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  • Adompretur names 13-member jury for 2026 Epifanio Lantigua Tourism Journalism Award

    Adompretur names 13-member jury for 2026 Epifanio Lantigua Tourism Journalism Award

    In Santo Domingo, preparations for the 2026 edition of the Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Award have entered a key stage, with the Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) announcing the formation of a 13-member judging panel that brings together leading professionals from four distinct but interconnected sectors: journalism, higher education, communications, and tourism.

    During the jury’s inaugural plenary gathering, members voted unanimously to select Ana Bélgica Güichardo as the panel’s president. Güichardo currently serves as director of the School of Communication at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), boasting a doctorate in journalism and communications alongside more than two decades of academic leadership in the field. Following the vote, Adompretur President Sarah Hernández formally administered the oath of office to Güichardo in an official swearing-in ceremony.

    The jury roster reflects a deliberate effort to integrate diverse perspectives across the award’s core focus areas. Joining Güichardo are Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association (Asonahores); José Antonio Aybar, veteran journalist and editor of digital outlet Testigo; and Caroll Mueses, president of the Dominican Association of Social Chroniclers (ADCS).

    Additional panel members include Danny Rincón, who leads the Hotel Management program at Universidad Católica Santo Domingo; Edgar Lantigua, a working journalist and son of Epifanio Lantigua, the award’s namesake; Ernesto Veloz, president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Projects of the Eastern Region (Asoleste); and José Mármol, an acclaimed poet, essayist, and executive vice president of Corporate Communications, Reputation and Responsible Banking at Grupo Popular.

    Completing the 13-member panel are Julián Sosa, director of the School of Social Communication at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD); Luis Felipe Aquino, president of the Caribbean Tourism Exchange (BTC); Luis Pérez Nova, president of the Dominican College of Journalists; Yahaira Brea, communications director at the Ministry of Education; and Rosa Alcántara, an experienced journalist and university lecturer.

    In comments after the jury formation announcement, Adompretur President Hernández emphasized that the panel was intentionally assembled to blend decades of on-the-ground professional experience and specialized expertise from across media institutions, academic circles, and major tourism development stakeholders across the country.

    Millizen Uribe, Adompretur’s vice president and the award’s executive director, echoed that sentiment, noting that the broad range of professional backgrounds represented on the jury will strengthen the fairness and rigor of the entry evaluation process. For her part, newly sworn-in jury president Güichardo highlighted the panel’s core responsibility: to identify and celebrate outstanding work that elevates the standards of tourism journalism across the Dominican Republic.

    The 2026 Epifanio Lantigua National Tourism Journalism Award counts on a broad coalition of institutional and corporate sponsors, including the Ministry of Tourism, Banco Popular, Cap Cana, the National Institute for Technical and Vocational Training (Infotep), Arajet, the Ministry of Education, Lopesan Costa Bávaro, and the José Ignacio Morales “El Artístico” Foundation. Additional supporting partners for the award include Industrias Banilejas, Casa Brugal, and Cosmos Cuisine restaurant.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #68

    Leisure : Did you know ? #68

    Haiti’s leading digital platform HaitiLibre has expanded its popular twice-weekly general knowledge quiz series, rolling out 30 brand-new games as part of its October 1, 2026 monthly update to engage knowledge seekers across the globe. The expansion brings the platform’s total collection of interactive quizzes to 270 ten-question games, with planners confirming that new content will be added on a monthly basis with a target of reaching 300 total games in the near future.

    The latest entry in the platform’s signature “Did You Know?” series (the 68th installment, published October 15, 2026) centers on a question profiling high-profile tech entrepreneur Elon Musk: the prompt asks quiz-takers to identify the South African-born business leader who founded aerospace firm SpaceX and currently serves as CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.

