CubaPLUS Magazine

The 34th edition of the Havana International Book Fair (FIL Havana) will take place from August 10 to 16. Despite the current economic challenges facing the nation, the event was officially announced this Thursday during a press conference, confirming the Russian Federation as the Guest of Honor. The Russian Ambassador to Cuba, Viktor Viktorovich Koronelli, confirmed the participation of a high-level delegation from his country, including representatives from the Russian Ministries of Culture and Digital Development.

UN Tourism, headquartered in Madrid, reported today that 307 million international travelers crossed borders during the first four months of the year. In an assessment of the 2026 season’s start, the United Nations agency noted that the encouraging momentum seen in January and February (a 2.5% growth rate) has since been dampened by conflict in the Middle East.

The Dominican Republic and Cuba are strengthening their technical and scientific cooperation to boost resilience, disaster risk management, and climate change adaptation across strategic sectors. During a technical exchange meeting between experts from both nations, participants presented progress on joint initiatives. These efforts focus on strengthening early warning systems, meteorological modeling, and developing decision-making tools for climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture.

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema opened submissions this Friday for its 47th edition, scheduled to take place in the Cuban capital from December 3 to 13. The call for entries will remain open until August 15 across competitive categories including narrative features, documentaries, debut features, short films, and animation. The festival is also accepting submissions for its "Otros territorios" (Other Territories) section for alternative narrative proposals; "Arrecife" (Reef), dedicated to queer cinema; unproduced screenplays; and posters highlighting regional film.

This Friday, the global Habano community pays a well-deserved tribute on Tobacco Workers' Day, honoring the mastery and dedication of those who preserve one of Cuba's most vital cultural traditions. At the heart of every Habano lies the art of the torcedor (cigar roller), a master artisan whose precision and skill transform what is widely considered the world's finest tobacco leaves into a unique, entirely handmade piece. Yet, this work does not take place in silence; alongside them, the lector (factory reader) stands as a historic guide within the galleries.

Sun and beach lovers—especially those who enjoy vacationing in Varadero—will soon be able to return to the Los Delfines hotel. The Islazul property is set to reopen its doors this coming June. Boasting a prime beachfront location, this three-star property features 47 comfortable rooms, offering beautiful views of the beach. Marking a "rebirth" for the property, the hotel is shifting its service model. Moving away from the all-inclusive concept, Los Delfines will now offer half-board plans (including accommodation, breakfast, and dinner). This change will give guests greater freedom and flexibility to customize their stay and plan their activities according to their preferences.

A Cuban therapeutic vaccine for solid tumors has shown positive results in treating advanced colorectal, hepatocellular, ovarian, and renal cancers, with potential applications for patients presenting multiple comorbidities, it was announced today. Known as HEBERSaVax, this active immunotherapy vaccine was developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and has demonstrated minimal, tolerable side effects during Phase II clinical trials.

A land of music and dance, Cuba carries in its veins the cultural legacy of both expressions, intertwined since their origins, evolving side by side and today standing as undeniable hallmarks of national identity. Whether through son, mambo, cha-cha-cha, conga, or casino dance, in the largest of the Antilles, dancing is an expression of cultural awareness, a tribute to past generations, and a way of safeguarding a legacy for those to come.

As of this Monday, Dr. Sara Fernández Cruz has joined the Women in Engineering (WIE) Committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), serving as a representative for Cuba. The appointment of Dr. Fernández Cruz, a professor in the Department of Construction at the University of Holguín, recognizes her distinguished career spanning over four decades in hydrogeological engineering and water resource management.

The Gibara International Film Festival (FIC Gibara) today revealed the official poster for its upcoming 20th edition. The artwork was designed by renowned Cuban artist Nelson Ponce, who has been instrumental in shaping the event’s visual identity since its inception. The festival is scheduled to take place from July 14 to 18, 2026, in the coastal town of Gibara. This milestone edition will pay tribute to its founder, Humberto Solás, and celebrate two decades of screening, distributing, and championing the global Cine Pobre (Low-Budget Cinema) movement.

The "Corazón Feliz" International Arts Encounter for Children commenced this Monday in the Cuban capital. Among the highlights of the opening events is a flash mob in the Plaza de Belén, performed by the renowned Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba company. This performance is a nature-themed artistic intervention designed to "energize the urban space through the joy and magic of movement," singer-songwriter and festival director Rochy Ameneiro told Prensa Latina in an exclusive interview.

This Friday, the Museum of Colonial Art hosts the exhibition “Bridges Uniting Cultures: Restoration as a Dialogue of Heritage,” an unprecedented showcase that offers the public a rare look into the intricate processes involved in easel painting restoration. Curated by Marla Melissa Quiroga and Juan Carlos Bermejo—head specialist of the Easel Painting Workshop at the City Historian’s Office—the initiative serves as a tribute to restoration as a fundamental heritage practice. It provides a unique opportunity for visitors to observe artworks in the midst of their recovery process.

Francisco “Pancho” Marty, an intelligent Catalan who devoted much of his life to the slave trade, did very well in Cuba, conducting business across several provinces and leaving behind, as part of the island’s history, a number of remarkable buildings.

This Wednesday, Cuban artist and author Elmer Castillo hosted an artist talk and presented his book, “La Espiral que no se Expande” (The Spiral That Does Not Expand), at the Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello. The event is part of the programming for the 61st Venice Biennale, which opened on May 9th and will run through November 22nd.

The convergence of extreme sports and adventure tourism is currently redefining a global industry worth billions, sparking a significant shift in regional economic landscapes. Once considered a niche market, the high-risk sports and adventure tourism industry has evolved into a global economic powerhouse. According to the latest report from the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), this sector now generates over $188 billion annually within the North American outbound market alone.

Traveling through Cuba offers many charms, especially when considering places ideal for sun and beach vacations, adventure, and nature travel. Among these attractions, the island’s geographic extremes fit perfectly, true surprises for the senses.

A powerful symbol of nature, adventure, and rural tourism has emerged in the Cuban bohío—the traditional thatched-roof hut that is a hallmark of the countryside and the island’s agrarian heritage.

The American writer Ernest Hemingway enjoyed many places in Cuba, among them a small fishing village called Cojímar, which he even immortalized in his work The Old Man and the Sea. Color, versatility, and a constant gaze toward the sea are some of the traits that define the town and its people. Gregorio Fuentes lived there until his death (Lanzarote, Canary Islands, July 11, 1897, Cojímar, Cuba, January 13, 2002). He had been the captain of the Pilar, the yacht that belonged to the American author.

The enactment of Law 179 on the Cuban Sports System, which took effect this Wednesday, provides a new legal framework to secure the future of physical activity and sports across the nation. As the first legislation of its kind in Cuba, the law was approved by the National Assembly of People’s Power on July 18, 2025. Its primary objective is to strengthen the Cuban Sports System (SDC, by its Spanish acronym) both institutionally and legally.

The seashell, a gastropod mollusk with a soft body and diverse species, inhabits oceans, rivers, and lands alike, carrying profound symbolism. Its spiral form expresses humanity’s intuitive spiritual union and reconnection with the universe; it symbolizes movement, the vibration of the soul, and the spirit in creation and ascension. Perhaps moved by this mystique, in the 1940s, Ramiro Murillo decided to adorn the walls of his home in Playa Girón, south of Matanzas, with seashells and marine stones. It was an offering of faith to the Virgin of Charity, a gesture of gratitude for his recovery after a serious illness.