The best Miami events in March

As Miami's most steadfast rave festival, Ultra can be relied upon to deliver a massive lineup of hard-hitting EDM, techno, house and underground dance music in the heart of Downtown Miami year after year. It's a beast of a fest, one which beckons thousands of fans (dubbed "Ultranauts") from around the world for three days of chest-rattling bass, cutting-edge production and truly over-the-top party vibes. So far, this year's headliners include Swedish House Mafia, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Zedd, Armin van Buuren, Timmy Trumpet, Vintage Culture, Claude VonStroke, Gigantic NGHTMRE, Gryffin, Kayzo and REZZ, among others. The Resistance Megastructure headliners so far include Carl Cox and Tale Of Us.

South Beach is leaning into its rep as a whimsical, boozy playground for adults. Just in time for spring break, the iconic party destination will welcome The Monster, a 1,000-foot-long, neon-hued bounce house complemented by DJs, drag queens and plenty of drinks. Taking over the oceanfront Lummus Park, the snaking inflatable course boasts over 40 obstacles with wacky and whimsical names like The Terminator and House of Hell, plus a 59-foot mega-slide. Born in London in 2017, the massive bouncy obstacle course—billed as the world’s largest—is geared toward adults, though there are family-friendly sessions scheduled from 10am to 1pm daily. The 10-day activation also features street food vendors, bars and a day-to-night party atmosphere with live DJs, drag queens, retro games, karaoke and boozy bingo with prizes. Miami will mark The Monster’s U.S. debut and, given this town's rep for wreaking 24/7 party havoc, we think it’s a pretty clever matchup. 

Japanese contemporary art superstar Yayoi Kusama unveils her largest and most immersive kaleidoscopic environment this spring at Pérez Art Museum Miami. Known for her groundbreaking, psychedelic sculpture and Infinity Mirror installation works that originated in the 1960s and gave rise to today’s ubiquitous immersive art trend, Kusama has created a culmination of her artistic practice in the upcoming LOVE IS CALLING show at PAMM.  As visitors walk through the darkened, mirrored room, they’ll encounter the breadth of Kusama’s visual vocabulary: a disorienting cavern of polka-dotted, tentacle-like forms extending from the floor and ceiling, providing the room’s only source of light as they gradually change color. Meanwhile, a recording of Kusama’s voice fills the space as she recites a love poem that explores poignant, universal themes around life and death. Written by the artist, the Japanese poem’s title translates to “Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears.”

Our annual star-studded tennis tournament returns to its flashy home at Hard Rock Stadium. Expect the same sporty-chic crowds and luxe activations, including private cabana suites, glittering booze gardens serving copious cocktails, new culinary options and a gondola, offering a unique bird's-eye view of the grounds. Times vary.

Cold beer, fresh fish and one of Miami’s most stunning waterfront estates come front and center at this 17th annual festival, which also features cooking demonstrations, performances, kids zones, pontoon boat rides, an artisan market and more.

In celebration of 2023's Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, Artechouse Miami Beach has teamed up with the global color authority to present a multisensory exploration of the shade. Expect to encounter a dizzying array of textures, sounds and tactile expressions of magenta layered across the art center's immersive rooms, including an LED tunnel of the magenta cosmos and a massive Magentaverse planet fluctuating to changes in gravity. The entire experience lasts around one hour and is open to all ages.

Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach is basically a nightclub—but it’s during the day, everyone's in a bathing suit and the dance floor is a pool. If it’s a Vegas-style bash with bottle service and champagne showers you seek, stop by on Fridays and Sundays from 11am to 7pm or Saturdays from 7pm to 2am. Though weekends are the busiest, hit up the SLS pool any day of the week for a guaranteed fist-pumping good time—especially during Spring Break and Miami Music Week, when the party programming doesn't stop.  

Australian tech-house maven Fisher of the illustrious Dirtybird Records headlines his own lit MMW party poolside at the Surcomber. Joining him on the decks are New York's Dennis Ferrer (Defected Records), Guti (gracing us with a live set), Sosa, Sidney Charles and Dave Zilla.

Fair days reign supreme! With rides, food and games, it’s an easy way to plan an outing for the whole family when you want to indulge in some fun. Miami Dade Youth Fair, which kicks off on March 16, checks every box with options for even kiddie riders. All around the fair, food vendors will also be setting up shop with so many refreshing treats (pickle lemonade, anyone?). You can find classics like burgers and hot dogs there, but they're only half the fun—have you ever had a Miami Cuban Funnel Cake Sandwich? Get your tickets now.

Stop by The Moxy South Beach to experience a taste of Barcelona's famed cocktail haven Two Schmucks, a mainstay on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. Award-winning bartenders Moe Aljaff and Juliette Larrouy's two-month residency, dubbed The Schmucks, takes over The Moxy's Mezcalista bar, bringing the duo's irreverent "five-star dive bar" concept to life in Miami. After peaking at the 50 Best list's number seven spot this past October, Aljaff, Larrouy and most of their team left Two Schmuchs behind in pursuit of a new chapter stateside. The Schmucks marks the first time the acclaimed bartending team reunites since then. Throughout the residency, expect collaborations with more of the world's most renowned bartenders and chefs, including a kick-off party on February 5 featuring Tato Giovannoni of Argentina’s Floreria Atlantico, ranked number 18 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.