    The accompanying answer profile for the question offers a comprehensive breakdown of Musk’s decades-long career shaping global technology and industrial innovation. Now the world’s wealthiest individual, Musk first rose to prominence as a co-founder of global digital payment platform PayPal, before launching a series of ambitious, industry-disrupting projects that have redefined multiple sectors. Through his leadership at Tesla, Musk upended the century-old global automotive industry, proving that electric vehicles could deliver both high performance and widespread consumer appeal, accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuel-powered transportation.

    At SpaceX, Musk revolutionized the commercial space sector by pioneering reusable rocket technology, a breakthrough that cut the cost of accessing low-Earth orbit and deep space dramatically. The company’s long-term core mission centers on establishing a permanent human colony on Mars, a goal once confined exclusively to science fiction. Beyond automotive and aerospace innovation, Musk also leads two other transformative tech ventures: Neuralink, a company developing advanced brain-machine interface technology with applications ranging from medical treatment to human cognitive enhancement, and The Boring Company, which works to revolutionize urban transportation through high-speed underground transit networks.

    While Musk remains a controversial figure due to his often polarizing public statements and policy stances, his far-reaching impact on advancing sustainable energy and expanding human space exploration is widely recognized by industry experts and observers. He has become the defining face of 21st-century entrepreneurial ambition, embodying the model of a modern business leader who leverages technology and constant innovation to pursue radical shifts in the future of humanity.

    HaitiLibre’s exclusive quiz platform is available free of charge to all users, requires no account registration, and is designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and knowledge levels. Every quiz on the platform offers three tiered difficulty options: easy, intermediate, and expert, to match the skill level of any participant. The quizzes are also fully accessible in both French and English, serving a broad bilingual audience.

    Users can explore the full collection of quizzes, covering topics ranging from Haitian current affairs and culture to global history, technology, and public figures, at the platform’s official website https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en. After completing any quiz, users can share feedback, comments, and suggestions for future content through a dedicated form available at the end of each activity. The platform’s team encourages users to invite family and friends to test their knowledge, reminding new participants that the quizzes are designed as a learning tool: even if participants do not know an answer, completing the quiz offers an opportunity to learn new, surprising facts to share with loved ones.

  • LIVE: World Creole Music Festival Press Conference October 15th 2026

    LIVE: World Creole Music Festival Press Conference October 15th 2026

    The Commonwealth of Dominica, a small island nation in the eastern Caribbean known for its preserved tropical ecosystems and rich Creole cultural heritage, is gearing up to welcome music lovers from across the globe for one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events: the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF). Ahead of the 2026 gathering, event organizers held an official press conference to share key updates, plans for the lineup, and infrastructure upgrades designed to enhance the attendee experience. The image linked, captured at the press conference venue, offers a visual look at the official announcement event that kickstarted the countdown to this year’s festival.

    For nearly three decades, the World Creole Music Festival has served as the premier global platform for Creole-influenced music, bringing together artists from across the Creole-speaking diaspora spanning the Caribbean, West Africa, the Indian Ocean, and parts of North and South America. The annual event, which draws thousands of international tourists to Dominica each year, does more than showcase musical talent: it drives the island’s tourism sector, supports local small businesses from hospitality to food services, and preserves centuries-old Creole cultural traditions for new generations.

    Organizers told reporters at the 2026 press conference that this year’s edition will expand its lineup to include both legendary Creole music acts and emerging independent artists, blending traditional genres like compas, zouk, kadans, and reggaeton with contemporary fusions that appeal to younger audiences. Additional upgrades to the festival’s main venue at Windsor Park Sports Stadium include improved accessibility for disabled attendees, expanded food vendor areas featuring local Creole cuisine, and enhanced public transit connections between the festival grounds and hotels across the island. Tourism officials also noted that the 2026 WCMF will run alongside Dominica’s annual Creole Heritage Week, giving visitors the chance to participate in cultural workshops, craft markets, and heritage tours beyond the musical performances.

