Want to capture the spirit of Havana? Find out where to check out the best of its music, art and dance. Festivals more your thing? We’ll let you know which months to book your holiday to the Cuban capital.
Tapping into Cuba’s contemporary art scene is one of the most exciting ways to spend your time in Havana. Firstly, explore Cuba’s artistic roots in the fantastic Museo de Bellas Artes in Old Havana before getting the low down on the current scene in places such as Centro Habana’s Galleria Continua and Estudio 50, el Vedado’s El Apartamento and JeffArtPlus Estudio-Galería, and in southern Old Havana’s Galería Taller Gorría. Trailblazing GTG is in the heart of the emerging San Isidro Art District, a cluster of Old Havana streets painted with vibrant murals tagged by local and international artists. GTG is the brain behind San Isidro neighbourhood festivals, too.
Museo de Bellas Artes
Post-Covid, private city centre hotels and bars pivoted and opened their floors and rooftop terraces for some of the best live music nights in the city. You’ll find piano maestro Ernán López-Nussa playing on the rooftop of Hotel Claxon in el Vedado (Las noches en Fangio). Hotel Malecón 663, overlooking the Atlantic, hosts talented violinist Emy Abreu Sabooorr plus other musicians every night of the week. Check the schedule at Bar Yarini, above Galería Taller Gorría, with musicians playing on its beautiful rooftop bar. Beloved nueva trova singer Ray Fernández sings matinees on Wednesdays at intimate bar El Diablo Tun Tun above Miramar’s Casa de la Música. To dance to rollicking timba, check out matinee and evening performances at Diablo Tun Tun, the Casas de la Música in Miramar and in Centro Habana, and the Café Cantante Mi Habana in the basement of the Teatro Nacional.
You’ll find singers, DJs, orchestras and more at the exciting Fábrica de Arte Cubano where emerging and established artists take to the stages in this amazing, converted oil factory. The Fábrica is also a hothouse for fashion, dance, theatre, design, photography and more. Finding the need to improve your footwork? Check out its dance classes in hip hop and rumba. Got energy for a Sunday morning event? Don’t miss the brilliant live rumba in the mural splashed Callejón de Hamel in Centro Habana.
Fabrica de Arte Cubano
Happen to be in the city during one of its brilliant cultural festivals? Don’t dally on buying tickets and planning your time. The biennial ballet festival showcases Cuban and foreign talent with performances across city venues during alternate Octobers. Every April, the International Dance Festival in Urban Landscapes sees dancers use the city’s plazas and buildings as stage sets. The Havana Salsa Festival is usually held in February but is a moveable feast. The Havana World Music Festival fills a park or large venue every March. Percussion driven? Head to the capital for The Fiesta del Tambor – Havana drum festival – an unmissable March event. Jazz fans should definitely swing by the annual January jazz festival. And there’s no better time to be in Havana than during its art biennial. Art lovers flock to Havana for this city-wide event. Film buffs? The annual International Festival of New Latin American Cinema draws cinephiles from all over the world every December.
Rumba dancer, Callejon de Hamel, centro Habana
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