Cross-breeding of banana and plantain brings new challenges to the genetic improvement of crops due to the ploidy and high sterility of most popular cultivars. This article provides an overview of the current status of banana and plantain breeding. It also provides details on the approaches used and steps throughout the breeding process: crossing, screening, testing, selecting and identifying promising hybrids for further cultivar releases. This manuscript also highlights the genetic knowledge accumulated in this crop that will facilitate the use of new approaches in its improvement. Banana and plantain breeding programs may incorporate genetic engineering and genomics-led breeding to enhance their effectiveness, particularly under a changing climate that is likely to affect crop yields.