On May 19, 1962, thousands of people gathered at Madison Square Garden for President John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration. The star-studded event featuring politicians, entertainers and cultural icons is widely remembered for the moment in history when Marilyn Monroe stepped onto the stage to sing her famous rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”
It was a moment that legendary artist LeRoy Neiman would later immortalize on canvas in his vibrant painting, “The President’s Birthday”.
66 years later, on President Kennedy’s birthday, we proudly debuted the 2026 LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition, featuring “The President’s Birthday” on its label. This special release pays tribute to American history, artistry and craftsmanship, in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
A Tribute to Artistry and Creativity
LeRoy Neiman built his career by documenting some of the most memorable moments of the twentieth century, harnessing his unique ability to capture the energy and excitement of the American experience. His painting, “The President’s Birthday”, preserves the atmosphere of that evening in Madison Square Garden.
The artwork plays a central role in this year’s release, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
Handmade in Ybor City’s Last Cigar Factory
Each cigar is handcrafted at the J.C. Newman Cigar Co. El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida, the last traditional cigar factory still operating in the United States. The cigar is a 6.5″ x 56 Toro Grande featuring a Havana Rosado wrapper, a Florida Sun Grown binder and a blend of aged filler tobaccos from Latin America.
Limited to just 15,000 cigars, the release is packaged in 750 collectible cabinets containing 20 cigars each. Every cigar also bears an official America250 foot band. Inside each cabinet is an authentic lithograph of “The President’s Birthday”, while the painting itself wraps around every cigar. The bottom of each cabinet reveals a surprise image of the paint-splattered floor from Neiman’s famed New York City studio.
“J.C. Newman is proud to roll official cigars of the 250th Anniversary of the United States,” said Newman. “Cigars have been an important part of our country since its founding. Therefore, it is only fitting that we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country with American-made cigars.”
Giving Back Through the Arts
Beyond celebrating history and craftsmanship, the LeRoy Neiman Collector’s Edition continues a mission key to the artist himself: supporting creativity in future generations.
“Every cigar from the LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector’s Edition directly supports our ongoing mission at the Foundation,” said Zabor. “The profits help us improve arts education in local public schools, keeping LeRoy’s passion for nurturing creativity alive and thriving among the next generation of artists.”
Since the first release in 2023, the collaboration has raised more than $117,000 for arts education programs in public schools, including schools located near the El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, FL.
By bringing together American history, world-class artistry and handcrafted cigars, the LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector’s Edition offers a one-of-a-kind smoking experience while telling a uniquely American story.
