What are the Central American and Caribbean Games?
The Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC Games) are the quadrennial multi-sport games of Central America and the Caribbean — and the oldest continuing regional games in the world, first held in Mexico City in 1926. The 2026 centennial edition in Santo Domingo gathered thousands of athletes from the region's nations across an Olympic-style program.[1] [2]
Who organizes the CAC Games?
The Games are owned by Centro Caribe Sports (formerly ODECABE), the regional association of Central American and Caribbean National Olympic Committees, and staged with host organizing committees; they operate within the Americas' Olympic structure alongside Panam Sports.[1] [3]
When and where are they held?
Every four years, in a host city elected by Centro Caribe Sports. The centennial edition ran 24 July – 8 August 2026 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — a century after the first Games.[2] [4]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Centennial | Santo Domingo (DOM), 24 Jul–8 Aug |
| 2023 | — | San Salvador (ESA) |
| 2018 | — | Barranquilla (COL) |
| 2014 | — | Veracruz (MEX) |
| 2010 | — | Mayagüez (PUR) |
| 2006 | — | Cartagena (COL) |
| 2002 | — | San Salvador (ESA) |
| 1998 | — | Maracaibo (VEN) |
| 1993 | — | Ponce (PUR) |
| 1990 | — | Mexico City (MEX) |
Santo Domingo 2026 marked 100 years of the Games and returned them to a city that previously hosted in 1974.[2] [3]
Since when do they exist?
First held in Mexico City in 1926 with three participating nations, the Games predate every other continuing regional games and even the first Pan American Games by 25 years.[1] [2]
How do athletes qualify?
Entry runs through the region's National Olympic Committees, which select and enter national teams within per-sport quotas and qualification systems agreed with the federations. For many sports the CAC Games open the Americas' games cycle — CAC results feed toward the Pan American Games and, in some disciplines, Olympic qualification pathways.[1] [3]
Why do the CAC Games matter?
A CAC medal is a major regional honor with a century of history, and for the region's athletes the Games are the first summit of the quadrennial cycle leading to the Pan American Games and the Olympics. Fields regularly include Olympic medalists from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean nations.[2] [3]
Who competes?
National teams of the Centro Caribe Sports member nations of Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and the northern rim of South America — several thousand athletes at recent editions.[2] [4]
References
- Centro Caribe Sports — Central American and Caribbean Games. Accessed August 2026.
- Panam Sports — A Century of Excellence: the CAC Games return to Santo Domingo. Accessed August 2026.
- Panam Sports — Santo Domingo 2026: the historic centennial Games come to a close. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — Santo Domingo 2026 CAC Games. Accessed August 2026.