Between Jewish Tradition and the Cuban Soul: Three Unmissable Events

Some cities you visit. Havana, you live. And in 2026, it celebrates three times over

This isn’t a promise: it’s a calendar. February opens with the smoke of fine tobacco and Cohíba’s 60th anniversary, and closes with ten candles on the birthday cake of Cuban salsa and 70 years of Elito Revé. Then comes April, bringing seven days of pure cadence to the Hotel Nacional, with the Malecón looking on.

Here, from Havana—where every corner holds a story and every rhythm captures your soul—we want to tell you something: in the coming months, this city will not only be the setting for our Jewish history, but also the epicenter of Cuban music, dance, and tradition. Three major events are shaking the capital, and they all share something in common: they celebrate authenticity, our roots, and what connects us with the world.

At Havana Jewish Tour, we believe that to know a culture is to live it fully. That’s why, beyond our synagogues and cemeteries, we invite you to immerse yourself in three unique experiences that will define February and April 2026. Take note.

Habanos Festival: Cohíba Turns 60, and Havana Celebrates in Grand Style

When? February 23–27, 2026  

Where? Havana and Pinar del Río (plantations, factories, fairs, seminars)

We open this agenda with the king of festivals. The Habanos Festival returns for its 26th edition, and this year’s tribute is dedicated to a legend: Cohíba, 60 years of history wrapped in tobacco leaf.

More than a thousand people from around the world will gather in Havana to celebrate the habano for what it is: culture, art, tradition, and business. This is the heart of MICE tourism in Cuba—a space where the professional and the pleasurable go hand in hand.

What’s included? Visits to the Vuelta Abajo plantations—sacred tobacco land—tours of legendary factories like El Laguito, pairings, Habanosommelier competitions, exhibitions, product launches, and much more. An atmosphere where smoke tells stories and each cigar is a work of art.

If you’re coming to Havana for its Jewish history, don’t leave without discovering the island’s other heritage: tobacco and the mastery of its torcedores.

Cuban Salsa Festival: 10 Years of Rhythm, Resilience, and Cuban Flavor

When? Starting Friday, February 27 (multiple venues, kicking off strong at Club 500)  

What are we celebrating? 10 years of the festival + 70 years of Elito Revé y su Charangón

This is no ordinary festival. It is the home of Cuban popular music. Born in 2016 with a clear idea—to showcase what is made on the island, from the island, with today’s energy—here, no one worships a label. They honor a way of feeling the son, the timba, the casino.

This year, the celebration is twofold: ten years of credibility, dancers, sweat, and legendary orchestras, and a well-deserved tribute to Elito Revé, 70 years marking the path from changüí to the world.

Who’s playing? Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez, Alain Pérez, Alexander Abreu, Haila, Elito Revé, and of course, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor. Four orchestras each night. More than five days of concerts.

What makes it special? Because here, rather than debating whether salsa was born in New York or Cuba, what matters is that the music is felt in your feet. The Salsa Festival opens its doors to communities, art schools, international DJs, and dancers who come to learn casino in its very cradle.

“Salsa doesn’t exist” said Tito Puente. But Cuban flavor does. And it’s danced, sung, and celebrated at this festival.

Ritmo Cuba: Seven Days of Pure Dance at the Hotel Nacional

When? April 6–12, 2026  

Where? Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Vedado (yes, with a view of the Malecón)

We close with a grand finale. If movement is your thing, Ritmo Cuba is your paradise. Imagine seven days, more than 100 hours of classes, 60 instructors, and three dance halls dedicated entirely to Cuban salsa, rueda de casino, bachata, reggaeton, rumba, folkloric, kizomba… Do we need more reasons?

The best part: it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or if you already dance like a pro. There’s room for everyone. And when night falls, Havana becomes your dance floor. Parties, clubs, live bands, and an unforgettable beach party crown the experience.

What’s more, Ritmo Cuba isn’t just about dance—it’s cultural immersion. Walk through Havana between classes, breathe in its people, its warmth, its light. If you wish to extend your stay, sponsors offer Spanish lessons or private dance classes at La Casona del Son.

The venue is the Hotel Nacional, one of the city’s icons. Dance with the Malecón as your backdrop. Few things are more Cuban than that.

Havana Doesn’t Stop—and We’re Here to Accompany You

At Havana Jewish Tour, we celebrate every heartbeat of this city. February and April 2026 offer us three unforgettable opportunities to connect with Cuban culture at its most vibrant roots.

Will you come raise a glass with a habano in hand? Listen to a legendary orchestra? Or dance until dawn? Whatever your plan, we await you with open arms and rhythm in our chests.

Write to us, ask us, plan your trip. In Havana, every day is a party. And you are invited.

See you on the grandstand, on the dance floor, and along the Malecón.  

Havana Jewish Tour – Discovering Havana, Feeling Cuba.