The Provincial Traffic Safety Commission of Havana has announced a complete closure of several streets in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality starting at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 16. This is due to a political-cultural event marking the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution's socialist declaration and Militia Day.
The event is set to take place at the intersection of 23rd and 12th streets in Vedado, the same historic site where on April 16, 1961, Fidel Castro openly declared socialism during the funeral of victims of aerial bombings, just a day before the Bay of Pigs invasion.
According to a statement from the website "Héroes de azul en Cuba," which is associated with the island's police, the streets that will be entirely off-limits to traffic include: 12th Street from 17th to Zapata; 14th Street from Zapata to 17th; 23rd Street from Paseo to the extension to Zapata; and streets 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 from 21st to 25th; as well as Crecherie and Montero Sánchez from 21st to 23rd.
The Commission advises drivers to use alternate routes such as Línea, Avenida Malecón, 17th, 19th, and Zapata streets, and urges citizens to pay attention to guidance from the National Revolutionary Police officers.
The Provincial Transportation Company of Havana is expected to implement measures to accommodate those who typically travel via 23rd Street, though the official announcement did not specify what these measures will be or which routes will be diverted.
This announcement comes at a particularly challenging time for mobility in the Cuban capital. Havana is in the grips of a severe public transportation crisis, exacerbated by fuel shortages and widespread power outages. An incident at the Nico López refinery on February 13, 2026, further strained fuel supplies, a situation compounded by an oil blockade ordered by President Donald Trump on January 29, 2026.
The crisis is so severe that in some Cuban provinces, such as Ciego de Ávila, only two out of 135 transportation routes are operational. In Havana, those relying on alternative transport options, like the so-called "almendrones," face fares as high as 350 pesos for short trips in areas like Vedado-Centro Habana. In this context, street closures for political purposes are causing significant frustration among Havana's residents, who already endure long waits to get around.
This pattern repeats annually. In April 2025, the regime held a similar event for the 64th anniversary at the same 23rd and 12th corner, led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who posted on social media that unity was a founding principle and remains key today. That event saw low public attendance, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction with the dictatorship.
April 16 is also considered the founding date of the Cuban Communist Party. In 1961, Castro proclaimed from that very site: "This is the socialist and democratic revolution of the humble, with the humble, and for the humble."
Frequently Asked Questions about Havana Street Closures
Why are certain streets in Havana being closed?
The closures are due to a political-cultural event marking the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution's socialist declaration and Militia Day.
Which streets in Havana will be affected?
Affect streets include 12th from 17th to Zapata; 14th from Zapata to 17th; 23rd from Paseo to the extension to Zapata; streets 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 from 21st to 25th; and Crecherie and Montero Sánchez from 21st to 23rd.
What alternative routes are recommended?
Drivers are advised to use Línea, Avenida Malecón, 17th, 19th, and Zapata as alternative routes.