Historical context — reviewed September 2026: This post reflects conditions and commentary at the time it was written. Travel rules, schedules, and conditions can change. For current planning, see our current U.S.–Cuba travel guide and September 2026 Cuba travel checklist.
In May 2026, I had the opportunity to be part of a conversation about Cuba, cultural exchange, and the role responsible travel can play in connecting people.
I was recently invited to speak at a forum hosted by the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., focused on the future of U.S.–Cuba relations. It was a room filled with people thinking seriously about where things stand and where they might be going. Being included in that space gave me a clear view of the current moment, not just politically, but culturally.
While I’m not Cuban-American, my wife Yami is a Cuban musicologist, and over the past nine years, Cuba has become a central part of our lives and work. What we’ve built through Havana Music Tours has always been rooted in connection. That perspective shaped what I shared during that conversation.
I spoke about micro-economic tourism. Not tourism for the sake of checking off a destination, but the kind of travel that creates real exchange between people. What stood out most in that discussion was a shared understanding that music and direct human connection are playing a meaningful role in moving things forward between the U.S. and Cuba.
That is exactly what we’ve been building.
What Travel to Cuba Actually Supports
Havana Music Tours is no longer just a tour company. Over time, it has become part of a network that connects directly to Cuba’s growing private sector.
When you travel with us, you are supporting independent restaurant owners and their staff, small venues that are creating space for new music, and students in conservatories and community programs who represent the next generation of Cuban artists.
You are also connecting with individuals who are actively shaping the country’s cultural landscape today. Musicians, producers, and organizers like DJ Jigüe, the team at Guampara Music, Los Hermanos Abreu, and La Casa Producciones are not operating on the margins. They are building something real, often with limited resources, and that work is sustained in part through these exchanges.
For many of the people we work with, this is not supplemental income. It is part of how they support their families and continue their work.
The Reality of Travel: What It’s Actually Like on the Ground
There is a gap between how Cuba is often described in the news and what is actually happening on the ground.
In May 2026, scheduled flights continued from U.S. gateways including Miami and Tampa, and authorized travel remained available under existing regulations. Our team was continuing to operate programs on the ground at that time.
At the same time, there is a level of adaptation and innovation that is hard to fully capture without being there. Mechanics are modifying cars to run on alternative fuel sources. Solar energy is expanding quickly, with noticeable growth in renewable capacity over a short period of time. People are finding ways to solve problems with what is available.
I experienced this resilience in a very direct way during the pandemic, when I was living in Cuba while tourism shut down. What stood out was not just the difficulty of that period, but the way people showed up for each other. Neighbors checked in. Doctors went door to door. Systems adjusted in real time.
That experience created a level of trust and understanding that has stayed with me.
Why This Moment Matters
In May 2026, we saw meaningful interest in using culture, music, and shared experience as channels for people-to-people connection.
At the same time, there are real challenges on the ground, and those challenges make engagement more meaningful, not less.
What we continue to hear from our travelers reflects that. People come for the music, but they leave with something else. A sense that their presence had value. That the experience was not just enjoyable, but relevant.
Recent guests have described their trips as “an absolutely wonderful 9 days” and a “truly mind-blowing adventure in Cuba.” Those reactions are not just about performances or locations. They come from the relationships formed along the way.
Travel with Purpose: Our New 2026 Humanitarian Programs
Over time, it became clear that travel alone is not always enough.
Through The CreatiVrole Project, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we’ve developed a series of small-group humanitarian trips designed to support musicians and local communities in a more direct and structured way.
These trips are built around specific initiatives identified in advance. This includes delivering essential supplies, supporting music schools and independent artists, and spending time in communities where access to basic resources and equipment is limited.
Participants are not observing from a distance. You meet the people involved, see where support is going, and understand how it is used day to day.
Each program is operated by Havana Music Tours and still includes the cultural side of what we do. There is live music, time with artists, and space to experience Havana and other regions in a meaningful way. The difference is that these trips are intentionally structured to combine that access with clear, on-the-ground impact.
2026 Humanitarian Programs — Archive
This May 2026 article originally highlighted two focused programs:
Eastern Soundscape Brigade
Santiago de Cuba & Guantánamo
July 5–10, 2026
This program focuses on supporting music communities in eastern Cuba. Efforts include solar infrastructure for rehearsal spaces, instrument delivery to music schools, and collaboration with son and changüí groups.
-> View Eastern Soundscape Brigade
Rumba Corridor Brigade
Matanzas & Havana
September 14–19, 2026
This trip centers on supporting rumba cultural institutions. It includes providing equipment for folkloric education programs, supporting community spaces, and documenting traditional performance practices.
-> View Rumba Corridor Brigade
Looking Ahead
If you’ve been considering going to Cuba, this is a moment worth paying attention to.
Whether through cultural travel or more direct humanitarian engagement, there are real opportunities to connect, support, and understand what is happening on the ground in a way that goes beyond headlines.
We’ll continue doing what we’ve always done, building relationships, supporting our community, and creating spaces where music and culture bring people together.
If you have questions, want to talk through logistics, or simply want a clearer picture of what travel to Cuba looks like right now, contact us, we’re always open to a conversation.