Villa Clara Opens Its Venues to Jazz Plaza 2026

41st International Jazz Plaza Festival Kicks Off in Villa Clara
Villa Clara joins, starting today, the 41st edition of the International Jazz Plaza Festival, which turns Cuba into an epicenter of music and the arts until February 1st. The city of Santa Clara opens its spaces with a program aimed at consolidating the experience of the first edition and offering new proposals to the public.

Enhanced Festival Design and Preparation
Eliot Porta, the event's organizer in the province, stated: "This year our festival will be grand, despite the current moment, but it will be richer in terms of design." He recalled that on the first occasion they were "the newcomers," but now they arrive better prepared and with the support of local cultural institutions.

Diverse Venues and Tributes
The program includes the traditional jazz corner in the park, concerts on the malecón (seafront promenade) and other venues, where tribute will be paid to maestro José Luis Cortés with the event "Ataca Chicho." Established venues such as La Luna Naranja, El Mejunje, and the Pórtico Gallery will also be maintained, hosting performances and meetings between artists and intellectuals.

A City Transformed by Jazz
The president of the national organizing committee, Víctor Rodríguez García, reflected on the previous edition in Santa Clara: "The city became a jazz city; there was an important activity everywhere, and the public enjoyed it." He added that this year more than 280 international artists are participating, confirming the event's relevance amid complex circumstances.

Beyond Jazz: A Celebration of All Good Music
The official emphasized that the festival is not limited to jazz as a genre but seeks to integrate "all good music" and leverage the presence of figures like Rolando Luna and Dayramir González, who are returning from abroad to share their art.

For his part, Fidel Ernesto Tejeda Rodríguez, Deputy Director of Culture in Villa Clara, informed about adjustments to the schedule and highlighted that the gathering constitutes "a celebration of Cuban culture and a cry for peace."

A Festival of Cultural Resistance and Intergenerational Exchange
With the opening ceremony led by the Villa Clara Symphony Orchestra and a program that combines concerts, colloquiums, film, and visual arts, the province reaffirms itself as one of the key stages of Jazz Plaza—a festival that transcends music to become a symbol of cultural resistance and intergenerational encounter.