Old Havana hosts Lizt Alfonso shows from 16 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 12:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSDance programme and historic setting
- Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba begins its Havana programme at the Anfiteatro on 16 November 2026.
- The schedule includes Bailar no tiene edad, talks and Viva la fiesta! across five Havana venues.
- UNESCO inscribed Old Havana and its fortifications on the World Heritage List in 1982.
- The historic centre retains five large plazas and buildings shaped by Havana's 1519 foundation.
Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) will host part of Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba's 35th-anniversary programme in Havana from 16 November 2026, with performances, talks and community activities continuing through 28 November. The programme links the company's celebration to one of Cuba's best-known historic settings.
Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba brings its anniversary to Old Havana
The programme begins on 16 November 2026 with a gala marking the anniversary of Havana's foundation at the Anfiteatro in the historic centre. The schedule then moves between the company's headquarters, Malecón Art 255, the Convento de Belén and other Havana venues.
Among the listed activities is Bailar no tiene edad on 17 and 24 November, a presentation for residents of the Convento de Belén on 19 November, and a discussion series about the company's history beginning on 26 November. The programme closes with Viva la fiesta!, presented at the company's headquarters on 27 and 28 November.
The November programme details identify both the dates and the Anfiteatro venue. They also describe the anniversary as a celebration of the company founded by dancer, teacher and choreographer Lizt Alfonso in 1991.
Why the dance programme fits Havana's historic centre
The setting is part of a World Heritage property rather than a single monument. UNESCO describes Old Havana and its Fortification System as a historic centre founded in 1519, with an urban layout that has retained its character through successive periods.
The area includes five large plazas: Plaza de Armas, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza del Cristo and Plaza de la Catedral. Its buildings combine Baroque and neoclassical monuments with houses featuring arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards.
UNESCO says the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982 and covers 238.7 hectares. Its fortifications include the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, begun in 1558, as well as La Cabaña, Morro Castle and La Punta Castle around the entrance to Havana Bay.
That architectural sequence gives the 16 November gala a specific setting: a contemporary Cuban dance company begins its anniversary programme inside a district whose urban history reaches back to the city's foundation. The connection is not only geographic, because the schedule also includes a presentation linked directly to Havana's anniversary.
The UNESCO description of the property records the historic centre's plazas, architectural character, fortifications and World Heritage status.
What the November schedule means for a visit
The programme adds a series of named cultural activities to several venues in and around the historic centre. It does not present one continuous show at one site, so the exact venue matters for anyone planning to attend a particular activity.
For travellers, the most direct link with Old Havana is the opening gala at the Anfiteatro on 16 November 2026. Later entries connect the company headquarters and the Convento de Belén with the anniversary programme, while other activities take place elsewhere in Havana.
Visiting Old Havana: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The anniversary programme starts on 16 November 2026 at the Anfiteatro in Old Havana and runs through 28 November 2026, with the final Viva la fiesta! presentations at the company headquarters.
- The listed schedule includes the Anfiteatro, the Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba headquarters, Malecón Art 255 and the Convento de Belén, so the venue must be checked for each programme item.
- Old Havana forms part of a 238.7-hectare UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 1982, with five principal plazas and colonial fortifications.
- The historic centre lies beside Havana Bay and includes narrow streets, arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards; walking between venues therefore involves an historic urban environment rather than a single enclosed attraction.
- Cuba's official language is Spanish and its national currency is the Cuban peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Old Havana on social platforms
These links open searches for Old Havana on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Old Havana
When does the Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba programme take place at Old Havana?
The programme begins on 16 November 2026 and ends on 28 November 2026, with activities at several Havana venues.
What is Old Havana?
Old Havana is the historic centre of Havana, founded in 1519 and inscribed with its fortifications as a UNESCO World Heritage property in 1982.
Where is Old Havana and how do you get there?
Old Havana is beside Havana Bay in Havana, Cuba. The anniversary schedule identifies venues including the Anfiteatro, the Convento de Belén and the Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba headquarters.
