Habanos S.A. confirms a “postponement” of the 2026 Festival

Official confirmation. The Organizing Committee of the Habano Festival announces a “postponement” of the 2026 edition. A new date “will be announced in a timely manner.”

Official confirmation of the information published by L’Amateur earlier today. The 2026 Festival del Habano, initially scheduled for February 23-27, has been postponed “with the aim of preserving the highest standards of quality, excellence, and experience that characterize this international event,” the event’s organizing committee explains in a message sent to distributors this Saturday, February 14.

“The decision to postpone it seeks to guarantee an optimal environment for the full development of all its activities, presentations and experiences,” the organizers further explained.

The organizing committee stated that it is “currently working on setting a new date, which will be announced in a timely manner through the official channels of the Habano Festival.”

Cuba has been experiencing an unprecedented energy crisis for several months, exacerbated by the interruption of oil deliveries from Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States on January 3. This crisis was further compounded by President Donald Trump’s executive order threatening tariffs on all countries that supply Cuba with oil.

Since February 9, the Cuban government has implemented emergency measures to address the oil shortage, including a shift to a 4-day work week (Monday-Thursday) in public companies, fuel rationing at the pump, a reduction in public transportation services, and the use of teleworking.

Cohiba’s 60th Anniversary

Tourism and cigar production, considered national priorities, are not affected by these rationing measures and are given priority in resource allocation.

The Festival del Habano (or Habanos Festival) brings together several hundred enthusiasts and professionals each year for a program of conferences, tours, and festive evenings. The 2026 edition was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Cohiba, the most prestigious brand in the Cuban catalog.

Since the Festival del Habano’s creation in 1999, only the 2021 and 2022 editions were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the cancellation of the 2022 Festival, Habanos S.A. organized a mini-festival in September 2022 to celebrate Cohiba’s 55th anniversary.