The organizers of the 2nd International Biennial of Political Humor (II Bienal Internacional de Humor Político) have officially announced the artists selected for the event’s main international exhibition. Taking place from June 9–14, 2026, in Havana, the biennial brings together cartoonists from around the world under the central theme “Cultural Colonialism.”
According to the organizing committee, 61 artworks by 56 artists from 24 countries have been selected for the exhibition. The event attracted 359 submissions from 118 artists representing 38 countries, reflecting a significant increase in participation and international interest compared to the inaugural edition.
International Jury
The international jury was chaired by Adán Iglesias Toledo, Director of the Cuban humor publication Dedeté. The panel also included Ismael Lema, Director of Editora Palante, alongside renowned cartoonists Liza Donnelly (USA), Luc Descheemaeker (Belgium), and Víctor Vélez “Chubasco” (Mexico).
The selected works offer diverse perspectives on cultural colonialism, examining the theme through satire, political commentary, and visual storytelling.
Cartoonists from Around the World
The main exhibition features artists from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Cuba, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.
Among the selected artists are internationally recognized names such as Diego Feld and Mario Almaraz (Argentina), Norbert Van Yperzeele and Raed Khalil (Belgium), Arturo Molero and July Sanchis (Spain), Norman Gergely(Hungary), Gio and Milko (Italy), Dariusz Dabrowski and Tomasz Rogowski (Poland), Mikhail Zlatkovsky (Russia), Alfredo Cuesta (Uruguay), and Edgar Vargas (Venezuela).
Cuba is represented by a strong delegation including Alexis Gutiérrez Gelabert, Brady Izquierdo, Dayder Bernal, José A. Rodríguez, Leonardo Castillo, Michel Moro, Osvaldo Gutiérrez, Ramiro Zardoyas, and Roberto Castillo.
The exhibition also includes artists such as Cai Weidong, Guangjun Li, Kuang Zuhai, Quingyan, and Weili from China; Alexander Dubovskyi, Eugene Grigoriev, Valerii Momot, and Viacheslav Karpeliants from Ukraine; Mica Miloradovic, Miroslav, and Toso Borkovic from Serbia; Marian Lupu from Romania; Khaldoon Gharaibeh from Jordan; and Roman Matkiewicz from Estonia.
Exploring Cultural Colonialism Through Cartoon Art
Renowned Cuban cartoonist Arístides Hernández (Ares) explained that the selected works will be organized by geographical regions, allowing visitors to compare how artists from different cultural backgrounds interpret the concept of cultural colonialism.
According to Ares, the exhibition encompasses a wide range of approaches, from critiques of consumer culture, advertising, and media influence to reflections linking historical colonialism with contemporary cultural and technological domination.
A Diverse Program Across Havana
The biennial’s activities are being held across several cultural venues in Havana and in San Antonio de los Baños, a city widely regarded as the cradle of Cuban graphic humor.
Key venues include:
- Galería 23 y 12, host of the main exhibition opening on June 9 at 3:00 PM
- Pabellón Cuba
- UNEAC (Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba)
- Revolución y Cultura Magazine Headquarters
- San Antonio de los Baños
In addition to exhibitions, the program includes conferences, artist talks, cultural activities, and public events dedicated to political humor and visual satire.
Political Humor in the Digital Age
The biennial also explores contemporary forms of political expression, including animation, internet memes, digital satire, and the impact of emerging technologies on political communication.
A special exhibition at UNEAC presents works by international jury members Liza Donnelly, Víctor Vélez “Chubasco”, and Luc Descheemaeker, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the work of three influential figures in contemporary political cartooning.
With growing international participation and an increasingly ambitious program, the International Biennial of Political Humor continues to establish itself as one of Latin America’s most important gatherings dedicated to political cartooning and graphic satire, providing a global platform for artists to challenge power structures and explore pressing social issues through humor.
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