DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CELEBRATE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CSWC THIS JUNE
- expertcigar
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
On June 27, 2026, the Dominican Republic will celebrate the fifth consecutive edition of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC), marking an important milestone in the country's journey within the global slow smoking movement.
the past five years, CSWC Dominican Republic has evolved into far more than a national qualifier. It has become a platform that brings together cigar enthusiasts, industry professionals, international visitors, and premium brands through a shared appreciation for discipline, craftsmanship, camaraderie, and the timeless ritual of enjoying a cigar.
As the world's leading producer of handmade premium cigars, the Dominican Republic has long been recognized for the quality of its tobacco, the expertise of its manufacturers, and the excellence of its cigar makers. Yet the country's contribution to the premium cigar world extends beyond production.
In recent years, a vibrant cigar culture has continued to flourish throughout the country. Enthusiasts are seeking deeper knowledge, more meaningful experiences, and stronger connections with fellow smokers. Events such as the Cigar Smoking World Championship play an essential role in this evolution, creating spaces where education, competition, fellowship, and passion converge.
The result is a growing community that understands that a premium cigar is not merely a product—it is an experience, a tradition, and a cultural expression.
A Landmark Edition at Casa de Campo
The fifth edition of CSWC Dominican Republic will be hosted at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in La Romana, one of the Caribbean's most prestigious destinations and an international benchmark for luxury hospitality, golf, gastronomy, and world-class experiences.
As Hosting Partner, Casa de Campo provides an exceptional setting for a championship that continues to elevate its profile both nationally and internationally.
The choice of venue reflects the growth of the Dominican qualifier and its increasing relevance within the global CSWC calendar.
A New Chapter Through Collaboration
The 2026 edition is organized by Cigar Country and Danays León Group (DLG), bringing together two organizations with a shared commitment to promoting premium cigar culture and creating meaningful experiences for cigar enthusiasts.
For the first time, Cigar Country joins the championship as co-organizer.
With more than two decades of leadership in the Dominican premium cigar market, Cigar Country has played a significant role in developing cigar culture, educating consumers, and supporting the growth of the industry throughout the country.
Its participation carries particular significance within the CSWC ecosystem, as Cigar Country is the official Dominican distributor of Oliva Cigars, the global cigar partner of the Cigar Smoking World Championship and producer of the official competition cigar smoked in qualifiers around the world.
This alignment strengthens the connection between the Dominican qualifier and the global championship while reinforcing the country's role as a leading contributor to the international premium cigar community.
A Historic Weekend for Cigar Enthusiasts
The championship will take place during the same weekend as the inaugural Cigars in Paradise Festival at Casa de Campo.
Created specifically for cigar enthusiasts, Cigars in Paradise represents a new international platform designed to celebrate the lifestyle surrounding premium cigars through hospitality, education, gastronomy, golf, Dominican rum, cultural experiences, and meaningful interaction with some of the most respected names in the industry.
While both events maintain their own identity, structure, and objectives, their coexistence creates a unique synergy that places the Dominican Republic at the center of the international cigar conversation during one of the most anticipated cigar weekends of 2026.
For cigar enthusiasts attending Cigars in Paradise, the weekend also offers the opportunity to participate in the Dominican Republic qualifier of the Cigar Smoking World Championship through a separate registration process. This creates a unique gateway for international visitors to experience firsthand one of the most respected stages within the global CSWC circuit while competing alongside local aficionados who have helped shape the championship's growth in the country.
Together, the two events showcase the many dimensions of premium cigar culture—from technical mastery and competition to friendship, travel, education, hospitality, and lifestyle.
More Than a Competition
The Cigar Smoking World Championship remains one of the most technically demanding disciplines in the cigar world.
Using the official Oliva competition cigar, participants are challenged to achieve the longest smoking time while maintaining proper combustion and ash integrity.
Success requires patience, concentration, consistency, discipline, and a deep understanding of the cigar itself.
Yet the true impact of the championship extends beyond the competition table.
Throughout its five-year history in the Dominican Republic, CSWC has helped build friendships, strengthen the local cigar community, and connect enthusiasts with a global network united by a common passion.
In a world increasingly defined by speed, the championship celebrates a different set of values: patience, attention, respect for craftsmanship, and the ability to enjoy the present moment.
The Road to Croatia
As in every national qualifier across the CSWC network, the Dominican champion will earn the honor of representing the country at the CSWC World Final in Croatia in August 2026.
For Dominican participants, this opportunity carries special significance.
To represent the Dominican Republic—the nation most closely associated with premium cigar excellence—on the world stage is both a privilege and a responsibility.
The journey from Casa de Campo to Croatia symbolizes the essence of the championship itself: one cigar, one standard, and one global community.
Celebrating Five Years of Growth
The fifth edition is not only a celebration of another championship. It is a celebration of the people who have made this journey possible.
Competitors, sponsors, partners, judges, organizers, volunteers, and enthusiasts have all contributed to establishing CSWC Dominican Republic as one of the most respected and dynamic chapters within the international CSWC family.
As the championship enters its fifth year, the Dominican Republic continues to demonstrate that slow smoking is much more than a competition.
It is a culture.
It is a community.
It is a tradition that brings people together across borders, languages, and backgrounds. And with every edition, that community continues to grow stronger.