Discover how the 18th ProCigar Festival auction raised a record-breaking $618,000 for charity with its new hybrid format and exclusive luxury humidors.
The 18th ProCigar Festival Auction Concludes with Historic Success
The Dominican Republic is renowned as the epicenter of premium cigar manufacturing, and this legacy was on full display during the 18th annual ProCigar Festival. After days of immersive factory tours, tobacco field excursions, and educational seminars in Santiago, the festival culminated in a grand gala dinner and charity auction at the Centro Español.
Attended by nearly 1,000 international guests from more than 40 countries—and even welcoming the president of the Dominican Republic at an evening event—the 2026 festival celebrated the rich heritage of Dominican handmade cigars. However, the true highlight of the week was the record-breaking charity auction, which raised an unprecedented $618,188.
A Groundbreaking Hybrid Auction Format
For the first time in its 18-year history, the ProCigar Festival modernized its traditional bidding process by introducing a hybrid auction format. Designed to expand global participation while maintaining the prestige of the live Gala Dinner, this new approach allowed cigar collectors worldwide to join the action.
The global online auction opened on February 13 and ran through February 19, smoothly transitioning into the formal live auction on February 20. Bidders from around the world could participate in real-time, competing alongside attendees on the gala floor. Led by the charismatic Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego Cigars, this expanded accessibility played a massive role in shattering the organization’s previous fundraising records.
Record-Shattering Lots and Exclusive Humidors
The 2026 auction featured more than a dozen highly curated, one-of-a-kind humidors and collector’s pieces crafted specifically for the festival. Blending artistic craftsmanship, heritage materials, and exclusive tobacco blends, these lots captivated the audience.
The Crown Jewel: Tabacalera Fuente’s “Les Chaînes de L’Amour”
The undeniable star of the evening was a masterpiece from Tabacalera A. Fuente named “Les Chaînes de L’Amour.” Designed by Cyril Brizard in collaboration with luxury artisans, this commercially unreleased cabinet humidor contained 120 Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Corona cigars sourced directly from Arturo Fuente’s private vault.
Starting with a bid of $40,000, the humidor sparked a fierce bidding war before closing at a staggering $150,000—the highest-earning lot of the night. The winning bid was placed by renowned cigarmaker A.J. Fernandez, who was visiting the festival from Nicaragua.
Other Top-Earning Masterpieces
Beyond the historic Fuente sale, several other ProCigar members contributed phenomenal pieces that drove the record-breaking total:
- Espejo de Litto by La Flor Dominicana ($51,000): Featuring 150 cigars across three never-before-released blends (Origins, Litto’s Revolution, and Futura), reflecting different chapters in the brand’s history.
- María Victoria Palma (MVP)” by Tabacalera Palma ($46,000)
- Horses and Tobacco by De Los Reyes ($45,000)
- Family Creed: Fuerte Sol by La Aurora ($44,000)
- Adventure Around The World by Casa Carrillo ($42,000)
- CAO Selection Luxury by General Cigar Dominicana ($35,000)
- The Year of The Horse Masterpiece by Tabadom Holding/Davidoff ($28,000)
- ProCigar Official Humidor 2026” ($30,000): Handcrafted by HumidifGroup and designed by Dominican artist Laura Franco. It featured 12 compartments autographed by ProCigar members, each containing ten exclusive cigars.
Another notable entry was PDR Cigars’ “Founder’s Reserve Blue Label,” which featured a premium mahogany and Spanish cedar humidor containing 150 cigars aged over eight years, starting at $15,000.
Giving Back: Charities Supported by the ProCigar Festival
While the exclusive cigars and luxury humidors are the main attraction, the core mission of the ProCigar Festival auction is philanthropy. The $618,188 raised will directly benefit vital charities in the Dominican Republic.
The primary beneficiaries include the Voluntariado Jesús con Los Niños (a volunteer organization dedicated to helping children) and the Hospicio San Vicente de Paúl (a facility providing care for the elderly). Through these generous contributions, the premium cigar industry continues to make a profound social impact on the local communities that harvest and roll their world-class products.
The Global Impact of Dominican Premium Cigars
Founded in 1992, ProCigar was established to maintain the highest quality standards in agriculture and manufacturing while upholding the international reputation of the Dominican Republic. The success of the 18th ProCigar Festival auction perfectly encapsulates this mission.
As Litto Gomez, ProCigar president and founder of La Flor Dominicana, beautifully summarized: “This extraordinary week has allowed us to celebrate not only exceptional premium cigars, but also the friendship, culture, tradition, and shared passion that unite us.” Emphasizing the festival’s 2026 slogan, “Our Soil and Soul,” Gomez highlighted the unique camaraderie of the Dominican cigar industry: “We are competitors, but we are also friends. We help each other out when we have to. There’s no other industry like that in the world.”
A Record-Breaking Finale for the 18th ProCigar Festival
The 18th ProCigar Festival proved to be an unforgettable celebration of Dominican cigar culture. By seamlessly blending deep-rooted traditions with a modern hybrid auction format, the organization not only expanded its global reach but also generated a historic $618,188 for local charities. For cigar enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, the 2026 festival firmly cemented the Dominican Republic’s position at the very center of the international premium cigar conversation.