Old Havana hosts October arts programme through 30 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 00:51 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- An October arts programme at Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) began on 10 October 2026 at Casa Vitier García Marruz.
- The programme includes an exhibition by José Ángel Toirac on 10 October 2026 and a concert by Orígenes on 12 October 2026.
- Further events are scheduled for 17, 20, 24, 25 and 30 October 2026 at the cultural centre in Havana.
- Old Havana was founded in 1519 and its historic centre and fortifications became a World Heritage property in 1982.
A new October arts programme at Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) began on 10 October 2026 at Casa Vitier García Marruz in Havana. The programme brings exhibitions, concerts, talks and workshops to a cultural centre in Cuba's historic capital.
The schedule gives visitors several public activities to look for during the remainder of October 2026, although some individual items remain subject to confirmation.
Old Havana sets an October arts programme in motion
The programme opened on 10 October 2026 with an exhibition by José Ángel Toirac, a Cuban artist who received the National Prize for Plastic Arts in 2018. The next listed event is a concert by the Orígenes string quartet on 12 October 2026.
The calendar then moves through music, literature and cultural workshops. On 17 October 2026, the Z-Saxos saxophone quartet is scheduled to appear with Schola Cantorum Coralina. Trumpeter Yasek Manzano follows on 20 October 2026, while the soprano Yoslainy Derrick and pianist Ramón Leyva are listed for 24 October 2026. The Japanese Culture Week workshops are planned for 24 and 25 October 2026, and Pedro Landestoy is due to give the lecture La Odisea de Homero a Nolan on 30 October 2026. The October programme details were published by Prensa Latina.
Casa Vitier connects the programme with Old Havana heritage
Casa Vitier García Marruz stands at San Ignacio and O'Reilly in the historic centre. Prensa Latina describes its work as preserving the legacy of the Vitier García Marruz family while bringing together literature, music, visual art and Cuban thought.
The programme's mixture of art, music and history fits the setting. Old Havana was founded in 1519, and its historic centre retains a planned urban form organised around five major plazas, including Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de la Catedral. The relationship between the venue and the wider district is recorded in the UNESCO description of Old Havana.
The historic centre and its fortification system were designated a National Monument in 1978 and inscribed as a World Heritage property in 1982. The local heritage office identifies the former Convent of Santa Clara and other historic buildings as part of the area's continuing cultural and planning work in its heritage management programme.
The programme continues through 30 October in Havana
For travellers, the current schedule offers a way to encounter the district through a named cultural venue rather than only through its plazas, churches and fortifications. It also places a contemporary exhibition and live performances inside a neighbourhood whose architectural character spans Baroque and neoclassical monuments.
Prensa Latina states that the centre combines concerts, exhibitions, conferences, reading groups and children's workshops. The reported October activities are open to visitors, while the club meeting on 22 October 2026 is reserved for members and is therefore not part of the public programme described here.
Visiting Old Havana: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The programme runs through 30 October 2026 at Casa Vitier García Marruz, with listed activities on 12, 17, 20, 24, 25 and 30 October 2026 after the 10 October opening.
- The exhibition opening on 10 October 2026 and the other listed cultural activities are presented as public events. Some items are still subject to confirmation, so the schedule may not be complete.
- The venue is at San Ignacio and O'Reilly in Old Havana, within Havana's historic centre. The district is organised around five principal plazas and includes the Plaza de la Catedral.
- Visitors encounter narrow historic streets, arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards across the World Heritage area. Walking conditions therefore vary between paved streets, plazas and historic buildings.
- Cuba's official language is Spanish and its national currency is the Cuban peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Old Havana on social platforms
These links open searches for Old Havana on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Old Havana
When does the October arts programme take place at Old Havana?
The programme began on 10 October 2026 and continues with listed activities through 30 October 2026 at Casa Vitier García Marruz.
What is Old Havana?
Old Havana is the historic centre of Havana, founded in 1519 and known for its plazas, historic buildings and fortification system.
Where is Old Havana and how do you get there?
Old Havana is in the central historic area of Havana, Cuba. Casa Vitier García Marruz is at San Ignacio and O'Reilly within the district.
