Creative Industries and Sport in El Salvador
Creative and digital work
About half of the region’s creative goods exports go to other Central American countries, and the United States is the main market outside the region. Film and audiovisual production is one of the activities for which a service centre can be authorised under the International Services Law, with at least USD 250,000 in assets.1,2
Surf and sports events
- Surf: the Surf City programme of the Ministry of Tourism has brought ISA world championships for longboard, juniors and masters, and Surf City El Salvador Pro events, to El Sunzal, La Bocana and Punta Roca.
- Regional games: San Salvador hosted the Central American and Caribbean Games from 23 June to 8 July 2023.
- New National Stadium: 50,000 seated spectators on about 57,500 m², with a possible expansion to about 60,000. It is built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) under Chinese government cooperation.
Source: Surf City El Salvador: events; El Salvador.com: Longboard Championship El Sunzal 2026 ends, 22 October 2026; Los Angeles Times en Español: San Salvador launches the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games; El Salvador.com: progress on the new National Stadium, 5 November 20265,3,6,4
Event venues
The International Fair and Convention Centre (CIFCO) has had no venue of its own since its old site became the Hospital El Salvador during the pandemic. Work on a new CIFCO began in May 2026 on 55,711 m² of state land at El Espino, Antiguo Cuscatlán, financed by non-refundable funds from China. No plans or timetable had been published by September 2026.7
The El Espino site is contested: more than half a million people signed a petition against the project, and civil organisations have challenged the decree before the Supreme Court. The government says the building will take 30% of the land and the rest will stay green.7,8
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does El Salvador export in creative goods?
USD 175.5 million in 2024, such as design, fashion, crafts, printed and audiovisual products, 42.4% of the Central American total, according to SIECA data.
Which surf events take place in El Salvador?
El Sunzal beach hosted the ISA World Longboard Championship for the fourth year running in October 2026.
Is a new national stadium being built?
Yes. A 50,000-seat National Stadium is being built in Antiguo Cuscatlán, with a contract date of July 2027.
Sources
- Diario El Mundo: El Salvador was the third country with the biggest rise in creative goods exports in Central America, December 2025 (in Spanish)
- Consortium Legal: Reforms to the International Services Law and the Free Trade Zones Law in El Salvador
- El Salvador.com: Longboard Championship El Sunzal 2026 ends, 22 October 2026 (in Spanish)
- El Salvador.com: progress on the new National Stadium, 5 November 2026 (in Spanish)
- Surf City El Salvador: events (in Spanish)
- Los Angeles Times en Español: San Salvador launches the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games (in Spanish)
- El Salvador.com: work begins on the new CIFCO at El Espino, 29 September 2026 (in Spanish)
- Noticias SIN: organisations ask the Supreme Court to declare the El Espino works unconstitutional (in Spanish)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