    As Dominica continues to position itself as a top destination for cultural and sustainable tourism, the 2026 World Creole Music Festival stands as a centerpiece of the island’s annual events calendar. Early ticket sales opened to the public immediately following the press conference, with organizers reporting strong early demand from both returning attendees and first-time visitors eager to experience the unique energy of Creole music in the heart of the Caribbean.

  • Tobago eyes 60,000 Carnival visitors

    Tobago eyes 60,000 Carnival visitors

    As Tobago gears up to welcome an estimated 60,000 attendees for its 2026 Carnival, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has outlined a comprehensive set of preparations addressing critical infrastructure, financial restructuring, and cultural preservation, according to updates shared at a recent stakeholder press conference hosted by Tobago Festivals Commission Ltd.

    Zorisha Hackett, THA Secretary for Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries, opened the briefing by highlighting ongoing coordination with local utility providers to stabilize essential services amid the expected surge in temporary visitors. The threat of persistent drought through December 2026, officially warned by the local Met Office earlier this week, has elevated water supply security to a top priority, alongside consistent electricity and reliable high-speed internet connectivity. Hackett emphasized that the THA is proactively engaging utility stakeholders to lock in consistent service, preventing disruptive fluctuations that could dampen the festival experience for attendees and organizers.

    On the financial front, Hackett revealed that the 2026 Tobago Carnival, scheduled to run from October 30 to November 1, carries an approved $12 million budget secured early this year through the THA Executive Council. She also outlined significant progress in cleaning up historical debt that has weighed on the festival for years: accumulated outstanding obligations dating back to the first iteration of the standalone Tobago Carnival have been cut sharply from more than $29 million to under $5 million. This legacy debt has already forced difficult fiscal tradeoffs, including the cancellation of a planned local jazz event earlier this year to reallocate funds.

    To address lingering liabilities and prevent future debt accumulation, Hackett announced sweeping new financial oversight reforms for the Tobago Festivals Commission. Moving forward, the body will invite all stakeholders to submit any outstanding unpaid invoices after each Carnival to identify overlooked liabilities and settle accounts promptly, with a long-term goal of launching every new festival completely free of carryover debt from previous events.

    Beyond logistics and finance, event leaders are refocusing the festival on its local cultural roots. Working with Kevon McKenna, president of the Tobago Promoters Association, the THA is implementing a new mandate to increase visibility for local performers and Tobago-born musical talent. While the policy stops short of barring promoters based in neighboring Trinidad from hosting events – a reflection of the unified national framework of Trinidad and Tobago – event organizers are pushing promoters to prioritize local content to ensure the festival authentically represents Tobago’s unique cultural identity rather than becoming dominated by outside acts.

    Details of event programming were also shared at the briefing. Kadion Moore, chairman of the Tobago branch of Pan Trinbago, the national steelband organization, confirmed that the group would participate in the upcoming festival’s signature Steelpan and Powder event, scheduled for Carnival Saturday night on October 31. This year’s event will be held as a tribute to iconic calypso artist Slinger Francisco, widely known by his stage name Mighty Sparrow. The confirmation comes just weeks after Pan Trinbago threatened to boycott the 2026 festival over $1.7 million in unpaid fees from the 2025 event, a dispute that was resolved after the outstanding payment was delivered.

    Organizers also announced two key additions to this year’s programming: mud mas, a traditional folk Carnival tradition, will be granted a much more prominent role in the 2026 festival, with dedicated mud activation stations placed along the Carnival parade route, particularly in the Roxborough region. In a historic first, the 2026 event will also launch an inaugural road march-style competition, adding a new core attraction to Tobago’s annual Carnival celebration, now in its fifth year of operation.

  • Belize Culture Fund Invests $60,000 in 24 Cultural Projects

    Belize Culture Fund Invests $60,000 in 24 Cultural Projects

    In a significant boost to Belize’s cultural and creative ecosystem, the Belize Culture Fund has announced a $60,000 investment for its third funding cycle, expanding support to 24 community-focused cultural projects that center on heritage preservation, creative talent development, and national storytelling. What began as a $30,000 initiative planned to support just nine projects has grown dramatically after an outpouring of public interest, with more than 50 applications submitted from creators and organizations across the country.

