Canberra, October 2026. The Embassy of Cuba in Australia invites friends of Cuba, members of solidarity organizations, and individuals interested in learning about the reality of life in Cuba to participate in the 42nd Southern Cross International Solidarity Brigade, taking place from December 27, 2026, to January 12, 2027.
Organized by the Cuba solidarity movement in Australia and coordinated in close collaboration with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the Southern Cross Brigade represents one of the most enduring and significant expressions of friendship between the peoples of Australia and Cuba. For over four decades, hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders have traveled to the island to experience firsthand the achievements, challenges, and aspirations of the Cuban people, thereby helping to strengthen ties of international solidarity.
The planned program for this edition includes volunteer work sessions, visits to urban agriculture and community development projects, exchanges with social and mass organizations, meetings with representatives of Cuban institutions, and tours of sites of historical, cultural, and economic interest. These activities will allow participants to gain insight into Cuba's contemporary reality and learn about the country's efforts to advance its development amidst complex economic challenges.
The 2026–2027 edition holds particular importance. Against the backdrop of the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States and the energy crisis, solidarity brigades continue to play a vital role in fostering direct people-to-people exchanges and disseminating objective information about the reality in Cuba. Furthermore, they offer an opportunity to demonstrate concrete support for Cuba and its right to sovereignly determine its own destiny.
The most recent edition of the Southern Cross Brigade, held between December 2025 and January 2026, brought together Australian participants who engaged in volunteer work, community exchanges, and acts of solidarity across several provinces in the country. The participants highlighted the hospitality of the Cuban people, their resilience in the face of challenges, and the importance of strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
The Embassy of Cuba in Australia welcomes this new initiative and expresses its gratitude for the steadfast commitment of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS), as well as all the activists and friends of Cuba who, year after year, help keep the spirit of solidarity between our peoples alive.
Those interested can obtain further information and register through the communication channels provided by the organizers of the Southern Cross Brigade.