Cap Cana strengthen its position as a leader in sports tourism throughout 2026. International events such as MICFootball Punta Cana, the República Dominicana Open ATP Challenger 175, IRONMAN 70.3 Cap Cana, and renowned sport fishing tournaments have brought together thousands of athletes, teams, and visitors from around the world this year.
Beyond the competition, these events reflect a long-term vision focused on diversifying the destination’s tourism offering through sports, combining world-class infrastructure, exceptional hospitality, and an exclusive lifestyle.
The vision driving sports tourism
Over the past 24 years, Cap Cana has developed a vision that has made sports tourism one of the cornerstones of its destination strategy. Today, it hosts an international events calendar that strengthens its global positioning while attracting visitors who stay longer and generate greater economic impact.
Jorge Subero Medina, Executive President of Cap Cana, explained that 2026 marks a new chapter for the destination, which has evolved into a platform where elite sports seamlessly integrate with luxury residential communities, hospitality, and entertainment, all supported by world-class infrastructure.
“This strategic commitment is not an isolated initiative, but rather a fundamental pillar of a business model designed to attract sophisticated travelers whose longer stays and higher spending directly stimulate the local economy. With more than US$4.758 billion invested throughout its history, Cap Cana has entered a stage of operational maturity. Its facilities now provide the foundation for an international calendar of events that enhances the competitiveness of the Dominican Republic among global destinations. This year alone, the Cap Cana ATP Challenger 175 welcomed players representing more than 30 nationalities, while IRONMAN 70.3 Cap Cana brought together participants from over 60 countries”.
As an example of this vision in action, Subero Medina highlighted the recent edition of MICFootball Punta Cana, which welcomed youth delegations from across the globe.
“We have just concluded MICFootball, which brought together participants from more than 18 countries. It is an international camp featuring young players who represent the next generation of soccer, including the children of some of the world’s most celebrated soccer stars”.
A stage for world-class athletes
Subero Medina noted that welcoming elite athletes to Cap Cana is nothing new.
“This is not the first time athletes of this caliber have visited us. Other disciplines, such as tennis through the República Dominicana Open ATP Challenger 175, have attracted hundreds of players from around the world, all ranked within the ATP Top 100, while golf has welcomed some of the sport’s greatest legends”.
Sports have been part of Cap Cana’s DNA since its inception. Between 2008 and 2010, the destination hosted the country’s first PGA TOUR event, where Mark Wiebe, Keith Fergus, and Fred Couples claimed victory in consecutive editions.
A growing international events calendar
Cap Cana’s annual calendar continues to expand with competitions across multiple disciplines, further strengthening its position as a premier destination for international sporting events.
Endurance competitions also play a leading role in the destination’s schedule. While IRONMAN 70.3 Cap Cana has already welcomed athletes from around the world this year, Tri Cap Cana is preparing for its next edition in the coming months. Together, both events attract more than 1,200 participants, who take advantage of the destination’s 130 kilometers of paved roads and exceptional natural setting for swimming, cycling, and running competitions.
On the water, Cap Cana Marina continues to reinforce its international reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for blue marlin sport fishing, holding historic catch-and-release records. Meanwhile, golf continues to thrive with Punta Espada Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and the ongoing development of Las Iguanas Golf Course, the destination’s second championship course.
Infrastructure built for elite competition
According to Subero Medina, the growth of sports tourism is driven by the combination of infrastructure, strategic planning, and a long-term vision.
Today, Cap Cana offers facilities for golf, sport fishing, tennis, soccer, padel, equestrian sports, and emerging disciplines such as Ultimate Frisbee. These are supported by a 50 MW independent power system and advanced monitoring technology that helps ensure the safety of athletes and visitors.
“Our goal is to become the most attractive sports destination for world-class competitions. By integrating nautical, golf, equestrian, and racquet sports within a single sustainable ecosystem, Cap Cana serves not only as a host destination but also as a driving force behind the country’s competitiveness on the global stage, ensuring that sports tourism remains a lasting source of foreign investment, employment, and national pride”.
With an expanding international events calendar and infrastructure designed to host major competitions, Cap Cana continues to strengthen its position as one of the Caribbean’s leading sports tourism hubs. Its commitment to introducing new disciplines, attracting larger international events, and driving economic and tourism development continues to reinforce its standing as one of the region’s premier sports destinations.
