# Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 pageant events > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ecuador-miss-universe-2026-pageant-activities > Updated: 2026-08-05T03:31:33.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 6. The Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 competition continued to expand its public profile through the summer. In early June, 20‑year‑old Dalia Bucaram announced her candidacy, saying she would use the pageant platform to promote a mental‑health project for people with depression. Later that month, ten‑year‑old Doménica Mata was selected to represent Ecuador at the Mini Universo 2026 contest in Colombia, while reigning Miss Universo Ecuador 2025 Nadia Mejía wrapped up her term and prepared to hand over the crown at the national final on 15 August in Santa Elena. The official concentration of the 26 contestants began on 15 July in Guayaquil, after which the group moved to Santa Elena on 16 July for a month‑long program of training, interviews and community activities. From 17 July the candidates toured coastal towns—including Ballenita, La Libertad, Salinas, Olón and Montañita—participating in a whale‑watching event and promoting tourism, with mayor María del Carmen Aquino highlighting the initiative. Civic engagement remained strong; on 26 July the contestants were again welcomed by acting mayor Tatiana Coronel, reinforcing the message of female leadership. The Ecuadorian preliminaries were streamed live from Ambato on 6 August, leading up to the final on 15 August where the new Miss Universo Ecuador will be crowned to represent the country at the international Miss Universe competition. In parallel, the Miss Universe Chile semifinal continued to draw record TV ratings and online viewership, underscoring regional interest in the franchise. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: Uganda and Ecuador Prepare for Miss Universe 2026 Pageants Uganda's Mitchelle Daka will be the country's first Miss Universe contestant at the 2026 pageant in Puerto Rico, while Ecuador holds live preliminaries on Aug 6 ahead of its national final on Aug 15. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uganda-and-ecuador-prepare-for-miss-universe-2026-pageants ### 2026-07-26: Miss Universe Chile and Ecuador pageants spark high ratings and civic support Chile’s Miss Universe semifinal on Mega drew record TV ratings and online views, while Ecuador’s Miss Universe candidates met Guayaquil’s acting mayor, highlighting female leadership ahead of their national f​i 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/miss-universe-chile-and-ecuador-pageants-spark-high-ratings-and-civic-support ### 2026-07-17: Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 contestants tour Santa Elena beaches, boost tourism Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 candidates are touring Santa Elena’s beaches, joining a whale‑watching event and promoting tourism before the August 15 national final. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/miss-universe-ecuador-2026-contestants-tour-santa-elena-beaches-boost-tourism ### 2026-07-15: Miss Universe Mexico sets Los Cabos venue; Ecuador pageant kicks off in Guayaquil Miss Universe Mexico will hold its 2026 final on 29 August in Los Cabos, while Miss Universe Ecuador began its 2026 competition on 15 July in Guayaquil, with finals set for 15 August. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/miss-universe-mexico-sets-los-cabos-venue-ecuador-pageant-kicks-off-in-guayaquil ### 2026-06-23: Ecuador's Doménica Mata heads to Mini Universo 2026 as Miss Universo Ecuador Nadia Mejía bows out Doménica Mata will compete at Mini Universo 2026 in Colombia, while Miss Universo Ecuador Nadia Mejía prepares to crown her successor on 15 August in Santa Elena. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ecuadors-domnica-mata-heads-to-mini-universo-2026-as-miss-universo-ecuador-nadia-meja-bows-out ### 2026-06-04: Dalia Bucaram enters Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 to champion mental‑health support Dalia Bucaram, 20, joins Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 to boost a mental‑health project for depression support, seeking visibility rather than fame. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dalia-bucaram-enters-miss-universe-ecuador-2026-to-champion-mentalhealth-support --- Cite as: Miss Universe Ecuador 2026 pageant events. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ecuador-miss-universe-2026-pageant-activities