The 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games officially opened Friday night in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with a dazzling ceremony celebrating the event’s 100-year history and marking the start of competition among more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries and territories across the region.

Held before a packed Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, the 90-minute production carried the theme “100 Years of Unity, One Region, One Heart,” blending music, dance, history and technology to showcase Dominican culture while celebrating the shared heritage of Central America and the Caribbean.

The opening ceremony paid tribute to the Games’ origins in 1926, making Santo Domingo 2026 the centennial edition of the world’s oldest regional multi-sport event. Organisers described the production as a journey through a century of sporting achievement, highlighting both the Dominican Republic’s national identity and the cultural diversity that defines the region.