The best things to do in Miami this week

There's nothing quite like Calle Ocho, a free, one-day street party that takes over 15 blocks of Little Havana and routinely draws over a million people. As the crown jewel of Carnaval Miami, the festival fills SW 8th Street with 10 live music stages, 300-plus food vendors, folkloric dance performances, art installations and the kind of collective energy that's impossible to manufacture. Each stage tends to represent a different genre or tradition, so you can drift from a reggaeton set to a salsa orchestra to a bachata performance in a matter of minutes, with a Cuban sandwich in hand. This year's King of Carnaval is Puerto Rican rapper and singer Guaynaa, who headlines the festivities—a natural fit for a festival that has crowned the likes of Maluma, Pitbull and Gloria Estefan in years past. The full performer lineup across all stages is still being announced. Free admission; VIP passport packages are available for those who want front-row access and food and drink samples from Little Havana's best spots. 

Gilded and crimson-draped Faena Theater is the ideal venue to experience OBSESSION, a new original production presented by Faena Live in collaboration with the Quixotic performance art collective. Nestled in Mid-Beach, the cabaret-style show blends live vocals, choreography and cinematic storytelling to take guests on a seductive 1.5-hour journey complete with lasers, projected visuals and plenty of theatrical haze. Helmed by emcee Sophia Bollman—whose credits include a stint on NBC's The Voice as part of Team Miley Cyrus and backup singing in Beyoncé's iconic Coachella performances—Faena Theater's 2026 headlining production also features the energetic stylings of Principal Violin and Musical Lead Kostia Lucky. Tickets start at $100 per person and include show admission only (food and beverages sold separately). Guests must be 18 or older, with a valid ID required upon arrival.

The World Baseball Classic is international baseball's biggest stage — players represent their home countries rather than their MLB teams, and this year Miami is where it all ends. Spanning Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami, loanDepot Park hosts pool play March 6–11, then the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game. The rosters are genuinely stacked: the Dominican Republic brings Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.; Japan — the three-time defending champion — fields Shohei Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto; and Team USA, widely considered its most talented roster in WBC history, is captained by Aaron Judge alongside Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes. Championship game March 17 at loanDepot Park.

After sell-out runs in Paris, Rome, and Milan, From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce&Gabbana arrives in Miami, opening February 6 at ICA Miami and running through June 14, 2026. The exhibition offers a rare look inside the creative universe of designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, tracing how their ideas move from inspiration to execution—all by hand. Curated by Florence Müller and produced by MARI, the show brings together more than 300 Alta Moda pieces, set within immersive installations and shown alongside works by contemporary artists, celebrating the artisanry, excess, and exuberance of Italian aesthetics. 

The year is 1587, and the peaceful woodlands of Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach are transformed once again into the buzzing village of Kimmendale. King Robert Rivera and his Royal Court have descended for the 34th annual Florida Renaissance Festival, and it's an especially joyous occasion as knights, nobles and townsfolk gather to witness the handfasting of Prince Aaron of Veridian and Princess Katla Svartulff of Stalgaard. For the uninitiated, the Ren Fest is a portal to the fantastical 16th century, where for eight consecutive weekends you can party like they did in Game of Thrones, with giant turkey legs, endless goblets of mead and, of course, blood-pumping tournament jousting. From February through March, shaded nature trails fill with food stands and pubs, jewelry and crystal shoppes, performance stages, rides, games and a bustling Promenade that runs from 10am until sunset. On Saturdays and Sundays, lace up your festive garb and make the pilgrimage to partake in the revelry. From one-man Shakespearean theater performances to cannon demonstrations, swashbuckling pirate performers, Celtic singers and wise-cracking wenches, no minute of daylight is wasted. Drinking-age adults will appreciate options like the Pub Crawl ticket, which includes a multi-stop tour of the festival's pubs with stories, jokes and toasts along the way. Families will likewise find merriment in kid-friendly activities like the raucous parade each day at 12:30, and the Puppies of Penance...

