HIGÜEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A new landmark celebration of eastern Dominican cultural identity officially kicked off this week, as Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo presided over the inauguration of Este Festival 2026. The three-day event, running from August 28 to 30, is hosted at the Higüey campus of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), marking a key step forward in the country’s push for decentralized cultural engagement.
Unlike many national cultural events concentrated in capital urban centers, Este Festival 2026 was designed specifically to center the unique creative and historical traditions of the Dominican Republic’s six eastern provinces: El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Altagracia, La Romana, Monte Plata, and San Pedro de Macorís. Across the weekend, attendees will have opportunities to explore everything from traditional craftwork to contemporary artistic performances, alongside a curated showcase of the region’s signature local gastronomy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Salcedo emphasized the event’s core mission: to advance cultural decentralization by creating a dedicated public space where local communities can amplify their own diverse cultural expressions, rather than relying on capital-centric national platforms. The festival fills a longstanding gap in regional cultural programming, connecting emerging and established local artists directly with audiences from across the country.
In a gesture of recognition for his ongoing contributions to advancing and elevating Dominican national culture, the Higüey municipal government presented Salcedo with the official Coat of Arms of Villa Salvaleón de Higüey during the ceremony.
The opening day’s program kicked off with a moving performance by the Sueño Musical Children’s Choir, followed by a comprehensive preview of the full slate of activities planned across the festival’s three days. This year’s edition holds special meaning, as it is dedicated to Genaro “Cayuco” Reyes, a beloved local artisan who has shaped the region’s cultural craft legacy for decades.
Bringing together working artists, leading cultural organizations, government authorities, and grassroots community representatives, Este Festival 2026 aims to not only celebrate the eastern region’s rich cultural diversity but also deepen the vital ties between local communities, their cultural heritage, and their home territory.