    At the official grant award ceremony, Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca confirmed the decision to double the initial funding pool, allowing the program to triple the number of projects it can support. Rolando Cocom, director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Research at Belize’s National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), emphasized that the expanded budget will bring critical resources to more marginalized and remote communities across the nation. “We are now able to award 24 grants, tripling the number of projects supported and extending our reach into the communities across Belize,” Cocom explained.

    The grant structure is designed to support both independent creators and established cultural institutions: 20 individual and small community projects will each receive $2,000, while four larger institutional initiatives will get $5,000 each. The selected projects reflect the full diversity of Belize’s multicultural identity, spanning a youth Maya musical ensemble based in Corozal, a short comedy film produced in the Creole language, a searchable digital archive preserving the work of Belizean women artists, an interactive augmented-reality experience that brings Belize City’s iconic street murals to life, and a youth theatre program for Garifuna communities in Dangriga.

    Fonseca noted that in the fund’s first two years of operation, it awarded 20 total grants to projects spanning language preservation, original artistic creation, and public cultural festivals. He added that the program is rooted in cross-sector partnership, with a core mission to remove barriers to funding for underrepresented groups. “This fund is built on partnership and a clear intention to lower obstacles to entry and support targeted, vulnerable, emerging and still developing artistic and cultural projects,” Fonseca said. The expanded investment marks a major step forward in protecting Belize’s diverse cultural legacy and nurturing the next generation of creative talent.

  • WAA, Prevo Cinemall to open ‘The Anatomy of Self’ art exhibition

    WAA, Prevo Cinemall to open ‘The Anatomy of Self’ art exhibition

    Dominica’s Waitukubuli Artist Association (WAA) and local entertainment venue Prevo Cinemall are set to launch a thought-provoking group art exhibition that delves into the multifaceted nature of human identity. Titled “The Anatomy of Self”, the exhibition will open its doors to the public on October 17, 2026, in Roseau, and remain on display through December 11.

    This collaborative project marks the third joint initiative between the two organizations, building on the success of two previous popular exhibitions: 2024–2025’s “Echoes of Resilience” and 2025’s “Paradise of Colours and Expressions”. This year’s exhibition brings together a diverse collection of works spanning multiple mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and large-scale installation. Each piece explores the complex forces that shape who we are, from personal history and collective cultural heritage to intimate relationships, core memories, and unique lived experiences. Curators designed the exhibition to challenge visitors to move beyond conventional, rigid definitions of identity and encourage deep reflection on the varied ways individuals understand and express their sense of self.

    In a joint statement released to the press, WAA Executive Director Marica Honychurch emphasized the core mission of the project. “This exhibition brings together diverse artistic voices, perspectives and experiences to create something beautiful. We hope our audience enjoys the journey and connects with the creativity that each artist brings to the collective,” she said. Beyond showcasing compelling art, the initiative reflects the longstanding commitment of both partners to create accessible platforms for Dominican artists to share their work, and to fuel public conversations about culture, belonging, national history, and contemporary life on the island.

    For Prevo Cinemall, the partnership is a key step in advancing its goal to establish the venue as Dominica’s leading Heritage Hub dedicated to artistic expression and community connection. Prevo Cinemall General Manager Vanessa Prevost noted that the new dedicated art gallery and exposition hall that will host “The Anatomy of Self” represents a major milestone in that journey. The exhibition will also be integrated into Prevo Cinemall’s 2026 Shopping Festival, creating a unique cross-sector experience that combines fine arts, cinema, retail, dining, and social gathering for attendees.

