National Theater of Cuba, Performance venue at Plaza de la Revolucion, Havana, Cuba
The National Theater of Cuba is a theatre building on the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, containing two main performance halls: the Sala Covarrubias and the Sala Avellaneda. The larger of the two, the Sala Avellaneda, is used for opera, ballet, and large concerts, while the Sala Covarrubias seats a smaller audience for more chamber-scale productions.
Construction began in 1952 under President Fulgencio Batista, with the design drawing on ideas from large American performance venues of that era. Work slowed after the revolution, and the building did not fully open until 1979.
The building is home to some of Cuba's most established companies, including the national ballet and several music ensembles that perform there regularly. Attending a show here feels like a local event as much as a tourist one, with Cuban families making up a large part of the audience.
The theater sits on the Plaza de la Revolución, one of Havana's most visited public spaces, so it is easy to combine a visit with a walk around the square. Coming a little early before any performance gives you time to see the plaza and find your seat without rushing.
The two halls are named after figures from Cuban cultural history: Francisco Covarrubias, a theater pioneer from the 19th century, and Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, a poet and playwright. Avellaneda was one of the few women of her time to gain recognition across the Spanish-speaking world as a writer.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
