Havana’s Iconic Cigar Festival Postponed Amid Deepening Energy Crisis

Cuba has postponed its annual cigar festival in Havana, citing a worsening fuel shortage that officials say has been intensified by US restrictions on oil supplies to the island.

The organising committee of the Festival del Habano announced on Saturday that this year’s event — originally scheduled to take place over five days in late February — would be postponed until further notice.

In a statement, organisers said the decision was driven by the “complex economic situation” facing the country, which they linked to the long-standing US economic, commercial and financial embargo.

The fuel shortage has triggered widespread power cuts across the Caribbean nation, affecting homes, infrastructure and essential services. The situation has been further strained by US actions targeting oil shipments from Venezuela, one of Cuba’s closest allies and a key energy supplier.

In addition to electricity disruptions, Cuba is also experiencing a shortage of aviation fuel. Several airlines have suspended services to the island, while some governments, including the UK, have issued warnings against non-essential travel.

The Habano Festival is one of Cuba’s most prominent international events, attracting more than 1,300 visitors from around 70 countries each year. Attendees typically take part in cigar tastings and tours of tobacco plantations and factories, showcasing what are widely considered some of the world’s finest cigars.

Cuban cigars remain illegal in the United States due to longstanding trade restrictions.

With international tourism already limited by the embargo, organisers said they would wait until conditions improve before setting a new date for the festival.

“The priority of the Habano Festival is to offer its participants a comprehensive experience at the height of the relevance and prestige that this event represents internationally,” the organising committee said.

“The postponement of this celebration is a measure aimed at protecting this experience.”

Cuba’s energy situation has deteriorated in recent weeks, with reports of power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day in some areas, affecting hospital emergency wards, dialysis services and water pumping systems.

US President Donald Trump has urged Cuban leaders to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, while UN human rights experts have criticised Washington’s restrictions on Cuba’s oil imports as an “extreme form of unilateral economic coercion.”