    To extend public engagement beyond the gallery walls, the organizers have planned a full lineup of interactive fringe activities running alongside the main exhibition. Scheduled events include hands-on watercolour workshops led by Aaron Hamilton and clay workshops with Antonio Toledo, an evening of outdoor spoken word performance called “Lyrics Under the Stars”, an improv theatre show from local troupe Mission Improvable, and a pop-up book club discussion with author Robert de la Chevotière about his acclaimed work *Tall Is Her Body*. A plant-dye art workshop titled “Rooted in Colour”, led by Carol Sorhaindo, and a panel discussion exploring the theme of identity from multiple cultural and social perspectives are also on the schedule. A full event calendar with dates and registration details will be published in the coming weeks.

    The exhibition is open to all members of the public, including local students, regional art enthusiasts, and international visitors to Dominica. Attendees are invited to support participating local artists by purchasing original artworks directly from the exhibition. Operating hours are 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday, and 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays; the gallery will be closed on Sundays.

    WAA has expressed its sincere gratitude to all sponsors and patrons who made the exhibition possible, with special recognition given to lead partners the National Bank of Dominica and the Gems Foundation. Additional supporting partners include Dominicanewsonline (DNO), 100% Green Inc., Black Island Girl Multimedia, Campbell’s, and Kairi FM.

  • Fort Young Hotel and Secret Bay art exhibitions explore nature and diversity in Dominica

    Fort Young Hotel and Secret Bay art exhibitions explore nature and diversity in Dominica

    As Dominica prepares to mark its annual Independence season, two distinct art exhibitions have launched at iconic local venues, inviting both island residents and international tourists to dive deep into the Caribbean nation’s unique natural environment, rich cultural heritage, and evolving creative voice.

    The first of these showcases, titled *Waters We Become*, is organized by the Waitukubuli Artist Association (WAA) and hosted at Fort Young Hotel’s beloved Old Oven Art Gallery. Running from October 12, 2026 through January 4, 2027, the exhibition opens its doors to visitors daily, centering the theme of water that is both life-giving and transformative for the island nation.
    Every work in the collection draws inspiration from Dominica’s sprawling coastlines, rushing mountain rivers, and quiet inland streams, with artists probing the deeply intertwined relationship between local communities, the land they call home, and the water that sustains it. Curators and creators behind the exhibition do not shy away from complex, nuanced perspectives: they highlight water’s serene beauty and critical abundance, while also confronting its devastating destructive force, seen in the hurricane storms, flash floods, and deadly landslides that have repeatedly impacted the island. The show also turns a critical lens on human activity, examining how unregulated deforestation, industrial pollution, unplanned overdevelopment, and systemic environmental neglect have thrown the fragile historic balance between land and water off kilter.
    Beyond pressing ecological themes, the artworks in *Waters We Become* also carry deeply human stories. Water serves as a metaphor through which creators explore generations of local experiences, from cross-border migration and backbreaking labor to joyous cultural celebration, crippling grief, hard-won survival, and hopeful community renewal.

    A short distance away, at the Bwa Denn Art Gallery located within Dominica’s luxury eco-resort Secret Bay, a second major exhibition is set to open its doors on October 16, 2026, running through January 31, 2027. Titled *Diversity*, this showcase is a solo retrospective of works by celebrated Dominican artist JeanClaude Elias Nassief, and is also open to guests daily.
    The exhibition brings together more than six years of Nassief’s creative output, pulling together paintings created between 2020 and 2026 that span distinct artistic periods, geographically diverse inspirations, and separate evolving artistic series from the creator. The core goal of the show is to celebrate the wide range of cultural, natural and personal influences that have shaped Nassief’s unique style, highlighting how varied approaches to visual expression have contributed to his growth as an artist.
    In comments on the exhibition, Nassief explained that the title *Diversity* was chosen to reflect the wide range of contexts and experiences that led to the creation of each work in the collection. He encourages visitors to engage with each painting individually, rather than seeking a single unified narrative, and to reflect on how varied creative perspectives not only enrich artistic practice as a whole, but also foster deeper connection and a shared sense of belonging across different audiences.

