From February 23 to 27, 2026, Havana will once again become the center of the cigar world. With Cohiba celebrating 60 years, this promises to be one of the most meaningful editions in the festival’s history.
Hello, dear reader,
Before we speak about celebrations, anniversaries, and cigars, I feel it’s important to begin with something that might be on everybody's minds.
Anyone who knows the island beyond the surface knows that these are not easy times. Life has become harder, more uncertain, more fragile in ways that go far beyond what we visitors usually see. And yet, Cuba remains Cuba: proud, resilient, generous, and deeply alive. My sincere hope is that things will get better, not in slogans, but in daily reality.
It is in this context that Havana prepares, once again, to welcome the world.
Habanos, S.A. has officially released the general programme for the 26th Festival del Habano, which will take place from 23 to 27 February 2026, and there is no way around it: this is shaping up to be one of the most important editions in the festival’s history and it has been marked by three main brands.
The 2026 edition will pay tribute to H. Upmann, Trinidad, and Cohiba, and while all three deserve attention, it is impossible not to recognize where the emotional and historical center of gravity lies.
Cohiba turns 60.
Sixty years of the most emblematic Cuban cigar brand. Sixty years of a name that has become larger than cigars themselves. Sixty years of history, symbolism, craftsmanship, and desire.
This alone explains the extraordinary level of interest surrounding this edition.
So extraordinary, in fact, that Habanos, S.A. has already confirmed that all tickets have been sold exclusively through its official distribution network, citing unprecedented demand linked directly to the Cohiba 60th anniversary. No further details have been given about allocation or additional capacity, but the message is clear: this is a festival that the world wants to be part of.
The programme released by Habanos is a general framework rather than a detailed timetable, but it clearly defines the pillars around which the week will be built. Anyone who has attended before will recognize the rhythm immediately.
Factories and Plantations.
The festival always takes us back to where cigars truly begin: in the factories and the tobacco fields.
These visits are not a formality and I believe they are extremely important, especially if you haven’t visited before. They are the glue that holds together the entire experience. They reconnect the celebration to the work, the people, and the land that makes it possible. You don’t really understand Habanos until you’ve walked through a factory and seen what “totalmente a mano” actually means in practice, or until you’ve stood in a tobacco field and felt how much of this craft still depends on nature..
The Seminar: The Intellectual Heart of the Week
Then comes the seminar with conferences, the most formal and structured part of the programme. This is where history, technique, brands, and strategy are discussed in a more academic and reflective way.
Given the focus on H. Upmann, Trinidad, and especially Cohiba, it’s safe to expect that this edition’s seminar will lean heavily into heritage, legacy, and what it means to carry such names into the future.
For those who truly care about Cuban cigars, this is where depth lives. I am always present at the seminars and no matter how much I study I always leave the Convention Center with more knowledge.
Exclusive Pairings are always a part of the experience.
The programme also confirms exclusive pairings as part of the week. These moments are always among my favorites, because they remind us that cigars are not museum objects. They are meant to be smoked, shared, and enjoyed in dialogue with other great things: spirits, food, and time.
Pairings at the Festival are rarely complex but they always showcase a new rum or whisky and you get to meet the master blenders themselves and get to know the process behind each decision they made. This has always been something that captured my interests.
The Evenings. This is when new cigars get introduced to the world.
Habanos has also confirmed three major evening events, described as very special nights where participants will have the opportunity to discover the latest releases firsthand.
This is where the Festival becomes what most people imagine it to be: elegant venues, carefully staged presentations, and, most importantly, new cigars entering the world.
While no specific releases have been announced yet, it would be unrealistic to think that Cohiba’s 60th anniversary will pass quietly. The same goes for Trinidad and H. Upmann, both brands with deep histories and strong identities.
Speculation is inevitable, but one thing is certain: 2026 will be a year that collectors, smokers, and historians will remember.
Cohiba turning 60 is a big deal. It is a moment to reflect on how a brand created for a very specific and limited purpose became the most recognized name in the cigar world. A brand that, for better or worse, came to symbolize luxury, exclusivity, and Cuban excellence.
Every major Cohiba anniversary has left behind important cigars, humidors, and statements. There is no reason to believe this one will be any different.
If anything, the expectations have never been higher.
A Festival for Everyone. Even For Those Who Won’t Attend
Even though The Festival del Habano has always been a physical event in Havana ( there was one exception but COVID is behind us and that is where it will stay) but its impact is global. The releases, the news, the conversations, and the ripple effects reach far beyond those who have a badge around their neck.
That’s why this article is not only for those attending. It’s for everyone who follows Habanos, who cares about Cuban cigars, and who understands that certain moments mark chapters. I have always considered myself lucky to be there.
We will celebrate. We should celebrate. But we should also remember where we are.
The Festival exists in a real country, with real people, living real lives that are not always easy. There is no opposition between celebrating and staying conscious of reality. On the contrary, it is a way of showing respect
Cuba has given the world something extraordinary through its cigars. It deserves, at the very least, our honesty and our care.
Looking Ahead to February
From 23 to 27 February 2026, Havana will once again become the center of the cigar world. H. Upmann, Trinidad, and above all Cohiba will take the stage. New cigars will be unveiled. Old stories will be retold. New memories will be made.
I’ll be there. And I’m already counting the days.
With excitement, and with perspective.
Wishing you rich flavors and good company, until we meet again.