Cartagena to Host the XXX Cadet Inter-School Games 2026: Dates, Disciplines, and Venues

From October 24 to 31, the “Almirante Padilla” Naval Cadet School will host the 30th edition of the Cadet Inter-School Games 2026 in Cartagena, a sports competition that will bring together nearly 1,200 participants, including 720 athletes from Colombia’s Armed Forces and National Police.

Schedule, Venues, and Participating Military Academies

Organized every two years and held since 1957, the competition rotates its host venue to the capital of Bolívar under the motto “Forjando liderazgo integral en equipo” (Forging comprehensive leadership as a team). The event will assemble male and female delegations from the Army’s Military Cadet School (Bogotá), the Air Force’s Military Aviation School (Cali), and the National Police Academy (Bogotá).

Daytime sporting events will feature competition across 12 disciplines: track and field, basketball, fencing, soccer, swimming, land orienteering, military pentathlon, sports shooting with handguns and rifles, volleyball, taekwondo, and tennis. The military orienteering competition will take place at the historic San Felipe de Barajas Castle during sunset and early evening hours.

Event / Activity	Date and Time	Location / Venue
Opening Ceremony	October 24 (7:00 p.m.)	“Almirante Padilla” Naval Cadet School
Public Fencing Exhibition	TBD (Free Admission)	La Bodeguita Pier
Military Orienteering Event	Sunset hours	San Felipe Castle
Closing Ceremony	October 31 (7:00 p.m.)	“Almirante Padilla” Naval Cadet School

Institutional Integration and Public Sports Exhibition

Rear Admiral Darío Sanabria, Director of the “Almirante Padilla” Naval Cadet School, confirmed that the gathering aims to strengthen ties among the country’s future officers through fair competition. As part of the public agenda, a stage will be set up in the La Bodeguita sector to offer a free exhibition showcasing various fencing modalities to the public.