    Taken together, the two autumn and winter 2026 exhibitions offer a rare, layered opportunity to experience contemporary Dominican art through deeply rooted local perspectives. Visitors can walk away with new insights into the island’s complex relationship with nature, evolving questions of cultural identity, and the shared human experiences that bind local communities together during the country’s annual Independence celebration season.

  • Dominican Republic to host first international tourism journalism forum

    Dominican Republic to host first international tourism journalism forum

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Association of Tourism Press (Adompretur) is gearing up to host a landmark event for global tourism media: its first-ever International Tourism Journalism Forum, scheduled for October 23. Held as a core component of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Caribbean Tourism Exchange (BTC), the one-day gathering will bring together leading journalists, industry analysts and tourism experts from four regional nations – Argentina, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic – to unpack three transformative forces reshaping travel coverage: artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and evolving digital media formats.

    The forum will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel in central Santo Domingo, organized around the overarching theme “Tell, Connect and Transform: New Narratives for Tourism Destinations.” Organizers designed the agenda to explore cutting-edge approaches to destination storytelling, as well as the unique role that specialized tourism journalism plays in bridging travelers with authentic local cultures, community-led experiences and grassroots tourism initiatives.

    In comments ahead of the event, Adompretur President Sarah Hernández emphasized that the forum fills a critical gap in the industry, creating a dedicated collaborative space to address mounting professional challenges. As audience consumption habits shift, legacy media outlets restructure, and digital platforms and generative AI upend traditional content production workflows, industry practitioners need coordinated dialogue to adapt, she noted. Beyond professional development, the gathering also aims to strengthen cross-sector and cross-border ties between journalists, press associations, public tourism agencies and academic institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    The event’s program features a stacked lineup of regional industry leaders. Argentine journalist Fernando Milo, secretary of the International Federation of Tourism Press (FIPETUR) and host of the popular multiplatform tourism program *Contexto Turístico* broadcast on Argentina’s Telemax, will deliver the opening keynote address, bearing the same title as the forum’s overall theme: “Tell, Connect and Transform: Tourism Journalism and the Destinations of the Future.”

    Mexican journalist Armando de la Garza will lead a dedicated session on reimagining how destinations showcase their unique appeal to modern travelers and build authentic connections with audiences across digital channels. A separate panel, “Tourism Journalism Without Borders: New Perspectives on Latin America and the Caribbean,” will feature Dominican tourism expert and economic consultant Juan Lladó and Yzela Noriega, president of the Association of Panamanian Tourism Communicators (COPTUR), exploring cross-regional collaboration in travel storytelling.

    Sustainable destination development is another central focus of the forum’s agenda. Veteran journalist and former Adompretur president Luis José Chávez will moderate a discussion with architect Julio César Corral on how infrastructure planning, land-use policy and cultural heritage preservation shape both destination development and how media cover those places.

    A high-stakes panel focused on artificial intelligence, social media and emerging digital content formats will tackle the technology-driven shifts reshaping tourism journalism, with a specific focus on pressing systemic issues: information verification, the spread of travel misinformation, protecting professional journalistic credibility, and upholding ethical standards for AI-generated content. Experts José Ramón Torres and Guillermo Molina Mueses will lead this conversation.

    Additional agenda items include a structured debate on multidestination travel as a strategic framework to deepen tourism integration and cooperative links between the Dominican Republic, the broader Caribbean and Latin American markets.

    Before the forum concludes, Adompretur will unveil the Santo Domingo Declaration on Tourism Journalism and Communication, a landmark document outlining shared guiding principles for responsible professional practice in the field. The declaration will cover core priorities including ethical reporting, editorial independence, responsible AI utilization, embedding sustainability into tourism coverage, and advancing cross-regional industry cooperation.

