The third edition of the Gimnasiada Nacional 2026 will officially inaugurate the new Ciudad Deportiva de Alto Rendimiento in Hidalgo, bringing more than 5,000 athletes from all 32 federal entities to compete across nine distinct sports disciplines from September 10 to September 20, according to local government announcements.
Oscar Pérez Rojas, the general director of the Instituto Hidalguense del Deporte (Inhide), outlined the upcoming multi-sport gathering during a weekly press briefing held by the Hidalgo state government. According to reporting from Zunoticia, the massive youth and elite sports showcase highlights the state’s expanding capability to host large-scale national competitions under the sports infrastructure initiatives advanced by the administration of Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar.
Venues and Disciplines Across Pachuca
Athletes traveling to the region for the 10-day event will compete across multiple municipal locations. While the newly established Ciudad Deportiva in Pachuca serves as the primary hub, the tournament footprint extends to Mineral de la Reforma and Zempoala, utilizing prominent regional facilities such as the Polideportivo de la UAEH, the Rancho Beisbolero, and the Universidad del Fútbol, as reported by Zunoticia.
The official competition program features a diverse lineup of nine sports: taekwondo, karate, chess (ajedrez), judo, fencing (esgrima), swimming, track and field (atletismo), soccer (fútbol), and baseball (béisbol). This extensive schedule requires coordinated venue management across the host municipalities to accommodate the influx of participants.
Infrastructure Access and Community Programs
Beyond hosting the Gimnasiada Nacional, state sports officials emphasize that the new high-performance sports complex is integrated into the local community. According to Inhide, the facility houses introductory sports schools currently serving more than 500 students. The complex’s semi-olympic swimming pool is already operational and will soon open for general public access.
Operating hours for the Ciudad Deportiva run daily from 6:00 to 22:00. To support elite development, the complex designates a specific window from 16:00 to 20:00 exclusively for high-performance athletes, granting them free access to specialized facilities as they prepare for national and international competitions, per state officials.
Regional Representation and Future Bids
State sports administration points to top-tier facilities as vital for nurturing homegrown champions. Inhide officials noted recent standout performances by Hidalgo athletes and coaches at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, specifically highlighting competitors Carolina Millán, Javier Cruz, Edgar Cadena, Cristian Pardo, Uriel Capó, and Guadalupe Montaño.
As part of the broader state sports agenda, Hidalgo is also organizing the national boxing class titled “Puños de Transformación,” scheduled for August 16 at 8:00 local time. The event will take place concurrently at the Ciudad Deportiva and in the main public squares of Ajacuba, Tula, Tizayuca, El Arenal, and San Agustín Metzquititlán, according to government schedules.
Looking ahead, Hidalgo is actively pursuing further bids, maintaining ongoing discussions with the Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte (Conade) to secure the rights to host the Olimpiada Nacional, reinforcing the state’s long-term strategy for sports development and community wellbeing.
