Cigar Aficionado

There are several high-profile cigar events scheduled for the coming year. Most, like the Big Smokes and cigar festivals, are for consumers, while the trade shows are only open to members of the cigar industry. Here are the major cigar events slated for 2019.

February

Tobacco Plus Expo, February 11–13 (Industry Only)
Las Vegas, Nevada

The first cigar trade show of the year has a mix of products for sale, including cigars. The handmade cigar industry is becoming a larger and larger presence here. 

Visit tobaccoplus.com for more information.

ProCigar Festival, February 17–22
La Romana and Santiago, Dominican Republic

This weeklong event allows those who attend to tour some of the best-known cigar factories in the Dominican Republic. The event begins in La Romana, home to Tabacalera de Garcia and the Casa de Campo Resort, then moves to Santiago, the cigar capital of the Dominican Republic. Every night features a dinner with free-flowing cigars. 

Visit procigar.org for more information.

Habanos Festival, February 18–22
Havana, Cuba

The granddaddy of cigar festivals, this event is a showcase for all aspects of the Cuban cigar. It’s a large gathering, with people coming from all across the globe, and features seminars, tours and plenty of downtime to explore Havana. The Cuban cigar industry typically showcases several new smokes at the festival, which take several months (or sometimes more than a year) to go on sale. The festival concludes with a black-tie dinner, where large humidors containing cigars (some of them quite rare) are auctioned for charity.

Visit habanos.com for more information.

March

Tobacconists’ Association of America Convention, March 17–21 (Industry Only)
Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

The TAA show, open only to members of the organization, brings together many handmade cigarmakers and more than 230 retailers. Among the cigars sold at this event are exclusives sold only at the member shops.

Visit taa.memberclicks.net for more information.

Florida Big Smoke, March 23
Hollywood, Florida

Cigar Aficionado magazine’s first Big Smoke of 2019 has a new venue, and it’s completely smoker friendly. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida (20 minutes from the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, 30 minutes from Miami International) has gambling, golf and a luxurious atmosphere. More than 25 premium, handmade cigars will be passed out, many of them by the people who own the companies behind them. The night also includes samples of premium spirits, beer and a light buffet. 

Visit www.bigsmokeflorida.com for more information.

June

International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Trade Show, June 29–July 2 (Industry Only)
Las Vegas, Nevada

Traditionally the most important trade show for makers of handmade cigars, the IPCPR moves to an earlier date this year and a new venue, the Sands Convention Center. Just about every maker of handmade cigars attends. 

Visit ipcpr.org for more information.

September

InterTabac Trade Show, September 20–22 (Industry Only)
Dortmund, Germany

For years, this was a show dominated by Cuban cigars, but the non-Cuban cigar industry has become an increasingly large presence here. 

Visit intertabac.de/en for more information.

November

Las Vegas Big Smoke Weekend, November 15–17
Las Vegas, Nevada

Cigar Aficionado’s biggest event of the year is an entire weekend of cigar smoking. There are two nights of Big Smokes (Friday and Saturday evenings) and two days of seminars, where the top cigars of the year are shared with the audience. Tickets for the seminars often sell out early.

Visit thebigsmokes.com for more information.