Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games Officially Begin

The 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games officially opened with a spectacular ceremony at a packed Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Under the theme “100 Years of Unity, One Region, One Heart,” the 90-minute celebration marked the centennial of the region’s oldest multisport event.

The ceremony highlighted 100 years of Games history while celebrating Dominican culture and the rich diversity of Central America and the Caribbean. One of the evening’s biggest highlights was the parade of all 37 participating delegations, with the host nation receiving a warm ovation as more than 650 Dominican athletes entered the stadium led by Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and boxer Cristián Pinales.

The official opening was declared by Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, while legendary Olympic champion Félix Sánchez completed the final torch relay to light the cauldron. The celebration concluded with an impressive fireworks and drone display, setting the stage for the start of competition, with the first medals to be awarded on Saturday.