The Dominican Republic’s province of Sánchez Ramírez is gearing up to host the highly anticipated fourth edition of FESTUR Sánchez Ramírez 2026, a five-day multi-sector festival kicking off November 5 at the iconic Hatillo Dam. Designed to frame the region as a top-tier national travel destination, the event weaves together tourism, local culture, traditional gastronomy, and cross-sector business opportunities into one immersive experience.
The official launch of the 2026 festival was held at the Senate Auditorium, where the Sánchez Ramírez Ecotourism Development Council unveiled the full event framework to stakeholders and the public. Senator Ricardo de los Santos was in attendance at the presentation, extending a public invitation to domestic and international travelers to join the celebration while emphasizing the event’s long-term value in unlocking the province’s untapped tourism potential.
Centered on the theme “Living Territory, Our Land, More Than a Destination,” the 2026 festival goes beyond simple entertainment, aiming to highlight the full breadth of the region’s unique natural landscapes, diverse cultural heritage, and award-winning local cuisine. A core priority of the event is creating dedicated commercial spaces for small local businesses and independent entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services to a large, diverse audience of visitors.
The packed five-day schedule includes a wide range of activities for attendees of all ages and interests: curated guided tourist routes through scenic regional landscapes, guided horseback riding excursions, a popular 6K community road race, multiple competitive and recreational sporting events, an ecological fishing tournament, a large-scale food fair highlighting local culinary traditions, exhibitions of handcrafted arts and goods from regional artisans, and nightly cultural and artistic performances from local and national groups.
Unlike previous temporary iterations of the festival, organizers are investing in permanent public infrastructure that will remain accessible to residents and visitors year-round after the 2026 event concludes. A key highlight of this investment is the fully renovated Cultural Train, a heritage attraction that will serve as a lasting cultural asset for the province.
For the 2026 edition, the United States has been invited as the official guest country, and the neighboring Hermanas Mirabal province will join as the official guest province of honor. Additional event features include dedicated commercial exhibition spaces, a custom-built Podcast Center for media creators, a large main stage for headline performances, and a special exhibition tied to Guinness World Records that is expected to draw extra visitor interest.
Organizers report that past editions of FESTUR have already established the festival as a cornerstone of the province’s tourism and economic development strategy. Previous three-day iterations drew an impressive 30,000 to 40,000 total visitors, creating a powerful platform for regional promotion, business networking, and inclusive local economic growth. With the expanded 2026 fourth edition, event leaders aim to solidify Sánchez Ramírez’s reputation as a must-visit travel destination while opening new sustainable economic opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurs, rural communities, and all of the province’s key productive sectors.