2025 was marked by intense cultural activity in Cuba, despite economic tensions, energy limitations, and the tightening of the US embargo; this vitality was expressed in festivals, tributes, exhibitions, premieres, tours, and community celebrations that reaffirmed the role of culture as a spiritual force of the nation.
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The 29th Longina Troubadour Festival, held from January 8 to 12 in Santa Clara, was dedicated to the Cuban composer, guitarist, and singer Marta Valdés (1934-2024). Several generations of singer-songwriters and artists belonging to the Hermanos Saíz Association (AHS) had their own space for promotion and growth.
Starting in January, the cultural calendar highlighted the VI International Conference for the Balance of the World, held from the 28th to the 31st at the Convention Palace.
There, intellectuals, academics, and representatives of international organizations debated peace, social justice, and cultural diversity, solidifying Cuba’s position as a space for global dialogue.
Almost simultaneously, from January 26th to February 2nd, the 40th International Jazz Plaza Festival 2025 took place, with venues in Havana and Santiago de Cuba—and performances for the first time in the capital of Villa Clara province—bringing together established figures and young talents of Cuban and international jazz.
More than 150 musical groups delighted even the most discerning audiences in the genre, at an event that honored maestro Frank Fernández on his 80th birthday, as well as the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry and the twentieth anniversary of the Leonardo Acosta in Memoriam International Colloquium, a theoretical component that traditionally accompanies the event.
In February, cultural institutions held tributes to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the birth of Armando Hart, a key figure in Cuban cultural policy, while book presentations, academic panels, and youth activities highlighted his humanist thought and his legacy in the formation of values.
Perhaps one of the most acclaimed events of the year was the highly anticipated Havana International Book Fair, held from February 7 to 16 at the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress. Among other highlights, it remains the country’s largest cultural event, featuring Cuban and international publishers and dedicated to the People’s Republic of China as the guest of honor, and to the Cuban writer Mirta Yáñez.
Also noteworthy was the “Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam” Drum Festival, which brought together prominent Cuban and international musicians. One of the most important festivals of popular music in Cuba, it included activities in theaters, cultural centers, and community spaces from March 24 to 30 in the Cuban capital.
Also noteworthy was the 29th International Dance Festival in Urban Landscapes, “Old Havana: City in Motion,” which, during the month of April, transformed the streets and squares of the Historic Center into stages for contemporary and traditional dance. Cuban and international companies participated, offering free performances open to the public.
Santa Clara showcased its deep-rooted musical tradition with the 29th Chamber Music Festival, “A Tempo con Caturla,” held from March 6 to 9, commemorating the 119th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated musician—and lawyer—who dedicated himself to artistic education in Cuba.
This first half of the year saw Cubans demonstrate their commitment to preserving culture as a central element of their actions and dialogues with the public, not only through the institutional framework of the Ministry of Culture, but also through community initiatives that engaged diverse age groups and local and historical festivities.
IMAGE CREDIT: Alain Amador Pardo Photos (ACN archive)
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
