Cuba is preparing for a major cultural milestone with the celebration of the 34th Havana International Book Fair, scheduled to take place from February 12 to 22, 2026. The fair’s main venue will once again be the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, an iconic space that has become synonymous with literary dialogue, cultural exchange, and the joy of reading.
This year’s edition will be dedicated to the centenary of the birth of Fidel Castro Ruz, a central figure in Cuban history whose legacy championed knowledge and education as foundations of human emancipation. The Russian Federation has been named Guest of Honor, reinforcing longstanding cultural and literary ties between the two nations.
The fair will also pay tribute to writers Marilyn Bobes and José Bell Lara, whose work has made lasting contributions to Cuban literature and critical thought. As Cuba’s Ministry of Culture remarks, the Havana Book Fair returns as a space for reflection, intellectual exchange, and the celebration of reading.
Cuban Theater: Memory, Resistance, and Creative Vitality
On January 22, Cuba commemorated the Day of Cuban Theater, a date of deep historical and cultural significance. Established in 1980, the celebration recalls the events of 1869 at Havana’s Villanueva Theater, when the stage became a site of patriotic affirmation and popular expression during a decisive moment in the nation’s history.
Since then, Cuban theater has remained a powerful space for reflection, memory, and social transformation. Generation after generation of creators—actors, directors, playwrights, and technicians—have sustained this tradition with rigor, sensitivity, and commitment. On this day, the country honors their legacy and reaffirms theater’s enduring role as a vital expression of Cuban culture.
UNEAC Awards the 2025 Villanueva Critics’ Prize
As part of this ongoing recognition of the performing arts, the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) awarded the 2025 Villanueva Critics’ Prize, presented by the Criticism and Research Section of UNEAC’s Performing Arts Association.
The selection process evaluated 116 national productions and 11 international works, considering artistic quality, impact on the year’s theatrical landscape, and critical analysis published in the media.
Five Cuban productions received top honors, including “FARO” by Teatro Andante, directed by Juan González Fiffe, and “Un rastro en las estrellas” by Teatro de Las Estaciones, directed by Rubén Darío Salazar.
Other awarded works included “El nombre de Juana,” a solo performance starring Monse Duany and directed by Osvaldo Doimeadiós; the opera “ACTEA,” staged by Bárbara Llanes and Norge Espinosa; and “ECLIPSE” by Danza Espiral, choreographed by Liliam Padrón.
Upon receiving the award, soprano Bárbara Llanes shared: “This is one of the most important awards I have received in my life, because it recognizes the fulfillment of a dream: creating an opera in Cuba—a bridge between lyrical tradition and today’s stage.”
International awards went to “Core Meu” by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, and “Gaia 2.0” by the Bakhus Company, directed by Mickael Six.
A Special Recognition was granted to “Un domingo llamado deseo,” produced by Teatro El Público and Trotamundo, directed by Norge Espinosa, and featuring iconic Cuban performers Verónica Lynn and Carlos Pérez Peña.
In his closing remarks, Juan González Fiffe reflected: “The world as we experience it today has entered a time of change… Our everyday theater has new themes and conflicts. Each era determines the theater it needs, and each work must be judged by its philosophy.”
Jazz Plaza Festival Sets the Tone for Its Next Edition
Cuba’s dynamic cultural calendar continues with preparations for the upcoming International Jazz Plaza Festival, which officially launched its journey with a press conference outlining the artistic and conceptual vision of the next edition.
The event brought together members of the organizing committee and leading figures from Cuban music and culture for an open dialogue on the festival’s direction.
During the event, organizers presented Newspaper No. 0, a special preview publication offering an early look at the festival’s programming and defining moments. The upcoming edition will reaffirm Jazz Plaza’s inclusive vision, with a special focus on arts education and the convergence of diverse artistic expressions.
The festival will welcome 286 international artists, further strengthening its global reach, and will also feature the photography contest “Chronicles of Light,” inviting both amateur and professional photographers to engage with the festival through visual storytelling.
These initiatives reflect a season of intense cultural vitality in Cuba—where literature, theater, and music continue to serve as spaces for dialogue, memory, creativity, and collective imagination.
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