These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

The Weeknd's ongoing After Hours 'til Dawn Tour, previously titled The After Hours Tour, entered its second North American leg in four years this May and has since criss-crossed the continent from Chicago to Inglewood, Toronto to Philly. On Friday, August 15th and Saturday, August 16th, Abel Tesfaye returns to Hard Rock Stadium for steamy back-to-back shows in Miami Gardens. This time, he's joined by openers rapper Playboi Carti and producer Mike Dean.

Cirque du Soleil’s OVO inhabits the Kaseya Center August 14th through 17th, bringing its colorful, expressionistic celebration of insect biodiversity told through acrobatics, dance and color. Originally a big top show, the reimagined arena production follows a lively community of bugs as they work, play and fall in love—complete with high-flying scarabs, juggling ants and a gravity-defying spider on slackwire. Highlights include a mystifying vertical wall routine, soaring butterfly duet and a Russian cradle act where performers fly across the stage. Multiple performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Mids Market platforms Miami's indie art scene with Little River Art Walk, a new open-air night market and indoor-outdoor block party going down on Saturday, August 16th. From 8pm to midnight, explore original work by more than 50 local artists and makers, graze from local food and drink pop-ups and vibe to chilled DJ sets under the stars. It’s part art fair, part neighborhood hang, with extended thrifting hours inside Mids Market and free entry with RSVP.

ZeyZey in Little River looks like it could be a friend’s bohemian bungalow—if your friend had their own natural wine gazebo, custom sound system and vinyl listening room, shipping container cocktail bar and mainstage for live performances. This weekend, the team has curated another lineup of fun parties and eclectic shows, including a live set from SBTRKT on Friday, August 15th. Our last encounter with the enigmatic English musician, producer and DJ was ahead of his 2023 performance at III Points. True to form, fans can expect a layered sonic journey woven with forward-thinking dance tracks, with hints of a forthcoming new album that dives headfirst into his intricate and synth-heavy electronic roots.

After last year's sold-out seven-week run, the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival is back with a brand-new production by artistic director Michael Rossi. The psychedelic, space-themed show blends the power of a full orchestra with cutting-edge projection-mapping technology inside Miami Beach’s first permanent immersive theater at Temple Emanu-El. Audiences are wrapped in 360 degrees of live music and visuals for a multisensory experience that transforms traditional orchestra. The galactic program includes Hans Zimmer’s most iconic compositions from Interstellar, Inception and Dune.

Little Havana’s street party and gallery walk, Viernes Culturales, happens every third Friday of the month along Calle Ocho between 13th and 17th Avenues. Running strong for more than 20 years, it celebrates Latin culture with an old-school pachanga, featuring art exhibits, an artisan market at Domino Plaza, live music and dancing in one of Miami’s most famous cultural hubs. 

An evening-turned-to-day on Club Space’s Terrace is a veritable rite of passage for any club kid. With a well-timed disco nap, lots of espresso martinis or your preferred stay-awake method, you too can experience the after-hours euphoria of dancing as the sun comes up on the iconic Space terrace. This weekend, the lineup includes legendary Finnish DJ and producer Darude celebrating the 25th anniversary of his global hit, "Sandstorm," at The Ground on Friday, August 15th. That same night, English electronic musician and DJ Elderbrook plays a DJ set upstairs on the Terrace, with opening support from Enamour.

This moody live music series has been popping up in some of Miami's most intimate and iconic locales for years now. But the Candlelight Concerts at the historic Scottish Rite Temple just might be the most stunning yet. Set in a grand, atmospheric example of Egyptian Revival architecture built in 1924, these dimly lit performances transform the space with hundreds of glowing candles and live orchestral interpretations of modern music by local talent. What began as a classical series featuring composers like Mozart and Chopin now includes tributes to artists like Queen, Coldplay and BTS, plus themed shows featuring jazz, flamenco, film scores and more. Find the full weekend schedule below.

