After the earthquake that occurred a few days ago with the announced absence of the champions of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to the Caribbean Series 2026, based in Caracas, a certain tranquility arrived with the change of scenery to the city of Guadalajara, in Mexicowhich will host the tournament between February 1 and 7.
Thus, the rumors were confirmed, first with a press conference in the Guadalajara city that brought together the board of directors of the Mexican ARCO League of the Pacific and the Charros of Jalisco, and then with a official statementl issued by the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CPBC).
The biggest baseball festival in our region returns to the land of the Charros, music and color ⚾️
Guadalajara: headquarters of the #SerieDelCaribe2026!
See you in February for a Caribbean party with a Tapatío flavor #CaribbeanSeries pic.twitter.com/Zo7kxNCaCc
— Caribbean Series (@beisboldecaribe) December 19, 2025
The three member teams of the organization had explained that they would not send representatives to the Venezuelan capital due to “external situations beyond their control,” in reference to the tense situation that Venezuela is experiencing, under the growing threat of a military intervention by the United States.
The Caribbean entity specifies in its communication that the decision to change the headquarters was made “after the approval of the proposal presented by the Mexican ARCO League of the Pacific (LAMP), which arose from an initiative of the Charros de Jalisco organization.”
It also emerged that the new tournament scheme, with only five teams and not eight like those expected to bring together the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP), which was supposed to host in Caracas, and which has not confirmed its presence in Guadalajara.
One of the nations affected by the movement was Cuba, whose champion team would play in the Venezuelan capital as a guest, along with teams from Colombia, Panama and Japan.
Cuba, one of the founding members of the Caribbean Series, had its last presentation in this fair precisely when Venezuela hosted the 2023 edition, also with an invited team.
Given the new circumstances, only courtesy was maintained with the channel cast, which will complete the program along with the representatives of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and two Mexican teams, in case the absence of the Venezuelan champion is finally confirmed.
“If Venezuela agrees to come, they have absolute priority. That, logically, would leave out the option of a second Mexican team,” declared Salvador Escobar, president of LAMP, after confirming the change of scenario.
For the CBPC, the choice of Guadalajara as the new venue “recognizes the solidity of its sports infrastructure, as well as the commitment of its fans, factors that guarantee the success of the event and its positive impact in the sporting, social and economic spheres.”
To date, 17 editions of the Caribbean classic have been held in Mexico, and the cities of Hermosillo and Mazatlán share the spotlight, with six versions each.
On two occasions the tournament has been played in Culiacán and Mexicali, a figure that will be added to Guadalajara with the new call.