    The forum is coordinated by veteran Dominican journalists José Rafael Sosa, José Antonio Aybar and José Tejada Gómez. In a statement ahead of the event, Adompretur emphasized that the initiative aligns with the organization’s long-standing commitment to professional training and cross-industry expertise exchange, with the ultimate goal of supporting inclusive tourism development that delivers tangible economic and social opportunities for local communities across the region.

  • Culture in the South Festival set for November 12–15 in Azua

    Culture in the South Festival set for November 12–15 in Azua

    The Dominican Republic is gearing up to host its first-ever Culture in the South Festival, a four-day celebration of regional art and creativity kicking off next month in the southern province of Azua. Running from November 12 to 15, the event will showcase 51 curated activities crafted by hundreds of artists, cultural organizers, and community representatives from six of the country’s southern provinces.

    Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo made the official announcement during a press briefing held at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) Azua campus, which will act as the central hub for all festival activities. In a heartfelt nod to Dominican artistic legacy, this year’s festival will honor celebrated visual artist Dionisio Blanco, recognizing his decades-long impact on the nation’s art scene and his enduring contributions to cultivating local creative talent.

    The festival’s programming intentionally centers the unique cultural identities of the participating provinces: Azua, San Juan, Elías Piña, San José de Ocoa, Peravia, and San Cristóbal. Attendees can expect a dynamic lineup of events that highlight the distinct artistic traditions and rich cultural diversity of the southern region, from folk performances to contemporary art exhibitions that bridge generations of creators.

    The official opening ceremony is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, November 12, at the UASD Azua Center, with full public activities getting underway on Friday and running through Sunday, November 15. While the university campus will host the majority of events, organizers have spread programming across multiple on-site locations to accommodate the large volume of attendees and diverse range of activities.

    According to the Ministry of Culture, the festival fills a critical gap in the nation’s cultural landscape by expanding creative opportunities outside of the capital city of Santo Domingo. Beyond simply showcasing art, the initiative aims to foster meaningful collaboration between independent creators and local communities, while creating new pathways for regional talent and cultural works to reach broader audiences across the country.

  • Dominican Tourism Campaign and Zel Punta Cana win gold at 2026 Magellan Awards

    Dominican Tourism Campaign and Zel Punta Cana win gold at 2026 Magellan Awards

    Two major Dominican Republic tourism assets have earned the industry’s highest recognition, taking home gold awards from the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for outstanding work in travel marketing and hospitality.

    The country’s Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) walked away with two gold honors for its groundbreaking “Subway to Paradise” outreach initiative, winning in both the Live Marketing Program and Tourist Destinations – Marketing – Live Events categories. The award-winning campaign, rolled out across New York City’s sprawling subway network between December 2025 and January 2026, was designed to do double duty: position the Dominican Republic as a top global travel getaway while building stronger ties with the large Dominican diaspora based in the United States. Roughly one-third of all Dominicans residing outside their home country live in New York, a demographic that made the city an unmissable strategic hub for the targeted campaign. As a centerpiece of the project, entire subway cars were covered in vibrant, panoramic imagery of the Dominican Republic’s most stunning natural landscapes, paired with the warm, inviting tagline “Dominicana smiles at you.”

    Joining MITUR in the gold winner’s circle is Zel Punta Cana, the all-inclusive Caribbean resort operated by global hospitality giant Meliá Hotels International. The property took top gold in the competitive Hospitality – Resort/All-inclusive Hotel category. Developed in collaboration with legendary tennis champion Rafael Nadal, Zel Punta Cana marks the first outpost of the co-created Zel brand in the Caribbean. The resort blends luxury with nature-focused design, offering 190 guest accommodations rooted in the surrounding tropical environment, including premium suites that grant visitors direct private access to on-site swimming pools.

    Now in its multi-year run celebrating travel industry excellence, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honors standout achievement across every corner of the global travel sector, from destination marketing and property design to hospitality and guest service. All submissions are reviewed and scored by a panel of seasoned tourism industry professionals, judged against strict quality standards set by leading travel publication Travel Weekly.