Preparation for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 is advancing steadily, with the Organizing Committee reporting that the majority of sports infrastructure is either already delivered, in the process of being handed over or in the final stages of completion. Scheduled to run from 24 July to 8 August 2026, the event is the most significant regional competition in the Olympic cycle, and the current pace of construction places the Dominican Republic in an unusually strong position compared to previous host nations.
Completed and high-performance ready facilities
Several key disciplines are already fully equipped with competition-ready venues, some of which have been functional since 2023. These include table tennis, archery, field hockey, rowing, canoeing, and clay pigeon shooting. Facilities previously repaired to serve as sub-sites for the XXIV Games in San Salvador (2023) are also ready, requiring only minor routine maintenance.
The Equestrian Center has undergone specialized upgrades to meet the rigorous standards of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). New access routes for horse mobility and dedicated veterinary care stations have been integrated into the site.
Major milestones at the Olympic Center
Significant progress was noted at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, where several high-profile venues are reaching completion:
• Aquatic Center: Scheduled for delivery on 7 April 2026, this facility has been virtually rebuilt from the ground up. It features three pools that have already received international certification for elite competitive events.
• Gymnastics, Volleyball, and Badminton: These pavilions are currently finished and awaiting official handover.
• Combat Sports: Combat Pavilion I is fully refurbished and in the final delivery phase, while Combat Pavilion II is currently 65% complete and expected to be finished by the end of May.
• Handball: The civil works are concluded with teams working on finishing the roof cladding with a deadline of late April.
Iconic stadiums and modernization
The Palacio de los Deportes, a centerpiece for the games, has completed its structural civil works. Efforts are now focused on the installation of screens, seating, and high-tech equipment, all of which are already in-country. Under a sponsorship agreement with Banco de Reservas and outfitting by the Ministry of Sports, the arena has been completely modernized and is set for a late June delivery.
The Felix Sánchez Olympic Stadium is also nearing its final form. While the stands, access points, offices, and VIP boxes have been finished for over a year, work is currently concentrated on the track. Asphalt work and civil engineering for the main track are slated for completion by late April, with the final synthetic surface—currently in local warehouses—to be laid by June. The alternate warm-up track is following a similar timeline.
Field Sports and Urban Venues
• Baseball and Softball: The Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium is fully operational. Olympic Center Stadium I has been modernized to meet international federation dimensions and will be ready by late May, alongside two other baseball fields. Softball Stadium I is in the final delivery stage, while Stadium II is completing its drainage systems.
• Malecón Deportivo: This urban sports hub is at 90% completion, with skating and skateboarding areas expected to be finished by late April.
• Velodrome: Track resurfacing has begun under the supervision of an international specialist validated by the Pan American Cycling Confederation; the work is expected to take 45 days.
• Tennis: Courts are being adjusted to meet technical agreements with the national federation, with a handover date in early June.
Innovative and temporary solutions
To ensure efficiency, the Organizing Committee will utilize a mix of existing private infrastructure and temporary setups. Bowling will be hosted at the Plaza Bolera, while squash will be held in a specialized installation within a retrofitted commercial space. Furthermore, certain aquatic modalities will take place in temporary venues designed to meet international standards, ensuring functionality without the need for redundant permanent structures.
The Organizing Committee emphasized that having the vast majority of sports facilities ready weeks before the opening ceremony is a rare achievement in the history of multi-sport games. This early readiness allows for a crucial “test event” phase, permitting technical adjustments and fine-tuning of the venues well before the first athletes arrive.
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Central American and Caribbean Games
8 April 2026