Havana Events and Festivals

Cuballet de Invierno: this winter ballet festival also features both traditional and contemporary Cuban dance at the Pro Danza Centre.

Cabildos Festival: locals dress up in amazing costumes and dance their way through the streets of Havana in this fun and popular yearly event.

International Book Fair: if reading is your thing, you may find Cuba’s main book convention at the San Carlos de la Cabana Fortress to be rather interesting.

National Theatre Festival: centred in Old Havana, this three-week extravaganza gives theatre buffs everywhere something to cheer about.

La Huella de Espana: this festival focusing on Spanish dance is organised by the Spanish embassy at venues around Havana to help maintain Cuba’s Spanish roots.

Havana International Guitar Festival: music plays a huge part in Cubans’ lives and this festival features big name players at venues around the city.

May Day: this national holiday is a big deal in Cuba, as Castro delivers his annual speech to millions of Cubans who fill the Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana.

International Hemingway Fishing Tournament: this is the most important fishing event of the year in Cuba, and takes place at Marina Hemingway.

Havana Carnival: as you’d expect from a Latin Carnival, Havana and El Malecon in particular, turn into a giant street party featuring parades, music and dancing.

Cubadanza: Havana is the host of Cuba’s main summer festival dedicated to Cuban dance in all its many forms.

Havana Festival of Contemporary Music: helping to ease the rainy season doldrums are a series of concerts held at UNEAC and other venues around the city.

Havana International Ballet Festival: the Gran Teatro International hosts this popular ballet festival featuring troupes from around the globe.

Chorus Festival: if choral music is your thing you won’t want to miss the concerts put on at the Convent of San Francisco de Asis and other venues around the city.

Festival of New Latin American Cinema: international films are shown at theatres around Havana in this hugely popular cinematic event.

International Jazz Festival: yhe very best Cuban jazz musicians are joined by the compatriots from the music scene at venues all over Havana ensuring some seriously hot jams.