Santo Domingo, R.D. – In a significant event for the future of Dominican sports, the Minister of Sports, engineer Kelvin Cruz, presented the plan of sports and recreational activities for the year 2026. The presentation was made before representatives of the media, sports journalists, and leaders of the national chronicle.
The meeting, held in a renowned hotel in the capital, served as a space for dialogue, transparency, and projection. An ambitious agenda was consolidated that will place Dominican sports at the center of national and international attention throughout the year.
Minister Cruz was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Sports, as well as executives from sports federations and organizations. They answered questions from the press and supported the strategic vision of the new calendar.
“This plan is the result of articulated work between the different sports disciplines and a clear demonstration that Dominican sports are prepared to transcend, not only in competition, but also as an agent of well-being, health, social cohesion, and international projection,” Cruz expressed at the beginning of the presentation.
Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sports
A Sports Calendar for Everyone
The presented programming will structure Dominican sports around a series of events ranging from grassroots competitions to major international festivals, attracting thousands of athletes, coaches, leaders, and fans.
- Women’s Games
March 19 to 22, 2026 - Holy Week Games
March 30 to April 4, 2026 - Juan Pablo Duarte Games in New York
June 6 to 14, 2026 - Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026
July 24 to August 8, 2026 - Border Games
August 19 to 22, 2026 - University Games
September 20 to October 2, 2026 - National Clubs Day
October 9, 2026 - National Sports Day
November 7, 2026 - Juan Pablo Duarte Games in Puerto Rico
November 2026
The competitive cycle will begin with the Women’s Games, established as a platform for female empowerment in sports. This event promotes the participation of athletes in multiple disciplines and highlights the talent, dedication, and gender equity in national sports.
This event will bring together athletes of different ages, promoting healthy family interaction, sports culture, and community integration during one of the most significant seasons in the country.
As part of a strategy to strengthen ties with the Dominican diaspora, these games will bring together athletes residing abroad, promoting identity, national pride, and international sports integration.
The jewel of the calendar will be the celebration of the Central American and Caribbean Games, the most important multi-sport event in the region, with the participation of athletes from more than 30 countries, marking a milestone in national sports history.
They return to strengthen competition between border provinces, promoting cooperation, brotherhood, and socio-sports development in strategic areas of the country.
They will serve as a platform for the emerging talent of higher education institutions, projecting future figures of national sport.
A day dedicated to recognizing the essential role of sports clubs in the training of athletes and community strengthening.
Celebration that reaffirms sport as a tool for integral development, social inclusion, and values education.
The calendar will close with the second edition of these games, reaffirming the commitment to the Dominican diaspora and the international projection of national talent.
A Strategic Vision with Social Impact
The presentation was received with applause and positive reviews from the sports columnists, who highlighted the clarity of the vision, the organization of the calendar, and the comprehensive approach that combines high performance, community development, and international projection.
Cruz emphasized that the plan goes beyond obtaining medals, betting on health, discipline, family integration and civic education.
“We are committed to making sport a tool for social transformation, so that every Dominican finds in it a path of personal, community and national growth,” he pointed out.
Acknowledgments and Future Projection
The minister thanked the support of the Dominican Government, the federations, clubs and regional associations, as well as the support of the private sector, highlighting the importance of partnerships for the sustainable development of sport.
With a solid and strategic calendar, the Dominican Republic prepares to experience a 2026 full of challenges, emotions, and sporting achievements, which will strengthen national identity and position the country as a regional benchmark.
Under the leadership of Kelvin Cruz, 2026 is shaping up to be a historic year for Dominican sports.
