Spring, fall, and winter in Miami are about the snowbirds and tourists looking to get out of the freezing cold of northern climes and bask in the perfect, sunny, and breezy days in South Florida. But summer in Miami, with its lazy days and humid nights, heat-stroke-inducing stickiness, daily sun storms, and hurricanes on the horizon – that all belongs to us.
Summer 2026 is a little different, a little quirkier, a little more international, and is shaping to be a lot more fun. Miami has the World Cup, the first time the games have been played on U.S. soil since 1994. There are landmark art exhibitions, music and dance festivals, a look back at the first summer blockbuster, pride celebrations, two months of special dining experiences, and the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. As summers go, this will be one for the books.
This is by no means a complete list of all the wonderful things happening in Miami this summer, just our 10 picks for can’t-miss events over the next four months. There’s something for everyone, so get ready, go out, and enjoy.
(Courtesy Perez Art Museum Miami)
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Great Jones Street studio, Untitled (“Box” sculpture), 1985. Photograph © Lizzie Himmel. Artwork © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. “Box” is featured in Basquiat: Figures, Signs, Symbols.
1 BASQUIAT AT PAMM
Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat had a prolific but all-too-brief life, and his work and influence on future generations of artists have made him one of the most heralded artistic forces of the 20th century. The Perez Art Museum Miami will present 10 of Basquiat’s masterworks in the exhibition, “Basquiat: Figures, Signs, and Symbols,” the largest exhibition of Basquiat’s work to date in Florida. Influenced by a childhood spent visiting museums in New York City, the exhibition shows how Basquiat’s art was shaped by a myriad of styles and pop culture, including world history, the Renaissance, comic books, the ’80s club scene and graffiti, among others. The exhibition opens June 26 and will be on display nearly a year.
(Courtesy Balloon Museum)
After attracting millions of visitors around the world, “Pop Air – Art is Inflatable,” the exhibition by the Balloon Museum, arrives in Miami at Mana Wynwood Convention Center.
2 ART IS IN THE AIR, AND VICE VERSA
Sometimes art is in the air, and sometimes the air is in the art. Both are true at “Pop Air – Art is Inflatable,” a new exhibition at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood. The exhibition, from the Balloon Museum, is an immersive experience, encouraging art lovers to not just observe, but to explore, interact and experience the monumental installations created by internationally renowned artists. The entire exhibition takes about two hours to walk through, and highlights include a kinetic light installation; glowing interactive sculptures; and Hyperstellar, a massive ball pit room. Pop Air – Art is Inflatable is designed for all ages and runs through Sept. 27.
The FIFA World Cup comes to Miami June 15 to July 18.
3 WORLD CUP AT HARD ROCK STADIUM
For the first time in more than 30 years, the World Cup games are once again in the United States, this time in the Magic City. Seven matches will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, June 11 through July 19, including the quarterfinals and the bronze medal games. Free game-day shuttles to the stadium will be available from various Miami-Dade transportation hubs. But you don’t have to attend the games to get in on the fun. Bayfront Park on Biscayne will host the ultimate immersive fan experience with Fan Fest, a free, family-friendly 23-day event featuring live match broadcasts, concerts, food, beverages and games for all ages. There will also be watch parties for individual games at several locations, including Lummus Park, the Miami Beach Bandshell, and NoMi Village.
Wynwood Pride has events scheduled throughout June.
4 CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH
While South Florida is, for the most part, a welcoming place for the LGBTQ community, with lots of events and gay-friendly bars and restaurants, June is officially Pride Month, a time to shine a spotlight on gay culture and identity. The hotbed of activity for Pride 2026 is Wynwood, which features events throughout the month. This is Wynwood Pride’s eighth year, and there are events every weekend, from the Miss Wynwood 2026 Pageant, billed as the ultimate Wynwood drag pageant, to the Hydrosol pool party, the Arlo Rooftop pool party, and the Big Wig Drag Fest. Also, be sure to check out Quick Bites on page 41 for eateries, clubs, and bars with Pride Month specials.
(Courtesy Arsht Center)
Todd Dulaney, one of the headliners for Gospel Fest Miami
5 CAN SOMEBODY SAY AMEN?
One of the Arsht Center’s signature events, Gospel Fest Miami, returns June 20-21. The weekend event goes behind the music with moderated discussions on several topics – Gospel Trends Versus Tradition, and Worship Music and Wellness, which includes a guided meditation for participants. Gospel singers Jekalyn Carr and Todd Dulaney will each perform their own concert, and other gospel group favorites, including Miami’s Mt. Pisgah Mass Choir will perform. The Arsht has made Gospel Fest Miami accessible; although the suggested ticket price for each concert is $25, attendees can also pay what they can.
(Courtesy Actors’ Playhouse)
“The Shark is Broken,” a play about the making of the movie, “Jaws,” comes to Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables July 17.
