A brand-new month brings a fresh start and the perfect excuse to kick off 2026 with a bang. Whether you’re looking to keep the holiday spirit alive with dazzling lights or dive into the city’s latest cultural highlights, we’ve curated the ultimate guide to filling your calendar.
From high-octane sporting events to delicious food festivals, here are the top things to do in Miami this January:
Making up Miami’s many spectacular light shows is NightGarden, an immersive after-dark experience transforming Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden into a neon-lit wonderland. Running through January 11, the season brings hundreds of new light installations, a talking tree, pixie quest, nightly dance parties and more fun for the whole family! Get your tickets to NightGarden here.
Celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King
There are so many things to do in Miami on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19th. One activity is making sure you catch Liberty City’s annual MLK Parade, which follows the eight miles that Dr. King passed through during his frequent visits to the city. The parade will begin at 11 a.m.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at the 19th annual Festival of Chocolate at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on January 24 to 25! The two-day extravaganza will feature top chocolatiers, chocolate pairings with wine, tasting sessions, cooking demos, kid-friendly activities, a retail marketplace and much more. Read here.
A magnificent world awaits behind every wall at Superblue Miami’s experiential art center. A hub for interactive artwork, Superblue invites visitors to journey through a reflective mirror, experience what it’s like to walk among the clouds, and more! It’s the perfect wintertime activity for all ages, so be sure to grab tickets here.
Immerse yourself in flourishing creativity during 2026 National YoungArts Week from January 5-10. Don’t miss this amazing chance to meet the next generation of visionary artists across 10 disciplines. These talented minds from all over the world gather in Miami to learn from leaders in their fields and create lifelong connections.
Engage with a space that blooms with imagination through a series of remarkable public showcases, featuring film screenings, live performances & much more at Miami’s most iconic venues such as New World Center, Historic Lyric Theater, and the beloved YoungArts Campus!
Step into the canvas — secure your seat now!
Opening February 19 under the Big Top at Gulfstream Park, this dreamy show is making its highly anticipated arrival to South Florida. LUZIA, a name derived from the Spanish words for light and rain, is the first touring Cirque production to integrate water into its acts, featuring a majestic rain curtain that serves as a backdrop for incredible aerialists. Don’t miss all the breathtaking acrobatics and visuals by grabbing tickets here.
This is an incredible museum you have to see to believe. Set in Wynwood, you can enjoy over 70 interactive exhibits that challenge perceptions and defy the laws of physics. Experience the curious sensation of zero gravity, camouflage yourself in the walls and split yourself into pieces on their famed couch. Snag tickets to Paradox Museum Miami here.
Go off to the races at this year’s Pegasus World Cup
One of the premier thoroughbred horse racing events in the world, the 2026 Pegasus World Cup returns to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 24. It’ll be an exciting day of world-class sport, hospitality and entertainment, with A-list celebrity attendees, fashion icons, influencers, avid fans and performers at the iconic event.
Head to the Miami Jewish Film Festival
The 29th annual Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF), the largest Jewish film festival in the country, returns on January 14 with two weeks worth of programming that concludes on January 29. This year’s lineup is its most expansive to date, featuring more than 100 films and screenings all across the city.
Get lost in a number of familiar tunes this January with a visit to a gorgeous Candlelight concert. Taking place at some of the most enchanting venues across the city, such as the Coral Gables Congregational Church and Scottish Rite, these performances are a feast for the eyes and the ears. Grab tickets to the following shows taking place this month:
Groove to the South Beach Jazz Festival
Jazz lovers, rejoice! The South Beach Jazz Festival returns for its 10th edition on January 8 to 11 with the promise of good times and good music. Taking place across multiple Miami Beach venues, the festival celebrates disability awareness, accessibility, opportunity and inclusion, all brought to life through the universal language of the genre.
Now in its 49th year, Art Deco Weekend is back in Miami Beach from January 9 to 11 for some of the city’s most design-forward structures, including hotels and landmarks seen in Hollywood films and popular culture over the past century. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Air, Land & Sea,” explores how travel innovations of the 1920s and ’30s shaped the city’s iconic architecture. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, attend curated design lectures at The Wolfsonian–FIU or browse the artisan market along Ocean Drive. Learn more.
Hello Miami! The massively popular cafe on wheels is rolling into CityPlace Doral for its third consecutive year on Saturday, January 24. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., fans can flock to the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck to snag exclusive 10th anniversary treats like specialty cookies and macaron sets, alongside a treasure trove of limited-edition merchandise. Just make sure to arrive early! Learn more.
Calling all museum-goers! Miami is full of art and historic museums and most have special “free” days when entrance fees are waived completely. So whether you’re a college student on a budget or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, you can see our list on free museum days here.
This dazzling show is illuminating the city this January. Over the course of 60 mesmerizing minutes, graceful ballerinas take to the stage to enchant the audience with their raw talent, immaculate routines and spectacular costumes adorned with fibre-optic lights. They twist and turn to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s timeless compositions in Sleeping Beauty, putting a luminous twist on this 100-year-old classic. Get tickets to Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty Dance & Light Show!
If you haven’t already, you’ve still got time to visit the Pop Mart pop-up shop at Aventura Mall! Located on the lower level by Bloomingdale’s, this exclusive retail experience is the first of its kind in South Florida, bringing the world of designer art toys and mystery boxes to life. Whether you’re hunting for your next Labubu or looking to snag a SKULLPANDA collectible, the pop-up is only here until January 18th!
Unleash your inner foodie at the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival
Indulge your palate at the 7th annual Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival, returning January 19 to 25. The weeklong epicurean celebration, in partnership with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, transforms Greater Fort Lauderdale into a premier culinary destination, featuring a roster of Michelin-recognized restaurants and James Beard-nominated talent. Attendees can look forward to high-energy tastings and immersive demonstrations from national stars like Richard Blais, Eddie Jackson, Nancy Fuller and more.