President Luis Abinader says extraordinary progress has been made by the Organizing Committee for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. The games are scheduled to be held 24 August to 8 August 2026.
Following receiving updates from the committee, he noted that it is clear that preparations are currently ahead of schedule.
“Everything is moving at the rhythm we expected, even with a significant buffer,” Abinader stated, calling on the Dominican people to begin engaging with the promotional phase of the games.
José Monegro, president of the Organizing Committee, reported that the renovation of sports venues, athlete housing, transportation, and security protocols are all advancing rapidly. These efforts are under continuous inspection by Centro Caribe Sports, which has already dispatched three oversight commissions to verify compliance with international standards.
The Organizing Committee says a record 6,220 athletes from 37 nations are expected to attend the event that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the regional sports games.
The Organizing Committee explains that while Santo Domingo East’s Mirador del Este and the Felix Sanchez Olympic Center sports complexes will host most disciplines and the sports villa accommodations, events will be spread across the country, including sailing in Peravia, soccer and cycling in Santiago, golf in Punta Cana, and rowing in Monseñor Nouel.
As of April, the official torch rally will be visiting every province in the Dominican Republic as a warm up to promote the public attendance and following of the summer games.
The good news is that the renovations for the 2026 Games will deliver the country’s Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium upgraded to Category 1 certification, which would qualify the Dominican Republic to host a World Athletics Championship.
Likewise, in the same Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the Virgilio Travieso Soto Sports Palace is being modernized to meet international standards for high-level basketball, including potential NBA preseason matchups.
Furthermore, a new urban park is being developed along the Santo Domingo Malecón to host contemporary sports such as skateboarding and roller sports.
The majority of events will take place in the National District and Santo Domingo province, primarily divided between its two major sports parks that were originally respectively built for the 1974 Central American Games and the 2003 Pan American Games.
- Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center (National District)
This is the heart of the games and will host the highest concentration of disciplines.
• Athletics (Track & Field): Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium.
• Swimming, Diving, & Artistic Swimming: Olympic Center Aquatics Complex.
• Volleyball (Indoor): “Ricardo -Gioriver- Arias” Volleyball Palace.
• Combat Sports: The Taekwondo Pavilion (currently under renovation) will serve as a unified venue for 5 combat sports: taekwondo, karate, judo, wrestling, fencing.
• Softball: Olympic Center Softball Stadiums.
• Track Cycling: Olympic Velodrome.
• Basketball: Virgilio Travieso Soto Sports Palace.
• Racquetball: Racquetball Pavilion. - Parque del Este (Santo Domingo East)
• Gymnastics (Artistic & Rhythmic): Gymnastics Pavilion.
• Weightlifting: Dr. José Joaquín Puello Pavilion.
• Table Tennis: Table Tennis Pavilion.
• Handball: Handball Pavilion.
• Archery: Parque del Este Archery Range.
• Tennis: National Tennis Center.
• Field Hockey: Parque del Este Fields. - Other Locations in Santo Domingo
• Shooting (Clay & Precision): El Higüero Shooting Range (Santo Domingo North).
• Skateboarding & Skating: The new “Urban Park” plaza on the Santo Domingo Malecón (seafront).
• Equestrian: Palmarejo Equestrian Center in northern Santo Domingo.
Sub-venues (in the provinces)
These disciplines have been moved to the interior of the country to utilize specialized natural environments.
- Santiago de los Caballeros
• Football (Soccer): Cibao FC Stadium (located on the PUCMM university grounds).
• Mountain Biking (MTB): Circuits within the Santiago province. - Baní (Peravia Province)
• Sailing: Confirmed for the coast of Baní (utilizing the area’s wind conditions, likely near Los Almendros beach or Salinas). - Bonao (Monseñor Nouel Province)
• Rowing & Canoeing: Rincón Dam (Presa de Rincón). - Punta Cana (La Altagracia Province)
• Golf: Golf courses in the tourist zone (traditional hosts of PGA tournaments, such as Corales).
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Presidency
15 January 2026