Diehard Survivor fans and their obliging friends and family will be flocking to Jungle Island this season for a limited-time immersive pop-up celebrating 50 seasons of the pioneering CBS reality series. Launching January 31, the SURVIVOR Ultimate Fan Cafe brings the show to life through hands-on challenges, photo moments, themed food and drinks, exclusive merchandise and more. Following a successful run in Boston, the immersive experience pays proper homage to the Survivor legacy with a mix of fan-favorite physical and mental challenges (all adapted for safe indoor play) and faithful recreations of iconic sets, like the Tribal Council fire pit, a voting confessional booth and a signature Winner’s Wall. Plus, join live watch parties every Wednesday starting February 25. (Rumor has it you might spot an alumnus or two while you're there.) Tickets are available via Bucketlisters and include a food and beverage credit for use during each 90-minute reservation.

The great Montreal contemporary-circus troupe brings its Luzia production to South Florida, performing cutting-edge acrobatics and tightly choreographed dance numbers amid lavish costumes and set pieces. This show, written and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, is inspired by the culture of Mexico. Running February 19 through April 25 at Gulfstream Park, Luzia takes audiences through a series of surrealistic scenes, from an old movie set to a smoky dance hall, an arid desert, and even a cenote. It's a dream-like, sensory exploration of Mexico's past and present, packed with awe-inspiring moments—including rain incorporated into acrobatic and artistic scenes (a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production).

Ready to dive into the "No Days Off" life? Miami's Legacy fitness club in Little River has teamed up with Lululemon to launch Yet. Sessions, a four-week training program designed to build consistency and measurable progress via a packed schedule of high-intensity group classes and sweet incentives like free gear. One of only three gyms in North America selected for the campaign, and the only Florida location, the Legacy headquarters will host Yet. Sessions three times a week—on Tuesdays at 9am, Thursdays at 7:15pm and Sundays at 8am—from February 17 through March 15. Sessions will follow the gym's signature PIT class format, a 60-minute, coach-led workout where you move through 20 stations in pairs. Non-members can join via $35 drop-ins or a $300 full-program pass for all 12 sessions, while members attend as part of their membership. Participants who complete six sessions receive a Lululemon x Legacy top, and those who complete all 12 earn both a top and bottom, while supplies last.

This bustling vintage market enters its 35th year in 2026 on South Beach's famed Lincoln Road. Approximately every other Sunday (check their calendar for exact dates), 125 vendors convene along the promenade to showcase their wares and barter with discerning shoppers. Find everything from mid-century furniture to Art Deco decor and more. The long-running weekend social presents a solid mix of 19th and 20th-century memorabilia and unique collectibles. While you're there, stock up on locally grown produce, fresh flowers and artisanal goods from the Lincoln Road Farmer's market, which occurs every Sunday from 9am to 6pm.

Our annual star-studded tennis tournament returns to its flashy home at Hard Rock Stadium for another two weeks of sporty-chic crowds, luxe activations, and world-class competition. The field is stacked with past champions and marquee names: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, 1 Aryna Sabalenka — who returns to defend her title — and Iga Swiatek all enter as former Miami Open champions. Jakub Menšík, who stunned Djokovic to claim the men's crown last year, is back as the defending men's champion. American fans have plenty to cheer for, with Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Taylor Fritz, and Ben Shelton all in the draw. Off the court, the food scene is better than ever. New additions include Chug's Diner bringing Cuban-American comfort food and Coconut Grove vibes, Cowy Burger fresh off Burger Bash accolades, Ophelia with its cult-favorite pastries and specialty coffee, and Tacos Atarantados serving authentic Monterrey street-style tacos. Returning favorites include Zuma as the tournament's only full-service sit-down restaurant, Miami Slice for artisan New York-style pizza, and OMAKAI Handroll Bar for approachable Japanese dining. On the drinks front, Café La Trova pours Cuban cocktails at the Brugal rum bar, and the Santa Margherita Rosé Giardino offers a lush open-air wine garden with Instagrammable flair. Times vary.