The best Miami events in May 2025 to look forward to

Magic City Flea is Miami's most consistent pop-up vintage market, with events running around town every week—though, these days, it's almost always posted up on Sundays along Flagler Street in Downtown from noon to 6pm. Depending on the day and locale, find anywhere from 15 to more than 70 small shops committed to sourcing the most unique pieces and handcrafting sustainable wares. On Saturday, May 24th from 10am to 5pm, the flea is also popping up at Bayshore Club, a breezy outdoor venue on the water in Coconut Grove. Vibe out to the live DJ, sip cocktails and snack on yummy bites while you shop. (The buzzy food hall Julia & Henry's is just nearby.)

From bomber planes and helicopters flying above to powerboats and jet skis racing on the water below, it’s looking like an adrenaline-packed weekend at this year’s Air & Sea Show in South Beach. Lummus Park between 11th and 14th Streets hosts motocross demos, simulators from five branches of the U.S. military, a kids zone, boxing and live musical performances. All weekend, places nearby spots such as Española Way and Loews Miami Beach offer viewing parties, drink specials and other concurrent celebrations.

Yes, Chef! The illustrious Grant Achatz and his Alinea Group are back in Miami to celebrate two decades of boundary-pushing fine dining. As part of its 20th Anniversary Tour, the three-Michelin star restaurant returns to Faena Miami Beach—the site of its iconic 2016 residency—from April 30 through May 25. Expect an ultra-creative, cutting-edge culinary experience that nods to Alinea’s past while continuing to rewrite the rules of modern gastronomy. Reservations have already sold out, though there is a waiting list available.

PARAISO Miami Beach, the official Miami Swim Week, returns for its 21st edition with exclusive runway shows, brand activations, pop-ups and after-parties from May 28th through June 1st. It's the world’s largest and only official Swimwear Fashion Week, where runway glam and coastal cool collide in a sexy multi-day bender of resort wear and sun-drenched style. From luxury debuts to indie swim stars, PARAISO is the pulse of the swimwear industry—and a quintessential Miami summer scene.

The NYC-imported Smorgasburg, Miami's largest outdoor food market, returns to its Wynwood outpost for a new season featuring over 40 vendors (including 10 new concepts) and more shaded areas for noshing. Graze from a variety of local street foods, international fare, healthy options and inventive creations from the likes of Acai Way, Korean Kitchen, Kabuki Soba, The Lazy Oyster, La Picaña Grill, Lechona Truck, Tio Paella, Puro Chocolate, Cool & Creamy Truck and more.

Fairchild Garden is giving us a whole springtime fairy fantasty with the debut of this whimsical scavenger hunt, running from May 9th through June 15th. Follow themed clues left by mischievious spites in 10 enchanted locations to discover a hidden Fairy Village where imagination blooms. Complete your quest to earn a sparkling fairy pin and a chance to win a Fairchild Family Membership. The self-guided adventure is included with general admission and free for members.

Founded in 2016, this genre-defying Miami film festival is more than just cinema—it’s a space for resistance, celebration and reimagination through the lens of independent filmmakers from across the Caribbean diaspora. From May 29th through June 1st, Third Horizon pops up at venues across the city with another eclectic program of films, live performances, art and conversations. Expect to be challenged and inspired by the bold storytelling and visual innovation, with a healthy dose of political urgency.

If you're looking for a trippy light show the whole family can enjoy, there's nowhere better than the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome. Every month, they host a night filled with mind-boggling visuals, music and fun, with a different theme every hour. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids ages four to 11. Refreshments and light snacks are available for purchase in the Main Atrium until 10pm. May 10: K-pop, Taylor Swift, Daft Punk and Bad Bunny June 13: Elton John, Queen, Lady Gaga and David Bowie July 12: ABBA (new show), Fleetwood Mac and Red Hot Chili Peppers 

Tuesday and Saturday nights are prime times to get an authentic taste of Miami's vibrant salsa scene at La Pachanga, a free live music and dance party in the heart of Little Havana. The historic Calle Ocho venue opens up its doors, spilling the sounds of Miami's best salsa bands onto the streets as revelers sip excellent mojitos and take to the wooden dancefloor. Ball & Chain also hosts free salsa and bachata dance classes regularly (check their website for the latest schedule), so you can brush up on your moves—or just watch the pros do their thing as they twirl and gyrate around the crowds.

On view from May 1 through October 12, ICA Miami debuts a landmark retrospective of Olga de Amaral, the visionary Colombian artist whose 60-year-plus career transformed textile and fiber art as it merged indigenous weaving with Bauhaus design and Modernist abstraction. Presented with Fondation Cartier, the show features over 50 works, from goldleaf Estelas to airy Brumas, including pieces originally commissioned for major public spaces and many never before seen outside Colombia. The show invites viewers to step into a meditative “vertical forest” designed by award-winning architect Lina Ghotmeh, where Amaral’s tactile, light-absorbing works take center stage.