The city of Cartago will host the 35th Pan American Junior Karate Championship, one of the continent’s major competitions for young athletes in the discipline.

The tournament will take place from August 24 to 30, 2026, with the Cartago Sports Center serving as the main venue. Organizers expect delegations from 25 countries across the Americas and around 1,500 participants, including athletes, coaches, referees and accompanying staff.

A Week Dedicated to Junior Karate

The championship will bring together athletes in the U12, U14, Cadet and Junior categories, giving young competitors from different countries the opportunity to compete at a continental level.

The Pan American Karate Federation highlights the development of younger generations as an important part of the sport’s future in the Americas. The official championship information also emphasizes values such as respect, discipline and fair play.

Cartago as an International Host City

For Cartago, the championship represents an opportunity to host a major continental junior karate event for the first time.

The event is being organized by the Costa Rican Karate Federation, in coordination with the Municipality of Cartago, the Cartago Cantonal Sports and Recreation Committee and the Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (ICODER).

The Cartago Sports Center will host the main competitions throughout the week.

Beyond the sporting component, the arrival of international delegations could also generate activity for restaurants, businesses, hotels and other local services.

Around 1,500 People Expected

Organizers estimate that approximately 1,500 people will be involved in the event during the week, including around one thousand athletes as well as technical staff and accompanying members of the delegations.

The presence of national and international visitors also provides an opportunity for Cartago to showcase its heritage, gastronomy and tourism offerings.

Main Competitions from August 27 to 29

Although the championship runs throughout the week, the main competition days will take place from Thursday, August 27, through Saturday, August 29.

The official program includes kata and kumite competitions for the U12, U14, Cadet and Junior categories, with both individual and team events.

Thursday, August 27, will focus primarily on the U12 and U14 categories.

On Friday, August 28, Cadet competitions will take place, along with the official opening ceremony and finals in several categories.

Saturday, August 29, will feature Junior competitions, including individual and team kata as well as the different kumite divisions.

Kata and Kumite: Two Main Disciplines

The championship will include the two main competitive disciplines of karate.

Kata consists of performing a sequence of technical movements and combinations representing offensive and defensive actions. Competitors are evaluated by judges.

Kumite, meanwhile, involves combat between two competitors within the divisions and weight categories established by the regulations.

The official program includes different male and female weight divisions for the Cadet and Junior categories.

An Opportunity for Costa Rican Athletes

As the host country, Costa Rica will be represented across the different championship categories.

The Costa Rican Karate Federation has invited the public to attend the competitions at the Cartago Sports Center and support the national athletes and visiting delegations.

Taking part in a continental competition of this level allows young Costa Rican athletes to face competitors from other countries and gain valuable international experience at an early stage of their sporting careers.

Where Sport Meets Tourism

Hosting the championship also provides an opportunity to introduce Cartago to visitors arriving from different parts of the Americas.

The city is home to important historical and cultural attractions, including the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, one of the country’s main pilgrimage sites, as well as historical and natural attractions throughout the province.

The arrival of delegations over several days may also contribute to spreading the economic activity generated by the event across different local sectors.

Building on Previous International Events

The junior championship adds to Costa Rica’s experience as a host of international karate competitions.

The Pan American Karate Federation notes that Costa Rica hosted the 2023 Pan American Senior Championship, organized by the Costa Rican Karate Federation.

The new tournament therefore represents another opportunity for the country to demonstrate its ability to host international sporting events while promoting the development of karate among younger generations.

Junior Karate as a Space for Development

Beyond medals and rankings, competitions such as this allow young athletes to share experiences with competitors from other countries and develop skills both inside and outside the competition area.

The Pan American Karate Federation emphasizes the importance of investing in younger generations to ensure the future of the sport across the continent.

The Cartago championship will give young karate athletes the opportunity to gain international experience in an environment combining competition, learning and sporting exchange.

Cartago Welcomes Karate from Across the Americas

From August 24 to 30, Cartago will become a meeting point for young athletes, coaches and karate representatives from different countries across the Americas.

With 25 delegations and around 1,500 participants expected, the 35th Pan American Junior Karate Championship will be both an important sporting event and an opportunity to showcase the city as an international event destination.

The main competitions will take place from August 27 to 29 at the Cartago Sports Center, where young athletes will compete across the different categories and disciplines of the championship.

Official and Technical Sources

Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (ICODER): institutional information on sport and sporting activities in Costa Rica.

Costa Rican Karate Federation (FECOKA): official information regarding the 35th Pan American Junior Karate Championship and its organization in Costa Rica.

Pan American Karate Federation (PKF): official championship regulations, documentation and information for the 2026 continental junior competition.

Municipality of Cartago: institutional participation and logistical support for the championship at the Cartago Sports Center.