Saturday, August 16
6:30pm - Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings
9pm - Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele

Two of Miami's fiercest queer party promoters join forces for a high-voltage anime-themed rager at South Beach's iconic M2 nightclub. The late-night dance party on Saturday, August 16th features two rooms with two distinct sounds, curated by Urge Miami and Midnight Service. Jerac and Thomas Soulvert set the mood all night long in the Urge room, while Midnight Service delivers darker underground vibes with sets by Miguel Clark, Naim Zarzour, Griffin Maxwell Brooks, Homes and Robyn Sin Love. Doors open at 10pm and tickets start at $42.20.

Order a spritz, breathe in the salty air and imagine you're on the Amalfi coast celebrating Ferragosto, a national Italian day of rest that calls for ample sunshine and relaxation. From August 15th through the 17th, Regatta Gove teams up with S. Pellegrino to bring the coastal revelry to Miami, serving up a special menu of Italian cocktails, pizza, music and dancing along the waterfront. Admission to the weekend-long party is free with RSVP, and table reservations are also available.

Located at the base of the trendy Arlo Wynwood, Wyn Wyn hosts a charming al fresco jazz night on the patio every Friday from 7 to 10pm. Make a reservation to enjoy the restaurant's fresh Latin-Asian fare paired with live samba, bossa nova and MPB (música popular Brasileira) under the stars.

Books and boozing have gone hand in hand since the dawn of literature—or so we like to imagine. Available daily through September 21st, the Books & Books Summer Reading Series at The Commodore (inside The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove) invites guests to sip and flip through Miami-inspired reads. Hide away from the summer elements in the handsome hotel bar, order a cocktail crafted by local mixologist Gio Gutierrez, borrow a paired book to enjoy while you sip, then return it before heading out. Boozy bookworms will also score 10% off their next purchase at Books & Books Coconut Grove. Cocktails are $20 each and include the Havana Especial paired with The Last Train to Paradise, the Dérive paired with Seeing Differently: Miami Color Theory and Fuacata paired with Ventanitas: A Window Into Miami’s Coffee Culture. One-off author events include Les Standiford (July 10) and Laura Paresky Gould (August 21).

LIV has been leading the pack in Miami’s club scene since it debuted in 2008 as the crown jewel of the Fontainebleau Hotel’s unprecedented billion-dollar renovation. This Friday, August 15th, lock in for a rowdy late-night performance by Atlanta-born rapper Playboi Carti, headlining the official afterparty after his set opening for The Weeknd at Hard Rock Stadium. On Saturday, August 16th, Canadian DJ duo Loud Luxury stops in for another set.

This casual backyard kiki happens every Sunday afternoon this summer at Willy's Neighborhood Bar, honoring the New York-born gay social tradition that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. Back then, the dances included tea service (a nod to traditional tea dances of the English countryside) and were a place for singles to meet, since it was illegal for bars in New York to sell alcohol to people known to be gay. Over time, tea dances proliferated everywhere from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Provincetown, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Willy's is the latest local spot to carry the torch. The free party features DJs and happy hours from 5 to 7pm. The first 50 RSVPs to check in with the host before 8pm will receive a token to redeem a free shot at the bar.

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. Hours have shifted from 2 to 10pm every Saturday and Sunday this summer.

Bodega is celebrating Miami's bountiful mango season the best way we can think of—with free cocktails. Through Sunday, August 31st, hand over a fresh mango to the bartender at any Bodega location (South Beach, Coconut Grove or Coral Gables) and score a free Mango Tango cocktail. The tropical concoction includes Dobel Diamante, 1800 Coconut, mango puree, pineapple and lime juice. No mango? No worries: this refreshing seasonal bevvie is available to purchase for $16. Limit one free drink per guest.

Pioneering modern Peruvian chef Jaime Pesaque brings his vibrant, award-winning Nikkei culinary interpretations to the Magic City for a limited residency on the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami in Brickell. Chef Pesaque's Lima restaurant, Mayta, recently ranked No. 39 in the annual World’s 50 Best Restaurants guide. Expect a selection of his signature dishes, like Ceviche Limeño with corvina, leche de tigre, sweet potato and cilantro, served in a lively indoor-outdoor dining room perched in the heart of the city.

