Explore Habanos Cigars at The Habanos Festival

Love cigars? Then you’ll love this! The cigar festival that draws in people from all over the world, The Habanos Festival is a week-long celebration. Experts say that the Habano cigar is the best in the entire world. This is why people flock to Cuba to try it during the El Festival del Habano celebrations. Ever since 1999, the last week of February has drawn cigar aficionados to enjoy not only the history and traditions but to immerse themselves in a bit of luxury and glamour too.

The event is all about celebrating the most exquisite cigars from all over the world. Discover the history, talk to fellow enthusiasts, and uncover the traditions that have been formed over centuries of tobacco growing.

During the event, visitors can enjoy specialised tours of the tobacco plantations and partake in cigar tasting seminars. One of the biggest parts of the festival is being able to be one of the first in the world to try the new Habano vitolas that are presented during the festivities.

What to expect at The Habanos Festival

Visitors from over 80 countries will flock to Cuba during this week, this ranges from aficionados and professionals to distributors and merchants. However, the festival draws a celebrity base too. There are many famous Habanos fans from the world of film, sportspersons, and fashion moguls. Previous attendees include American Actors Jim Belushi and Peter Coyote, as well as English actors Jeremy Irons and Joesph Fiennes. The event also draws in sports stars like golfer Miguel Ángel Jiménez and world-famous restaurateurs like Sir Terence Conran.

It’s not all cigar talks and tastings; there’s plenty of time for entertainment and dancing. The nights are lively with guest performances. Previous stars such as Grammy award-winning Cuban composer Chucho Valdés and Brazilian composer Ivan Lins, Portuguese singer Mariza and the bright colours of Spanish flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes have been seen getting everyone in the festival spirit.

A week of entertainment

The week begins on Monday with a Welcome Night, and there is a special dinner on Wednesday. The rest of the time is yours to fill with the vast array of events on offer at the festival. Or to even explore the exciting city of Havana.

During the festival, the tobacco harvest is at its most abundant. So, you can spend a full day visiting some of the most spectacular tobacco plantations in Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo zone. This will also include a delicious lunch amongst the traditional countryside.

During the other days, there are planned trips to the most famous cigar factories in Havana. There is one factory that is so exclusive that it’s rarely open to the public, El Laguito.

The festival fair is also a popular part of the festivities, held at the Havana Convention Palace. Here artisans will display their Habano goods such as humidors, accessories as well as a range of modern and antiques artefacts. This is also the spot for the international seminar, where participants can learn to roll a cigar, enjoy some tasting sessions, and learn how to pair their Habanos cigars with the best Cognacs or Whiskies. Here you’ll also be able to see the final for the World Habanosommelier contest. There are also many other lectures that you can opt into and build your cigar knowledge every day.

The last night

The last night on Friday is the most exciting and anticipated night of the festival, The Gala Dinner. It brings together everything you have learnt and enjoyed throughout the week into one big spectacle with amazing Cuban food, amazing cigars, drinks and a range of entertainment to have you on your feet all evening.

During the Gala, the annual Habanos prizes are handed out to the following three categories, producers, communicators and businesses. At the end of the event, there is an auction to help raise money for the Cuban Public health service. This is a big part of the evening, with previous events raising more than a million dollars by auctioning pieces from Cuban artists that have been specially created for the event as well as specially crafted Habanos produce.

Of all the festivals in Cuba, this is one of the more sophisticated ones to attend. Learn about the history, enjoy new products and enjoy some of the finest performers in Cuba.

For more information on festivals and Cuba holidays, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team of Cuba specialists on 0207 071 3636 or email enquiries@lovecuba.com