UWI Games 2026 at the Final Whistle. Mona Defends Title; Cave Hill to Host the Games in 2028

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Wednesday, June 3, 2026—The final whistle sounded on the 2026 UWI Games on Friday, May 29, with the tournament themed Reunited, Reignited, Ready proving to be an exciting and successful return of the regional sporting fixture.

While the cross-campus competition across eight days and 10 disciplines was fierce, the Sport and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) at St. Augustine buzzed with camaraderie and celebratory energy on the closing night. Campus teams enjoyed highlight reels of the best moments across the Games, traded sharp sporting focus for dance moves at the athletes’ celebration walk, and later cheered exuberantly as teammates and coaches received medals and special awards.

Defending Champions, the Mona Campus, retained the challenge trophy, dominating in cricket, table tennis, tennis, and track and field. They won gold in women’s football and basketball and men’s volleyball.  With a dominant haul of seven gold, five silver, and two bronze medals, Team Mona comfortably closed the Games at the top of the standings with 136 points.

Host Campus, St. Augustine secured second place overall with 114 points — four gold, four silver and five bronze medals. They won gold in swimming and men’s basketball, football and hockey.

The Cave Hill Campus’ Blackbirds closed off the top three finishers, securing third place with 108 points — three gold, five silver and four bronze medals. The Cave Hill women won gold in netball, hockey and volleyball.

The Five Islands Campus made a notable debut at the Games, finishing in 4th place with a total of 44 points. They secured three bronze medals in basketball (men’s), football (men’s), and volleyball (women’s). Meanwhile, the Global Campus, which fielded its largest UWI Games contingent, finished in 5th place with 22 points and Imani Edwards Taylor was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in table tennis.

Taking the stage to celebrate the successful return and completion of the UWI Games, as well as the sporting excellence displayed by athletes, were St. Augustine Campus Guild President Mr Vedanand Hargobin; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, UWI St. Augustine, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Mona Campus, Professor Densil Williams — speaking on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; and Senator The Honourable, Emeritus Professor Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training. The programme also showcased the energetic UWI Games Flag Dancers and a performance by Neval Chatelal, award winning singer-song writer, and cultural ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago. The medal and prize-giving ceremony was backed by an exhilarating merger of classic soca and DJ selections featuring contemporary songs from each island as well as the dynamic performance of the T&T Police Service Band.

Recognising the value of sport and the lessons it teaches about “honour, courage, fairness, reliability and discipline,” Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine encouraged the student-athletes to embrace the deeper lessons that extend far beyond the field of play. She urged participants to “play sports, not games,” reminding them that in sports, “rewards come only from genuine merit, hard work and discipline. Nothing else.” Professor Antoine also celebrated the Games as a powerful expression of regional unity, noting that although “we come from different territories, campuses and cultures, we are part of one extraordinary region.” She challenged participants and stakeholders alike to continue fostering meaningful connections across borders and championed the need for the University to create opportunities for us to “get to know and value each other.”

In reflecting on the successful staging of the Games, Professor Antoine expressed deep appreciation for the collective effort that made the event possible. She acknowledged the many contributors, both visible and behind the scenes, whose dedication ensured the success of the Games, and extended special gratitude for the financial support and collaboration of all participating campuses, whose shared commitment helped provide a fitting home for the 2026 UWI Games.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the Mona Campus, Professor Densil Williams warmly commended the host campus on invoking the spirit of true Caribbean-ness and delivering “Caribbean hospitality at its best.” He recognised that “The UWI Games 2026 offered an opportunity for cultural immersion and a platform for the integration of our students spanning a diverse range of territories and experiences.” He made special mention of the Caribbean Night, which brought together rich, dynamic music, art, food and cultural expressions from across the region. Professor Williams also reflected on the immense value of the outreach project with the St. Mary’s Home for Children, which enabled students to “better understand their social responsibility” as characteristic of the holistic development of the ideal UWI graduate.

Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Senator the Honourable Professor Prakash Persad extended the sentiment, drawing on his own experience as a former school cricketer and lifelong martial arts practitioner. He reiterated that the Games were about “[…] growth, connection, and the pursuit of excellence. It is about building character, accepting losses as well as victories […] 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 called for the introduction of martial arts to the UWI Games and encouraged all students to get involved in sporting activities for all-round development.

Already primed for the 2028 Games, the University community celebrated the announcement of the Cave Hill Campus as host of the next edition of the Games. Deputy Campus Principal at Cave Hill, Professor Winston Moore, received the ceremonial baton from outgoing UWI Games 2026 Organising Committee Chair, Professor Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of the St. Augustine Campus. An authentically One-UWI, Caribbean celebration, the closing festivities continued post-ceremony with an open-air, fete-styled reception featuring a live performance by Soca artiste, Yung Bredda.