There’s a lot in common between habanos and the arts. None of them were a reality without that miraculous alchemy of skills, dedication, inspiration and creativity so indispensable when trying to come up with a work of art, either a painting, a photograph or a magnificent cigar.

This year’s fair features 68 booths from different countries, such as Germany, Brazil, Italy, China, Spain, Panama and Cuba, and boasts an increase in the number of square meters of exhibition space from the previous edition.

The opening night was also the perfect setting for the presentation of Habanos S.A.’s newest vitolas: Le Hoyo de San Juan by Hoyo de Monterrey and Partagas Series D No. 6, which attendees and guests puffed on while reveling in the Cuban music performed by celebrated band Los Van Van.

With thousands of Habano connoisseurs and lovers from around the world, the 10th Habano Festival rolled down its curtains last Friday in Havana.

More than 1,000 people from 60 countries attended the 8th Habano Festival in Havana, an annual celebration of Cuba´s cigar that this time around paid tribute to the 40th anniversary of Cohiba, the island nation´s flagship stogie brand. Smokers, manufacturers, distributors, business people and cigar experts huddled in the Cuban capital for a five-day event that came to a close Friday night a spectacular auction of cigar batches and humidors, some of them autographed by Cuban President Fidel Castro, a longstanding smoker who kicked out the habit back in 1985.

Cigar aficionados and lovers of the ultimate smoke will huddle in Havana from February 21 to 25 for the seventh edition of the International Habano Festival. Manuel Garcia, marketing vice president of Habanos Corp. S.A., said in a recent press conference that as many as 958 attendants from 53 nations (and counting) have already signed up for the big bash.