Mar del Plata has been officially designated as a sub-host city for the upcoming XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, welcoming elite regional surfers to the Atlantic coast next September, according to official tournament announcements. While the main hubs of the continental competition span Santa Fe, Rosario, and Rafaela, coastal venues in Buenos Aires province and Entre Ríos will expand the geographic footprint of a multisport event gathering more than 4,000 athletes from 15 nations.
South American Games 2026 Schedule and Continental Stakes
The XIII South American Games run from September 12 to September 26, 2026, marking the formal opening of the Olympic cycle heading toward the Los Ángeles 2028 Summer Games. According to organizers, the continental schedule features 43 sports and 60 distinct disciplines, with 26 of those events serving as direct qualifiers for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.
Argentina hosts the South American showcase for the third time in history. The country previously welcomed the continental gathering twenty years ago during the VIII Games, when Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata shared primary hosting duties. For the 2026 edition, regional distribution places specific disciplines outside the primary Santa Fe province hubs.
Playa Grande Set for Surf Competition
Surfing events will unfold on the Atlantic waves of Playa Grande in Mar del Plata from Saturday, September 19, to Friday, September 25, 2026, as reported by tournament planners. The coastal city holds a long-standing reputation for organizing international marine sports and boasts natural arenas tailored for wave riding.
Eligibility for the Mar del Plata surf tournament extends to athletes from nations whose National Olympic Committees hold ODESUR affiliation, provided their respective national federations belong to the South American Surf Confederation. Beyond regional medals, competitors will battle for direct qualification spots heading to the Lima Pan American Games.
Vicente López and Paraná Complete Sub-Host Network
Beyond Mar del Plata, two additional cities round out the sub-host framework for the 2026 Games. In the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, the Shopping Norcenter complex in Vicente López will host the bowling competition from Tuesday, September 15, to Saturday, September 19, 2026. The venue features professional lanes and specialized technology, with tournament formats operating under International Bowling Federation and South American Bowling Confederation rules, offering a direct path to the Lima Pan American Games.
Meanwhile, across the Paraná River in Entre Ríos province, the city of Paraná takes charge of the softball tournament at the Estadio Mundialista “Ingeniero Nafaldo Cargnel”. Women’s bracket matches run from September 15 to September 19, followed by the men’s tournament from September 21 to September 25, utilizing regulation diamonds and specialized athlete support infrastructure.
Participant Nations and Broader Program Scope
Athletes from Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela will travel to Argentina for the multi-week competition. The vast 43-sport program encompasses open water swimming, athletics, badminton, bowls, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, sport climbing, fencing, e-sports, waterskiing, wakeboarding, football, gymnastics, golf, handball, field hockey, judo, karate, weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, artistic swimming, padel, roller sports, modern pentathlon, racquetball, rowing, rugby sevens, skateboarding, squash, stand-up paddleboarding, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, archery, shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball, beach volleyball, and water polo.
Preparations continue across all designated venues as national federations finalize selection criteria ahead of the September opening ceremonies.
Related reading
