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Cuba postponed the XXVI edition of the Habanos Festival, the international event dedicated to premium cigars that was scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27, without announcing a new date.
In a message accessed by AFP, the organizers announced the postponement, while the company Habanos S.A. justified it with the goal of “preserving the highest standards of quality, excellence, and experience” of the event.
The report indicates that the "Habanos Festival" attracts enthusiasts, merchants, and specialized journalists from around the world every year and includes an auction of cigars and luxury humidors.
According to the same source, that auction generates several million dollars annually —around 19.5 million in 2025— which are then, according to the Cuban regime, directed to the country's healthcare system.
The postponement comes amidst a severe economic and energy crisis.
The island is facing shortages and liquidity issues in the context of limited oil supply to Cuba.
The festival, according to the organizers, is postponed "indefinitely." The decision has been under consideration for some time, linked to the "general situation" faced by the Cuban population.
A luxury festival
In February 2025, the Cuban regime celebrated, in luxury, a party at the Capitol of Havana for the Habanos Festival, in an attempt to project prosperity despite the severe economic crisis that was affecting the country.
The event brought together hundreds of international guests and served as the backdrop for the presentation of the H. Upmann Magnum 50 Gran Reserva Cosecha 2019, while Habanos S.A. announced a record sales figure of over 827 million dollars for 2024.
Months later, in August 2025, the authorities reported that the production of hand-rolled tobacco intended for export had surpassed six million units in the first half of the year, which was presented as an economic success amidst energy restrictions and a lack of supplies.
In this context, the indefinite postponement of the Habanos Festival in 2026 reinforces the idea that even the most profitable sectors of the country are feeling the effects of the structural crisis impacting Cuba, characterized by the lack of fuel, declining production, and loss of international confidence.
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