July
6 THEATER YOU CAN SINK YOUR TEETH INTO
When the movie “Jaws” premiered at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, the lines of eager moviegoers stretched around the block. No one then could have guessed that Steven Spielberg’s film about shark attacks in a coastal beach town would become the first summer blockbuster, and would forever change the way summer movies are made and distributed. The Miracle Theater is now home to Actors’ Playhouse, and their production of “The Shark is Broken,” a play about the making of “Jaws,” premieres July 17, 51 years and one month after the movie opened. Fun fact about “Jaws”: Spielberg nicknamed the mechanical shark Bruce after one of his lawyers. “The Shark is Broken” runs through Aug. 9.
Miami celebrates America’s 250th birthday with a slew of events.
7 HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY, AMERICA
As countries go, a 250th birthday is relatively young, but still quite an achievement. This year, the United States of America celebrates this big milestone with local and national celebrations throughout the nation, and Miami is getting in on the fun in a big way. For a history-oriented celebration, check out rarely seen, actual historic documents at the Museum of Miami, as the Freedom Plane tour touches down in the Magic City, one of only nine cities chosen for the tour, and the only one with the distinction of hosting the documents on July 4. (Read more about the Freedom Plane and Museum of Miami on page 28) You can visit the Miami Beach Freedom U.S.A. Exhibit through July 15 at Galería Ocean Drive in Lummus Park, a sprawling open-air outdoor exhibit that examines patriotism, culture, and coastal life. There will also be a patriotic-themed Marlins game on July 11 at loanDepot Park and afternoon of patriotic short films and exhibitions at the Deering Estate. In addition to the historic aspect of America’s 250th birthday, there’s also the fun, with fireworks displays in cities throughout the county, so check your local city’s website for info. Don your red, white, and blue and celebrate!
Flamenco dancer Raquel Heredia
8 VIVA FLAMENCO!
If you love flamenco, this is your summer, as the Arsht Center features two flamenco events. First up is “Siudy Flamenco: The Creative Process – Flamenco Beyond Tradition” on June 13, a one-night flamenco performance born from a week of exploration, research and creation. Newly choreographed works will be performed alongside selected repertoire, performed by a core group of flamenco dancers immersed in a shared creative journey.
The following night on June 14, Next, Siudy Flamenco Company presents “Captura Y Fuga by Jose Manuel Alvarez,” which features Garrido, Alvarez, and dancers from Latin America and Miami in an exploration of traditional flamenco structures to explore the body, musicality, and personal-movement language, in original works that reflect individual artistry and collective expression.
Then, revel in the passion and poetry of Spanish dance at Siempre Flamenco's Festival de Cante Flamenco Miami at the Arsht Center July 10-12. This production focuses on the art of flamenco singing, aka cante flamenco, which is rarely heard outside Spain. Cante flamenco is rooted in Spain's medieval music, with Moorish, Gypsy and Jewish influences. The festival will feature singers Mari Peña, Diego Amador Jr., and Javier Heredia, along with guitarists Jose Cortes Pansequito and Antonio Moya. Siempre Flamenco's founding members Paco and Celia Fonta will join the ensemble with their guitar-playing and dancing, respectively, Two of Spain’s most acclaimed dancers, Rafael Campallo and Raquel Heredia, will perform at the festival for the first time.
(Courtesy GMCVB)
Lomo Saltado at Jarana Aventura, one of the participating restaurants in this year’s Miami Spice.
9 THE SPICE OF LIFE
"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." – Virginia Woolf
If Ms. Woolf was correct, get ready to think, love, and sleep better. Miami Spice is back for its 25th edition of culinary indulgence. More than 300 restaurants all over Miami-Dade are participating this year, so there’s sure to be something for every taste and palate, including neighborhood favorites and Michelin-starred restaurants. Miami Spice menus include three courses for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Brunch and lunch are priced at $35, while dinner is priced at $45 or $60, depending on the restaurant’s tier. Miami Spice runs from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, and offers a great opportunity to try some new restaurants. The Miami Spice website lists all participating restaurants by city or neighborhood, which makes it super easy to find a nearby spot.
(Photo: Matthew Murphy)
Natalie Venetia Belcon and David Oquendo in the national tour of “Buena Vista Social Club,” which comes the Arsht Center Sept. 29.
10 “BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB”
Celebrate Cuban musical when the national tour of the Broadway musical, “The Buena Vista Social Club,” comes to the Arsht Center Sept. 29-Oct. 4. The musical, set in Havana and spanning decades from the 1950s through the 1990s tells the story of four prominent musicians during a time of political upheaval. The music is entirely in Spanish, with bolero, son, and danzon represented in the score. The musical’s book was written by Miami native Marco Ramirez. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning four, plus a special Tony Award for the show’s band.