Costa Rica Inauguration Draws Global Leaders to San Jose

Costa Rica inauguration events took center stage Friday as Laura Fernández was sworn in as the country’s next president during one of the largest diplomatic gatherings the nation has hosted in recent years.

Delegations from 71 countries and 18 international organizations arrived in San José for the ceremony at the National Stadium, marking the official transfer of power from outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves to Fernández for the 2026-2030 term.

Among the most notable guests was Spain’s King Felipe VI, whose visit added major diplomatic significance to the event. Spain maintains close political, cultural and economic ties with Costa Rica and the broader Latin American region.

Key Highlights

• Laura Fernández officially became Costa Rica’s president for the 2026-2030 term.
• Delegations from 71 countries and 18 organizations attended the ceremony in San José.
• Spain’s King Felipe VI and several Latin American presidents joined the inauguration event.

Several regional leaders also traveled to San José, including Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo. Their presence highlighted growing regional cooperation on issues such as migration, security, trade and democratic stability.

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Israel was represented by President Isaac Herzog, while the United States delegation included Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Melinda Hildebrand and Kristi Noem, former Homeland Security secretary and special envoy for the Americas Shield initiative.

El Salvador sent Vice President Félix Ulloa instead of President Nayib Bukele. Foreign ministers from Nicaragua, Uruguay, Peru and Argentina also attended alongside officials from several European and Latin American nations. Argentine President Javier Milei was not expected to participate, according to local reports.

The Costa Rica inauguration ceremony began at 11 a.m. with cultural performances, music and official protocol before Fernández received the presidential sash. She is also expected to hold the first session of her Council of Government shortly after taking office.

Fernández enters office following a decisive election victory and with strong backing in the Legislative Assembly, giving her administration significant political momentum from day one.