Franco Daniel Cova represented Venezuela at Caballero Universal 2025 and competed against 23 other candidates at the Teatro Nacional de Caracas in Caracas, Venezuela on October 11, 2025. He won the title.
Israel Jesús Da Silva of Brazil was Vice Caballero Universal 2025. The respective first, second, third and fourth runner-up were Luca Scandolara of Italy, Anantha Krishna of India, Marnny Lampa of the Philippines and Luis Fernández Dávila of Peru.
Caballero Universal 2026 contestants
On November 17, 2026, Cova will crown his successor in Caracas. It is the sixth edition of the international beauty pageant based in the capital city of Venezuela.
A total of 26 men will compete for the Caballero Universal 2026 title. Here are the candidates:
This is an ongoing list. It will be updated regularly:
- (Argentina)
- Jorge Eduardo Arandia Terceros (Bolivia)
- Merval Azevedo (Brazil)
- (Canada)
- Pedro Pablo Zamorano Arenas (Chile)
- Alejandro Castro Acuña (Colombia)
- (Cuba)
- Michael Alejandro Gómez Ventura (Dominican Republic)
- Mateo Maldonado (Ecuador)
- (El Salvador)
- (Guatemala)
- (Haiti)
- (Honduras)
- (India)
- (Italy)
- Cristian Mandujano (Mexico)
- (Nicaragua)
- Alex Temitope Adetuwo (Nigeria)
- (Panama)
- (Peru)
- Garth Ezekiel Talusig (Philippines)
- (Portugal)
- Janiel Doel Rios (Puerto Rico)
- (Spain)
- (United States)
- Daniel Villasmil (Venezuela)
Caballero Universal winners
Born in Caracas and raised in Cabruta, Guarico, Venezuela, Rafael Enrique Ramírez Montes, a designer also known as Raenrra, founded Caballero Universal. On December 9, 2021, Cristhian Naranjo Gómez represented Spain at Caballero Universal 2021, competed against 12 other candidates at Hotel Venetur Margarita in Porlamar, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela and won the title.
On December 1, 2022, Kendall Jo Switzenberg represented the U.S. at Caballero Universal 2022, competed against 14 other candidates at Teatro Luisela Diaz in Caracas and won the title. On October 28, 2023, Leandro Mendoza represented the Dominican Republic at Caballero Universal 2023, competed against 19 other candidates at Pestana Caracas Hotel in Caracas and won the title.
On October 25, 2024, Jeremy Sainte-Marie represented Canada at Caballero Universal 2024, competed against 20 other candidates at the Salon Venezuela of Circulo Militar in Caracas and won the title. He co-hosted the Caballero Universal 2025 coronation ceremony.
On June 24, 2026, the north-central part of Venezuela was struck by two powerful, consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude. The seismic doublet caused severe shaking and widespread destruction across several regions. The capital city of Caracas and the nearby coastal city of La Guaira were among the hardest hit, suffering massive structural damage to homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. Other heavily affected areas included the states of Yaracuy—where the epicenters were located—as well as Carabobo, Aragua, Falcón, and Miranda. The disaster triggered a severe humanitarian emergency, leaving thousands injured and displacing families nationwide.
CONAN Daily 