Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra will perform at the closing ceremony of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo on August 8.
Guerra will present his composition Canto a la Patria alongside the choir Mas que Vencedores at the Arena Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., marking the official conclusion of 16 days of athletic competition.
Centennial tribute performance
Guerra created Canto a la Patria in 2006, donating the piece directly to the Dominican State. His performance at the closing ceremony will serve as a tribute to the Dominican Republic and honor the more than 900 individuals who contributed to producing the centennial ceremonies.
With a career spanning more than four decades and dozens of international awards, Guerra is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians from the Dominican Republic. The Santo Domingo native studied at the Berklee College of Music and achieved international prominence with his group 4.40, popularizing Caribbean styles such as merengue and bachata worldwide.
Organizers described Guerra's participation as a gift to the Dominican public that will make the final send-off of Santo Domingo 2026 a unique moment in the nation's sporting history.
Organizing committee response
Alberto Zayas, general producer and creative director of the ceremonies, said receiving the gift from the artist was an honor for the entire nation. Zayas noted that closing the centennial of the Games with Guerra's voice would create an unforgettable moment for everyone involved.
José P. Monegro, president of the Santo Domingo 2026 Organizing Committee, said having Guerra headline the final evening confirmed that the Games had served as a unifying national cause since their first day. Monegro added that the committee accepted the artist's gesture with deep gratitude and committed to delivering a closing ceremony equal to the 16 unforgettable days of competition.
The venue for the ceremony, the Arena Banreservas Virgilio Travieso Soto, is an indoor pavilion located within the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo. The arena has long served as a primary venue for major athletic and cultural events in the Dominican capital.
The Central American and Caribbean Games represent the oldest regional multi-sport event in the world, having first taken place in Mexico City in 1926. Held every four years under the auspices of Centro Caribe Sports, the competition brings together athletes from across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin.
