Raúl Castro, 95 years old, reappeared this Thursday at the Karl Marx Theatre in Havana to lead the political-cultural event marking the centenary of his brother Fidel's birth, in one of his rare public appearances so far in 2026.
The former president wore his usual olive green uniform and took a seat in the front row alongside Miguel Díaz-Canel, Manuel Marrero, and other leaders, but was only seen from a distance and mostly in dim light, with the regime not releasing close-up images or statements from the Army General.
The photographs and video released by official sources failed to show even a single close-up that would allow for a clear assessment of his physical condition.
The regime limited itself to proclaiming on social media that «the most loyal of all was present» at the "national celebration," without providing any further details.
Raúl Castro did not deliver any speech during the event, nor did he make any public statements before or after the occasion.
It was Díaz-Canel who took the floor to praise Fidel's figure and frame the current economic reforms of the regime as part of his supposed legacy.
One of his few appearances of the year
Raúl Castro's presence at Fidel's centenary takes on special significance given the pattern of absences that has marked 2026.
On July 26, during the central event for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Barracks, held in Pinar del Río, Raúl Castro was absent for the first time in at least three decades, according to reports from the AP.
The regime offered no explanation, and Díaz-Canel simply read a handwritten message signed by Raúl to the crowd.
Days later - at the end of July - the regime itself reported that Raúl had followed the session of the National Assembly of People's Power via videoconference, but once again, he did not attend the event in person.
Díaz-Canel had acknowledged in April that Castro is “retired for health reasons,” and Raúl is “fragile due to his advanced age.”
Her main physical appearances in 2026 are reduced to four:
- on May 1, when he was seen clearly unwell and struggling to walk.
- on June 6, at an event of the MININT in the Karl Marx Theater itself, coinciding with his 95th birthday.
- on June 23, to say farewell to Ramiro Valdés at the MINFAR headquarters; and now at the centenary of Fidel.
The act and speech of Díaz-Canel
The tribute at the Karl Marx Theater served as the closing event of the I International Colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future," which brought together over 1,500 delegates from 63 countries from August 10 to 13 at the Palace of Conventions in Havana.
The event was also attended by members of the Political Bureau, party leaders, and family members of both brothers, including Fidel's widow, Dalia Soto del Valle.
In his speech, Díaz-Canel described Fidel Castro as a "warrior, rebel, fighter, and a just person of humanity"; and he once again accused the U.S. government of applying "a brutal and immoral imperial blockade that seeks the extermination of our people".
He also mentioned the package of 176 economic measures approved in June as part of Fidel Castro's legacy.
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