Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza

Festival Internacional de Jazz Plaza

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MusicHavana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration8 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsChucho Valdes, a seven-time Grammy winner
Language["es"]Currency: CUP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza in Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza, founded in 1980 by Bobby Carcasses and led artistically since 1996 by pianist Chucho Valdes, has hosted Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Arturo O'Farrill across forty editions centered on Havana with programming extending in various years to Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara and Holguin, typically running in late January and early February each year.

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza began in 1980 when saxophonist and trumpeter Bobby Carcasses created what became one of the genre's most significant events, expanding to genuinely international status by 1983 with guests including Brazilian vocalist Tania Maria, before pianist Chucho Valdes took over as artistic director and president of the organizing committee in 1996, a role that cemented the festival's identity around Cuba's own towering Afro-Cuban jazz tradition.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Chucho Valdes, a seven-time Grammy winner and founder of the legendary group Irakere, has served as the festival's artistic director and organizing-committee president since 1996, giving Jazz Plaza a documented four-decade artistic through-line built around Cuba's own Afro-Cuban jazz tradition rather than an imported jazz-festival format

02

The mystery stays covered

Its extension of programming beyond Havana to Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara and Holguin in various editions is a specific structural feature distinguishing it from single-city international jazz festivals elsewhere

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza is documented as a recurring music festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

Chucho Valdes, a seven-time Grammy winner and founder of the legendary group Irakere, has served as the festival's artistic director and...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Smart-casual clothing suits both formal theater venues and more relaxed club settings across the festival's various host cities; a light jacket helps for Cuba's cooler winter evenings during...

Safety

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

["es"] · CUP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map23.13 N, 82.38 WOpen in Google Maps

Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin, National, Cuba

Nearest airportHAV — José Martí
TransportStay close enough to the part of Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza does not become the hardest part.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual clothing suits both formal theater venues and more relaxed club settings across the festival's various host cities; a light jacket helps for Cuba's cooler winter evenings during the January-February festival window.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Cuba and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza?

Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza is listed for Past edition: 25 January–1 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza take place?

The festival is listed in Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin, Cuba. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

8 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Havana/Santiago/Santa Clara/Holguin, National, Cuba

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLhavanamusictours.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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