After eight days of thrilling inter-campus competition across 10 sporting disciplines, the 2026 edition of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Games officially came to a close on May 29 at the St. Augustine Campus’ Sport and Physical Education Centre (SPEC). Marking a triumphant return of the beloved regional sporting gathering under the theme “Reunited, Reignited, Ready,” this year’s event blended fierce on-field rivalry with heartfelt celebration and cross-regional camaraderie that anchored the core mission of the games.
Five campuses across the UWI system fielded talented student-athletes, with the Mona Campus delivering a standout performance to successfully defend its overall championship title. The defending champions topped the final standings with a total of 136 points, clinching seven gold, five silver, and two bronze medals across the competition. Mona’s athletic dominance was on full display in cricket, table tennis, tennis, and track and field, and the campus also secured top gold finishes in women’s football, women’s basketball, and men’s volleyball.
Host campus St. Augustine claimed the second spot on the overall podium with 114 total points, rounding out its performance with four gold, four silver, and five bronze medals. The home team claimed gold in four key disciplines: swimming, men’s basketball, men’s football, and hockey. The Cave Hill Campus followed closely behind to secure third place with 108 points, earning three gold, five silver, and four bronze medals; Cave Hill’s female athletes led the charge with gold wins in netball, hockey, and women’s volleyball.
The 2026 games marked a historic milestone for the Five Islands Campus, which made its debut appearance at the event and finished fourth with 44 points, taking home bronze medals in men’s basketball, men’s football, and women’s volleyball. Rounding out the overall standings, the UWI Global Campus finished fifth with 22 points, fielding its largest delegation in the history of the games. One of the Global Campus’ standout competitors, Imani Edwards Taylor, earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award for her performance in table tennis.
The closing ceremony brought together top university leadership, government officials, athletes, and coaching staff for an evening of celebration that honored the achievements of all participants. The event opened with a highlight reel of the tournament’s most iconic moments and a celebratory athletes’ procession, followed by a formal prize-giving ceremony to recognize outstanding competitors, coaches, and teams. The festive atmosphere was amplified by a lineup of culturally rooted entertainment, including performances by the UWI Games Flag Dancers, award-winning Trinidad and Tobago singer-songwriter and cultural ambassador Neval Chatelal, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Band, with a soundtrack blending classic soca and contemporary Caribbean music that reflected the region’s vibrant cultural identity.
Addressing the assembled crowd, Pro Vice-Chancellor and St. Augustine Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine emphasized that the games extend far beyond on-field competition, teaching lifelong values that translate to all areas of life. She highlighted the core principles of “honour, courage, fairness, reliability and discipline,” urging athletes to carry these values into every aspect of their lives. Professor Antoine famously encouraged competitors to “play sports, not games,” stressing that success in sport, as in life, comes only from genuine effort, hard work, and discipline, rather than shortcuts or advantage.
Professor Antoine also underlined the unique role the UWI Games play in strengthening regional unity across the Caribbean. Noting that participants hail from different territories, campuses, and cultural backgrounds across the region, she reminded attendees that “we are part of one extraordinary region,” calling for continued collaboration and connection across borders, and urging the university to continue creating spaces for students to “get to know and value each other.” She closed her remarks by thanking all participating campuses, partner organizations, and volunteers for their financial support and collaborative work that made the 2026 games a resounding success.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Mona Campus Principal Professor Densil Williams, speaking on behalf of UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, praised host St. Augustine for crafting an experience that celebrated the region’s shared identity, calling the 2026 games a showcase of “Caribbean hospitality at its best.” He noted that the tournament provided a critical opportunity for cultural exchange and student integration across the diverse UWI system, bringing together young people from across the Caribbean with varying backgrounds and experiences. Williams also highlighted two special additions to this year’s event: the Caribbean Night celebration that showcased regional music, cuisine, art, and cultural traditions, and an outreach initiative with St. Mary’s Home for Children that helped students deepen their understanding of social responsibility, aligned with the UWI’s mission to graduate well-rounded, community-focused leaders.
Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Senator the Honourable Emeritus Professor Prakash Persad, echoed these reflections, drawing on his own experience as a former school cricketer and martial arts practitioner. Persad framed the games as a space for “growth, connection, and the pursuit of excellence,” noting that the event builds character by teaching athletes to accept both defeat and victory with grace. “It is not only useful to produce graduates who are good academically but graduates who are physically strong, mentally resilient, emotionally balanced and socially aware,” he said. The minister also called for martial arts to be added to the roster of competition in future UWI Games, encouraging all students to prioritize sport as a core part of their personal and academic development.
As the 2026 games came to a close, attention quickly shifted to the next edition of the historic event. In an official handover ceremony during the closing proceedings, the Cave Hill Campus was formally announced as the host of the 2028 UWI Games. Cave Hill Deputy Campus Principal Professor Winston Moore accepted the ceremonial games baton from St. Augustine Deputy Principal and 2026 UWI Games Organising Committee Chair Professor Derek Chadee, marking the official transition of hosting responsibilities.
After the formal closing ceremony, celebrations continued with an outdoor fete-style reception headlined by a live performance from popular soca artist Yung Bredda, bringing an end to an event organizers described as a distinctly Caribbean celebration of the “One-UWI” spirit that unites the entire university system across the region.
