# Timbalaye Rumba festival in Cuba

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/timbalaye-rumba-festival-in-cuba
> Updated: 2026-08-24T04:20:04.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The 18th edition of the Timbalaye: La Ruta de la Rumba international festival took place in Cuba, spanning locations including Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and Camagüey. The biennial event focused on the concept of ‘cimarronaje’ as a symbol of resistance and Afro-descendant identity.

Programming for the festival included theoretical panels, community activities, and musical performances by various groups. A special tribute was held for the musician Benny Moré at the Cabildo Congo de Santa Isabel de las Lajas. The event aimed to celebrate Cuban identity and preserve rumba traditions, which were recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-24: Cuban culture celebrated through festivals in Cuba and Spain

Cuban culture is being celebrated through the Timbalaye festival in Cuba, focusing on Afro-Cuban heritage, and the 'La Pequeña Cuba' gastro-cultural festival in Torremolinos, Spain.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuban-culture-celebrated-through-festivals-in-cuba-and-spain

### 2026-08-20: Cienfuegos to host 18th Timbalaye Rumba festival

The 18th Timbalaye: La Ruta de la Rumba festival will be held in Cienfuegos, Cuba, from August 21-24, honoring Afro-descendant identity and the history of cimarronaje through music and art.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cienfuegos-to-host-18th-timbalaye-rumba-festival

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Cite as: Timbalaye Rumba festival in Cuba. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/timbalaye-rumba-festival-in-cuba