Miami has a habit of turning ordinary months into reasons to travel. The city hosts some of the biggest annual events in Miami, along with cultural celebrations, sporting moments, global music gatherings, and gatherings that feel rooted in local life.
If you are planning trips around festivals and events in Miami in the coming years, especially around the 2026 football season, when attention will already be on this region, these events help set the rhythm of the city.
This guide is written with a traveler’s mindset. Clear timing, grounded expectations, and an honest sense of what each occasion feels like. Think practical orientation rather than glossy brochure lines.
Let’s move on to the festivals in Miami, which will happen in 2026.
Table of Content
- 1. Life Time Miami Marathon and Half
- 2. South Beach Wine & Food Festival
- 3. Coconut Grove Arts Festival
- 4. Miami International Boat Show
- 5. Ultra Music Festival
- 6. Miami Film Festival
- 7. Miami Beach Pride
- 8. International Ballet Festival of Miami
- 9. FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park
- 10. Redland International Orchid Festival
- 11. Miami Carnival Parade & Concert
- 12. Miami Beach Polo World Cup
- 13. Orange Blossom Classic
- 14. Deering Seafood Festival
- 15. Art Basel Miami Beach
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
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1. Life Time Miami Marathon and Half
The marathon places the city itself at the center. The 2026 edition happens January 25 and brings nearly 20,000 runners from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. Both the 26.2-mile marathon and the 13.1-mile half-marathon follow a flat, scenic, USTAF-certified route through Miami’s signature neighborhoods.
Even if you do not run, the collective energy of athletes, supporters, and early morning city views shapes Miami for that weekend and has helped it grow into one of the top international running events.
2. South Beach Wine & Food Festival
South Beach fills with chefs, culinary personalities, tasting tents, beach setups, and ticketed experiences that range from casual to high-end. The 2026 edition runs from February 19 to February 22, and it marks the 24th year of this festival, with more than 100 events happening,s including signature favorites and fresh new ideas designed for travelers who feel they have already seen it all.
Expect marquee events hosted by well-known names, themed tastings, and a schedule that rewards planning your days early. It is less about simply eating and more about seeing how Miami treats food as entertainment, community, and identity.
3. Coconut Grove Arts Festival
A long-running community arts celebration with painters, sculptors, mixed media artists, live demonstrations, and outdoor exhibits. The 2026 edition takes place February 14 to 16 over Presidents Day weekend and marks its 62nd year.
Centered around Regatta Park along the Coconut Grove waterfront, it features more than 275 artists across many styles, including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, mixed media, and more. It remains family-friendly, with culinary areas, entertainment, and activities alongside serious art appreciation, which is why it continues to be considered among the biggest cultural festival-style events in Miami.
4. Miami International Boat Show
Water is not background scenery in Miami. It shapes life here, and the Boat Show proves it. The 2026 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show runs from February 11 to February 15 across multiple Miami and Miami Beach venues.
Expect luxury yachts along Collins Avenue, a dedicated sailing show at Watson Island, marine innovations, boating culture displays, easier transport between venues, shuttles, and golf cart access, improving movement between locations. It is a showcase of design, technology, and lifestyle centered around the ocean.
5. Ultra Music Festival
Ultra is often called the biggest rave in Miami and one of the most recognized electronic music events in the world. The 2026 edition takes place March 27 to March 29 at Bayfront Park with staging that stretches across waterfront surroundings.
Previous years featured defining sets from global icons like Avicii, Hardwell, and Swedish House Mafia, and the coming edition is set to continue pushing massive production and world-class DJ performances. If you are coming for nightlife-driven festivals in Miami, Ultra consistently remains one of the most popular festivals in Miami for electronic music lovers.
6. Miami Film Festival
This festival often highlights international cinema, Latin American filmmaking, regional storytelling, premieres, special screenings, filmmaker conversations, and audiences who genuinely care about film.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for April 9 through April 19 and celebrates its 43rd year, bringing attention to films that may not always be found in mainstream commercial cinema. Expect theaters across Miami to host screenings and for the atmosphere to feel welcoming to both casual film watchers and serious enthusiasts.
7. Miami Beach Pride
A celebration with parades, performances, community events, beach gatherings, entertainment stages, and a strong sense of identity. The 2026 celebrations run from April 2 to April 12, extending nearly two weeks.
What began as a relatively small gathering has grown to welcome as many as 170,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Pride festivals in the United States. Expect big crowds, richly programmed events, and a period that holds deep meaning for many who attend.
8. International Ballet Festival of Miami
Miami not only celebrates loud music and nightlife. This festival reminds visitors that Miami also invests in classical art, precision, discipline, and elegance in performance.
