Asunción Joins San Bernardino and More as Paraguay Welcomes Over Ten Thousand Athletes from 100 Countries for Major International Sports Event: All You Need to Know
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Asunción Joins San Bernardino and More as Paraguay Welcomes Over Ten Thousand Athletes from 100 Countries for Major International Sports Event: All You Need to Know. Paraguay is entering the global sports spotlight. The World Skate Games run from 30 September to 18 October across Asunción, San Bernardino, Altos and other venues. More than 10,000 athletes representing 100 countries are expected for 12 sports and 23 disciplines. Asunción Joins San Bernardino and More as Paraguay Welcomes Over Ten Thousand Athletes from 100 Countries for Major International Sports Event: All You Need to Know, bringing international sports activity across several destinations.
Paraguay Builds a Busy International Event Calendar
The final months of 2026 bring a diverse programme of sporting and cultural events across Paraguay.
The calendar ranges from a major international skating competition involving 100 countries to Japanese cultural celebrations, endurance sport, theatre and locally focused festivals.
Paraguay Upcoming Events 2026
| Event | Destination | Date | Official significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Skate Games 2026 | Asunción, San Bernardino, Altos | 30 Sep–18 Oct | 10,000+ athletes, 100 countries |
| Ñande Impro 2026 | Asunción | Late September | International theatre programme |
| Nihon Matsuri Festival Japonés | Paraguay | 24 Oct | Marks 90 years of Japanese immigration |
| Ironman 70.3 Encarnación | Encarnación | Oct 2026 | International sports-tourism event |
| Atyguasu festivals | Multiple destinations | Oct–Dec | Government-supported cultural tourism |
| El Jardín de Beatriz | Asunción | 26 Sep | Guided cultural activity |
The programme gives visitors several reasons to travel beyond a single destination or event type.
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World Skate Games Bring 100 Countries to Paraguay
The World Skate Games 2026 represent the largest immediate international event.
The competition runs from 30 September to 18 October.
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Paraguay’s National Secretariat of Sports expects more than 10,000 athletes representing 100 countries to participate.
The programme covers 12 sports and 23 disciplines, alongside an e-Sport component.
Events include skateboarding, roller freestyle, scootering, speed skating, downhill, freestyle, roller hockey, roller derby and artistic skating.
World Skate Games at a Glance
| Indicator | Official information |
|---|---|
| Opening | 30 September 2026 |
| Closing | 18 October 2026 |
| Participating countries | 100 |
| Athletes | 10,000+ |
| Sports | 12 |
| Disciplines | 23 |
| Main destinations | Asunción, San Bernardino, Altos |
The geographical spread is particularly relevant for tourism because competition activity will not be confined to one venue.
Asunción Becomes the Main World Skate Games Hub
Several important venues are located in and around Asunción.
Official venues include the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, National Secretariat of Sports facilities, Costanera and Port of Asunción.
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Additional activities will take place in San Bernardino and Altos.
This structure spreads athletes, teams and event activity across several destinations and creates opportunities for visitors to experience different parts of the Asunción metropolitan area and surrounding tourism zones.
Nihon Matsuri Brings Japanese Culture to October Calendar
Culture becomes another major tourism theme on 24 October with the Nihon Matsuri Festival Japonés.
The festival forms part of Paraguay’s programme commemorating 90 years of Japanese immigration.
The Paraguayan Government has designated the anniversary programme as being of national tourism interest under Resolution No. 168/2026.
SENATUR identifies the celebrations as an opportunity to promote the country’s multicultural heritage while supporting historical, gastronomic and cultural tourism.
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The festival therefore has significance beyond entertainment. It connects tourism with the history of Japanese communities and their contribution to Paraguay.
Ironman 70.3 Returns to Encarnación
Encarnación adds another major sports-tourism event during October.
The city is preparing for the second edition of Ironman 70.3 Encarnación.
The Paraguayan Government has identified the competition as part of its broader effort to strengthen Paraguay’s position as a destination for major international sporting events.
Encarnación and the wider Itapúa region already gained major international exposure through the Rally del Paraguay, held from 27 to 30 August.
Ahead of that event, SENATUR inspected accommodation businesses across 11 districts and developed visitor-support and tourism-quality measures.
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The combination of rally and endurance sport strengthens Itapúa’s growing role within Paraguay’s event-tourism market.
Atyguasu Festivals Spread Tourism Beyond Major Cities
Paraguay’s late-2026 festival programme will also extend into smaller destinations.
The Government launched Atyguasu – Fiestas del Paraguay 2026, allocating G.230 million to support 11 cultural, tourism and craft projects.
Atyguasu 2026 Funding
| Programme element | Official figure |
|---|---|
| Total government funding | G.230 million |
| Projects supported | 11 |
| Established festivals | 3 |
| Funding per established event | G.50 million |
| Emerging events | 8 |
| Funding per emerging event | G.10 million |
| Event period | October–December 2026 |
Projects must incorporate elements connected with local tourism, gastronomy, crafts and cultural activity.
Priority territories cover districts in Concepción, San Pedro, Guairá, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Itapúa, Canindeyú, Alto Paraná, Central and Ñeembucú.
This creates a geographically broader tourism calendar rather than concentrating events entirely in Asunción.
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International Theatre Adds Another Cultural Dimension
Asunción’s event programme also includes Ñande Impro 2026 at Manzana de la Rivera.
The international improvisational-theatre event brings together performers from Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Paraguay.
Programming includes performances, training and artistic exchange over four days.
This provides a smaller-scale cultural alternative to Paraguay’s major international sporting events and strengthens Asunción’s performing-arts calendar.
Asunción Adds Immediate Cultural Activities
Visitors in Asunción also have smaller cultural activities available.
On 26 September, Manzana de la Rivera hosts a guided visit to El Jardín de Beatriz at the Centro Cultural de la Ciudad Carlos Colombino.
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The activity begins at 15:00 and is led by artist Verónica Melgarejo.
Municipal cultural venues are also supporting programmes involving theatre, exhibitions, literature and music.
Paraguay Uses Events to Broaden Its Tourism Appeal
Paraguay’s late-2026 calendar shows how sports and culture are becoming increasingly important parts of the country’s tourism proposition.
The World Skate Games provide the largest international platform, bringing more than 10,000 athletes from 100 countries. Ironman 70.3 strengthens Encarnación’s sports-tourism credentials. Nihon Matsuri connects travel with Japanese heritage and gastronomy, while Atyguasu spreads cultural and tourism activity across multiple regions.
Together, these events give Paraguay a varied tourism calendar extending from late September through December and create reasons for visitors to explore Asunción, Encarnación, San Bernardino, Altos and destinations throughout the country.
Asunción Joins San Bernardino and More as Paraguay Welcomes Over Ten Thousand Athletes from 100 Countries for Major International Sports Event: All You Need to Know. The reason is the World Skate Games 2026, running from 30 September through 18 October. Asunción serves as a major hub, while San Bernardino, Altos and other venues spread event activity across Paraguay. More than 10,000 athletes from 100 countries will compete across 12 sports and 23 disciplines. Asunción Joins San Bernardino and More as Paraguay Welcomes Over Ten Thousand Athletes from 100 Countries for Major International Sports Event: All You Need to Know, highlighting Paraguay’s event-tourism opportunity.
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