Think of it as a fun foray into an exciting new technology—or a harbinger of the imminent robot takeover. Either way, this new exhibition at Frost Science aims to fascinate with four thought-provoking sections that trace the evolution of AI and feature everything from research to artistic collaborations. Curated and organized by the City of London’s Barbican Centre and co-produced by Groningen Forum, Netherlands, AI: More Than Human presents works by leading artists, scientists and researchers, exploring what it means to be human, the definition of consciousness, ethics around AI and whether machines will ever outsmart us.

Miami graffiti legend Jona Cerwinske flips the script on failure in Dog Ate My Homework, his new solo show opening on June 7th at the Museum of Graffiti. Instrumental in Wynwood's genesis as a street art mecca, Cerwinske brings his signature black-and-white, super-detailed aesthetic to a playful, immersive exhibition that reimagines classic classroom excuses as bold, satirical masterpieces. Curated by Alan Ket, the show merges street culture and contemporary art while exploring blame, creativity and the beauty of imperfection. A free opening party on Saturday, June 7th includes music by DJ Top Cat, drinks at the Modelo bar and artist-Levi's Trucker jackets while supplies last.

Lest we need another reminder that Miami summers really bring the bugs out, Fairchild is throwing a larger-than-life celebration of our six-legged friends from May 23rd through September 28th. From towering robotic sculptures to a walk-through butterfly pavilion and AR selfie station, hands-on bug encounters and interactive trails, this family-friendly exhibit zooms in on the tiny world of bugs. Select dates will also include the Bugs on Parade insect runway shows, Wander & Glow illuminated nighttime trails, Bug Bites & Brews 21-plus tastings and Big Bug outdoor movies under the stars. Included with general admission; free for members.

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.

R House in Wynwood has earned its crown as the queen of mainland Miami drag brunches. This adults-only spectacle takes over the dining room and patio every weekend with high-energy performances, Latin-inspired eats and bottomless mimosas, sangria and mojitos. Brunch is $60 per person (or $80 for the premium seats) and includes the show, drinks and a family-style feast—just be sure to book early, since it sells out fast. If you do miss your chance to snag a brunch seat, R House also serves up weekly evening drag shows and themed drag bingo nights.

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.

Nestled in the lobby of The Betsy, a Michelin-awarded hotel famed for its arts programming, The Piano Bar hosts Miami Beach’s longest-running live music series. The space's relaxed, Old Havana atmosphere gets amped up by a rotating roster of local and visiting talent, with free public jazz shows nightly through December starting at 6pm. Some of the scheduled musicians include Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen, composer Leonard Reina, Beau Cornelius, Pato Romero, Brian Murphy and Jim Gasior. Food and drinks are available for purchase from LT Steak & Seafood, The Betsy's on-site restaurant by chef Laurent Tourondel.

In this seductive new production at Faena Theater, free-spirited heroine Carmen finds herself in a labyrinth of two opposing lovers. The provocative, adults-only journey explores themes of devotion, jealousy and betrayal as it blends elements of flamenco, cabaret, fire artistry, cirque nouveau and modern beats, all infused with a Spanish flavor. Master of Ceremonies Mimi Barber lends her soulful vocals to the show, accompanied by an award-winning ensemble and stunning visuals that all come together to breathe new life into this reinterpreted classic.

Miami's biggest night for improv comedy happens every Saturday at Villain Theater in the heart of Little Haiti. Enjoy original, spontaneous live performances from some of the fiercest improvisers across South Florida. Shout out a suggestion and become a part of the action as the theater's talented cast of actors spins hysterical yarns over the course of two Second City-style improv shows. Mingle and sip beers in the lobby lounge in between sets: A ticket grants you access to both the 8:30 and 10pm showtimes.

The Coconut Grove Farmers Market is probably Miami’s most well-known. Every Saturday, Homestead's Glaser Organic Farms transforms an unoccupied corner of Coconut Grove into a full-fledged produce market with dozens of fruit and vegetable stands, a raw bar featuring prepared foods and salads and coolers filled with cold-pressed juices and nut mylks. There’s even velvety vegan ice cream for sale and several rows of picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy your bounty.

Along its periphery, you’ll find other local vendors selling honey, homemade soaps, handmade jewelry and other artisanal items. And the setup and breakdown are so fascinating to watch! Much like the circus leaving town, everyone quickly dismantles their tents and packs up just after sunset, leaving no trace of the bustling day on the empty gravel lot.