It returns for its 30th season with more than 100 principal dancers from companies across the world, along with modern and contemporary ensembles, special galas, educational programs, exhibitions, film screenings, and master classes. It attracts both committed ballet followers and people experiencing high-level ballet for the first time.
9. FIFA Fan Festival Miami at Bayfront Park
With global football attention focused on this region, the Fan Festival brings the World Cup spirit to Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park for 23 days. Each day, crowds of up to 30,000 people gather to watch 88 live match broadcasts while enjoying concerts, cultural shows, fan zones, food experiences, and games.
The event includes three performance stages and offers more than 690 hours of entertainment, featuring over 1,000 performers throughout the festival. It becomes the central gathering point for supporters from every part of the world, set against Miami’s skyline and waterfront.
If you want to avoid long rides and traffic, staying nearby is helpful. Take a look at Miami hotels close to Bayfront Park to shorten travel time.
10. Redland International Orchid Festival
Away from busy downtown districts, this festival celebrates orchids with one of the largest orchid gatherings in the United States. It features more than 50 booths of growers, rare species, hybrids, educational exhibits, care demonstrations, competitions judged by the American Orchid Society, and a setting inside Fruit and Spice Park. It attracts serious collectors as well as visitors who simply enjoy beautiful natural displays.
11. Miami Carnival Parade & Concert
Color, Caribbean heritage, music systems, costumes, cultural pride, and full celebratory energy define this event. The celebration builds through early October, leading to the grand Parade of Bands and Concert.
Recognized as one of North America’s most influential Caribbean cultural celebrations, Miami Carnival attracts more than 100,000 attendees annually from across the world. Expect soca, calypso, steelpan, masquerade storytelling, and an atmosphere that feels joyful and deeply rooted in identity.
12. Miami Beach Polo World Cup
Few cities can host polo on the beach in a way that feels natural. This annual November event celebrates its 20th anniversary with top international polo teams competing directly on the sands of Miami Beach. Expect competitive matches, stylish viewing areas, VIP tents, lively gatherings, and a rare opportunity to watch world-class polo in a setting open to everyone with free public viewing.
13. Orange Blossom Classic
More than just football. It highlights HBCU pride, marching band culture, meaningful school rivalries, and community heritage. The upcoming edition again centers around Hard Rock Stadium, bringing Florida A and M University together with Howard University in a weekend full of events and pageantry. It remains one of the signature sporting and cultural weekends tied to Black college football traditions.
14. Deering Seafood Festival
This event usually feels different from the polished restaurant showcase style of others. It leans toward fresh seafood, coastal character, cooking stations, families spending the day outdoors, and a slower pace that works well if you want something that still feels rooted in the place instead of purely celebrity-driven dining.
Set on the scenic Deering Estate, it combines seafood, live performances, chef demonstrations, kid-friendly fun, and a strong connection to Miami’s waterfront environment.
15. Art Basel Miami Beach
This is the one many people name first when talking about major festivals in Miami connected to creativity. Art Basel brings galleries from more than 40 countries, with over 280 participating galleries and thousands of artworks ranging from emerging to world-renowned names.
It regularly draws over 80,000 visitors each year, including collectors, artists, and cultural leaders. Events extend beyond the main convention center into citywide exhibitions and Miami Art Week satellite fairs, turning that period into one of the most important cultural weeks in North America.
Final Thoughts
For travelers with strong event-driven travel intent, Miami in 2026 delivers a lineup filled with music, culture, sport, culinary celebrations, and meaningful community gatherings. From the biggest rave in Miami to the biggest cultural festival in Miami and internationally recognized art showcases, these festivals and events in Miami help visitors connect with the city in grounded, memorable ways.
FAQs
Art Basel Miami Beach is widely considered the biggest annual event, drawing global attention to contemporary art, large crowds, high-profile visitors, citywide exhibitions, and major cultural programming every December.
Yes, Miami hosts several free events depending on the festival. Miami Carnival events, Art Week activations, public performances, and community celebrations often include no-cost options, especially at outdoor venues and city spaces.
Ultra Music Festival ranks among Miami’s most popular festivals, especially for electronic music fans. It brings massive crowds, high-energy performances from leading DJs, waterfront stages, and a citywide nightlife atmosphere.
Miami Carnival stands out as one of the biggest cultural celebrations, highlighting Caribbean heritage through music, costumes, parades, performances, and community gatherings that attract attendees from across the world.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Deering Seafood Festival, Miami International Boat Show, and Miami Marathon weekend usually offer family-friendly environments with outdoor spaces, activities, entertainment, and relaxed event layouts.
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