About the event
The story behind the revolution Cuba marks Triumph of the Revolution on 1 January, the date in 1959 when Fulgencio Batista fled and Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement took power.
Cuba's national day is inseparable from revolutionary memory, but it also sits inside everyday Cuban music, food and family life.
Why this day
The story behind the revolution
Cuba marks Triumph of the Revolution on 1 January, the date in 1959 when Fulgencio Batista fled and Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement took power. It is the central national day of the current Cuban state.
The holiday carries strong political meaning and is tied to revolutionary history, speeches and official memory. It also follows New Year's Eve, so public and family celebrations often overlap.
Timeline
- 1959Revolutionary victory
- 1868First war of independence began
- 1902Republic formally established
Key figures
Stay for the event
Check-in 31 Dec, check-out 2 Jan 2027 — 2 nights around 1 January 2027. Change the dates to stay longer.
AREA
Find stays in HavanaGetting there
- Celebratednationwide
- CapitalHavana
- Time zoneCST (UTC-5)
Host country
- Currency: Cuban convertible peso
- Language: Spanish
- Driving: on the right
- Capital: Havana
- Phone: +53
- Emergency: 104
- Electricity: 110 V, 60 Hz, plugs A/B/C/L
What to eat
Roast pork, a classic holiday centrepiece
Rice and black beans cooked together
Cassava with garlic-citrus sauce
Fried green plantain slices
Shredded beef in tomato sauce
Caramel custard served for dessert
What to drink
Strong sweet espresso served in small cups
Rum, mint, lime and soda
Fresh sugarcane juice
Culture & traditions
Havana's symbolic space for state ceremony
A city strongly linked with revolutionary history
Music shapes public and private celebrations
Street scenes often carry visible national colour
Coming years
Cuba National Day 2028
- Saturday 1 January 2028Next event date
Cuba National Day 2029
- Monday 1 January 2029Event date
Cuba National Day 2030
- Tuesday 1 January 2030Event date