From June 25–28, 2026, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana hosted the inaugural edition of Cigars in Paradise, a festival designed to bring together premium cigar enthusiasts, rum lovers, golfers and luxury lifestyle travelers in a single weekend.
A first edition with international ambitions
Organized by Casa de Campo and Cigar Country, the festival welcomed manufacturers, distributors, premium consumers, media outlets, content creators and international visitors, offering a format that extends beyond a traditional trade exhibition into a comprehensive lifestyle experience centered on premium cigars.
Dominican Leaf attended as an accredited media outlet, documenting the event from the opening reception through the closing day.
Casa de Campo as a destination for premium cigar tourism
Most activities took place at Marina Riverside, where more than 28 premium cigar brands, exhibitors and sponsors showcased products and experiences related to cigars, premium rum, gastronomy and luxury lifestyle.
From an organizational standpoint, the inaugural edition maintained a consistent level of execution throughout the four-day schedule. Well-designed booths, premium beverage offerings and curated food experiences created an environment where manufacturers and consumers could interact naturally while preserving the professional character of the festival.
For a first edition, the event demonstrated a notably polished level of planning and execution.
Four days of programming
The festival officially opened Thursday with a Welcome Party hosted by La Palina, Accutron and Bevs and Burns, followed by opening remarks from the organizers.
Friday began with a breakfast hosted by Altura Cigars, followed by free time for guests to enjoy Casa de Campo, including visits to Altos de Chavón. Later in the day, attendees participated in an educational session featuring representatives from Cigar Snob and Litto Gomez before the opening day of the festival at Marina Riverside. The evening concluded with a La Aurora after-party accompanied by León Jimenes Rum.
Saturday featured another breakfast before the Smoke & Shot competition presented by Crowned Heads, where participants competed in sporting clay shooting using Beretta shotguns. The day also included the Dominican qualifying round of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC), organized by Danays León, using the Oliva Mareva as the official competition cigar. The winning smoking time extended to approximately two hours.
Later that afternoon, Tony Gomez delivered another industry presentation before attendees returned to Marina Riverside for the festival’s second day, followed by an after-party hosted by Montecristo Quality Importers.
The event concluded Sunday with a farewell breakfast.
More than 28 premium cigar brands
The festival brought together a broad cross-section of the premium cigar industry.
Among the participating brands were:
- Arturo Fuente
- La Aurora
- La Flor Dominicana
- Quesada Cigars
- Plasencia
- Oliva
- Drew Estate
- Rocky Patel
- Crowned Heads
The event also featured numerous manufacturers and distributors presenting their portfolios directly to attendees.
Educational sessions added industry perspective
One of the festival’s distinguishing elements was its educational programming.
Industry figures including Litto Gomez, Tony Gomez and representatives from Cigar Snob shared insights on premium cigar production, international markets and the future of the industry.
These sessions complemented the commercial and social aspects of the event, providing additional value for attendees.
Competitions beyond cigar tasting
In addition to premium cigar sampling, Cigars in Paradise incorporated several activities designed to broaden the overall experience.
Highlights included:
- Smoke & Shot presented by Crowned Heads.
- The Dominican qualifier for the Cigar Smoking World Championship.
- Golf-related recreational activities.
- Welcome Parties and brand-hosted after-parties.
Together, these activities created a diversified four-day program.
Dominican Leaf’s editorial coverage
As an accredited media outlet, Dominican Leaf documented every stage of the festival through photography, video production and interviews with representatives from most participating brands.
The editorial team remained on-site throughout the event, publishing real-time coverage while producing exclusive interviews and visual documentation for future reporting.
What this first edition says about the Dominican industry
Beyond the exhibition itself, Cigars in Paradise reflected an important trend within the Dominican premium cigar sector.
Luxury hospitality, premium tourism, gastronomy and handmade cigars are becoming increasingly interconnected, transforming premium cigars from a standalone product into the centerpiece of broader lifestyle experiences.
The participation of international manufacturers, distributors, media professionals and consumers further reinforces the Dominican Republic’s growing role as a destination for premium cigar events.
Editorial conclusion
In its inaugural edition, Cigars in Paradise introduced a distinctive addition to the international premium cigar calendar. Rather than focusing solely on cigar exhibitions, the festival successfully combined hospitality, premium rum, golf, gastronomy and professional networking into a unified experience.
From Dominican Leaf’s editorial perspective, the event illustrates how the Dominican Republic continues to strengthen its position not only as the world’s leading producer of handmade premium cigars, but also as one of the industry’s most compelling destinations for international cigar lifestyle events.
