On January 1st, Havana’s streets woke up to an eerie quiet, a stark contrast to the once-vibrant New Year’s celebrations.
A video shared by Cuban content creator Jonix Doce reveals central avenues completely desolate, with closed businesses and visibly deteriorating buildings, highlighting the wear and tear plaguing Cuba's capital.
“You can tell it’s cold, may God bless Cuba,” one user noted, while others mourned the somber scene: “So much sadness, such decay... a country that was once so beautiful,” and “My Cuba is sad, look at the loneliness.”
The responses, filled with crying emojis and broken hearts, capture the disillusionment of many Cubans facing a prolonged crisis and the absence of hope as 2026 begins.
Filmed across various parts of Havana’s center, the video depicts a city nearly frozen in time, where life seems to have retreated indoors.
Without music, celebrations, or bustling traffic, the capital resembles a melancholic postcard of an exhausted nation, where each dawn serves as a reminder of discontent and the unfulfilled longing for change.
Understanding Havana's New Year Silence
Why were the streets of Havana empty on January 1st?
The streets of Havana were empty due to the ongoing socio-economic crisis and lack of hope among citizens, leading to subdued New Year's celebrations.
What does the video by Jonix Doce depict?
Jonix Doce's video shows central Havana's streets deserted, with closed businesses and deteriorating buildings, reflecting the city’s ongoing challenges.
How did people react to the video?
Reactions to the video were filled with sadness, as many Cubans expressed their dismay over the country's situation using crying emojis and broken hearts.