memory. A defining aspect of prospective memory tasks is that they are to be performed without external prompting, that is, we have to remember to perform the task without being asked to do so at the time that it is to be performed. However, a potentially important source of support for performing prospective memory can arise from the context in which the task occurs. The preparatory attentional and memory processes theory places a considerable emphasis on the role of context, especially with respect to how limited capacity resources are allocated to support prospective memory performance. Research on the effects of context and prospective memory is reviewed, with an emphasis on how context affects allocation of attentional resources and how context is used to initiate preparatory attentional processing. This overview leads to the proposal of greater parallels between time-based and event-based prospective memory than often is assumed to be the case and concludes by outlining possibilities for future research.