Historic closing ceremony for Santo Domingo 2026: 6,000 athletes from 37 countries
Photo: elCaribeThe Banreservas Arena Virgilio Travieso Soto was the stage for the grand finale of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, an edition that brought together more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries.
An emotional farewell
The closing ceremony, produced by Alberto Zayas, included tributes to support staff and an emotional headline performance by singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra, who performed his work “Canto a la Patria”.
The event put the finishing touch on more than two weeks of competition in which the Dominican capital was the center of regional sports, with venues ranging from the Arena itself to the city’s stadiums and pools.
The legacy of Santo Domingo 2026
Organizers highlighted the balance of the Games: record participation, renewed infrastructure and logistics operations praised by visiting delegations. For the country, the Games also served as a dress rehearsal for its capacity to host large multidisciplinary events.
Why it matters
The closing ceremony ends one chapter and opens the next: legacy management. Stadiums, pools and arenas are ready for national federations, and the experience gained puts the Dominican Republic on the radar for future international bids.
