Costa Rica will host delegations from around the world Friday as Laura Fernández is sworn in as the country’s next president, turning the May 8 transfer of power into one of the largest diplomatic events the country has held in recent years. Delegations from 71 countries and 18 international organizations are expected to attend the ceremony at the National Stadium in San José.
The event will mark the formal handover from outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves to Fernández, who will take office for the 2026-2030 term. Among the highest-profile guests is King Felipe VI of Spain, who arrived in Costa Rica Thursday morning. His presence gives the ceremony added diplomatic weight, as Spain has long maintained close political, cultural and economic ties with Costa Rica and the wider region.
Several Latin American presidents are also expected in San José, including Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, Panama’s José Raúl Mulino, the Dominican Republic’s Luis Abinader and Guatemala’s Bernardo Arévalo. Their attendance reflects the regional importance of the transition at a time when Central America is facing shared concerns over security, migration, trade and democratic governance.
Israel will be represented by President Isaac Herzog, who was already in Costa Rica ahead of the ceremony. The United States delegation is expected to include Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Melinda Hildebrand and Kristi Noem, the former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and special envoy for the Americas Shield initiative.
El Salvador will be represented by Vice President Félix Ulloa rather than President Nayib Bukele. Other countries expected to take part include Honduras, Chile, the Netherlands, Curaçao and several nations from Europe and Latin America. Foreign ministers from Nicaragua, Uruguay, Peru and Argentina are also expected to attend.
Not every major regional leader will be present. Argentine President Javier Milei is not expected to attend, according to local reports. Costa Rican officials have also kept some details of the international guest list private for security reasons.
The formal ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the National Stadium. Before the transfer of the presidential sash, the program will include cultural events, music and official protocol. After taking office, Fernández is expected to hold the first session of her Council of Government.
For Costa Rica, the gathering is more than a change of administration. It is a diplomatic showcase at a politically important moment. Fernández comes to power after a decisive election win and with strong support in the Legislative Assembly, giving her incoming government a rare level of political strength from its first day in office.
The presence of heads of state, vice presidents, foreign ministers and senior envoys shows Costa Rica’s continued role as a regional meeting point. Friday’s ceremony will place San José at the center of Latin American diplomacy as a new government formally begins.
