Art Deco Alive!
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Miami Beach is home to the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture, a style that has become synonymous with the destination. Though it traces its roots as far back as 1910, Art Deco had its breakout at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris in 1925, and this year, Miami Beach is celebrating its 100th anniversary with Art Deco Alive! from October 9-12. The four-day festival will give visitors and locals a chance to tour some of Miami Beach’s most-iconic Art Deco buildings, attend Art Deco panels and a Roaring ‘20s cocktail party and celebrate the style that’s played an important role in the area’s history.
What’s Happening During Art Deco Alive!
Heritage Walks
October 9 from 11 a.m. to noon
Art Deco Alive! kicks off with a walking tour through the Art Deco Historic District at 11 a.m., beginning along famous Ocean Drive. You’ll head inside hallowed hotels like the Carlyle, Colony and Cavalier and hear the stories that hide in their history. Tickets are $40 and available through Eventbrite. The tour will be repeated on October 10.
Ocean Drive to Marine Drive: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco
Opens October 10
Art Deco Alive!’s traveling exhibition will showcase two of the pioneering architects of the Art Deco style, Henry Hohauser and Mumbai, India’s Master, Sathe & Bhuta architectural firm, with Ocean Drive to Marine Drive: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco. The exhibition will trace the twin arcs of Art Deco in Miami Beach and Mumbai, with inside looks at the people who created the cityscapes and the preservationists who’ve kept the buildings alive. The exhibition will be at the Art Deco Museum in South Beach through December 7. A special preview will be held October 8.
The Jewelry Edit
October 10-24
Art Deco style isn’t limited to buildings. Fashion has adopted it as well, and for two weeks, the luxury fashion boutique The Webster in South Beach will host several designers and their Art Deco jewelry creations during The Jewelry Edit. The artisans will be a mix of Indian and Latin Americans showcasing how Art Deco has contributed to their respective cultures.
1920s Cocktail Party
October 10, 6 p.m.
You’ll feel like you’re partying in the Roaring ‘20s at the Art Deco Museum when it hosts a special cocktail party. Guests are encouraged to dress in their Great Gatsby best. A live jazz band will play hits from a century ago, and cocktails and appetizers will be served. You’ll also have the chance to hobnob with Art Deco experts, collectors and architects as you immerse yourself in the heyday of the iconic style. Tickets are $125.
Art Deco Alive! Symposium
October 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Art Deco enthusiasts will want to attend the Art Deco Symposium at The Wolfsonian-FIU museum in South Beach. The program will consist of three panels examining the history, preservation and cultural significance of Art Deco.
The first panel, “The Beginnings of Art Deco,” will look closely at the design elements that shaped the architecture in Miami and Mumbai in the early 20th century.
“Preservation Becomes Power” will explore the movement to preserve the Art Deco Historic District in the late 20th century and how it made Miami Beach the city it is today.
Finally, during “Imagining the Future of Miami Rooted in Cultural Identity,” developers will discuss how Art Deco fits into the vision for Miami Beach’s future. Tickets are $240.
Family Day Tours
October 11 & 12 from 11 a.m. to noon
Families are encouraged to enjoy Miami Beach’s Art Deco history on a special kid-friendly walking tour. This family-focused version of the Heritage Walk will take you through the Art Deco Historic District and along Ocean Drive. Tickets are $40.
History of Art Deco in Miami Beach
As Miami Beach boomed into a vacation destination in the 1920s and ‘30s, the Art Deco style was also taking off across Europe. And as dozens of new hotels and apartment buildings popped up here, many architects adopted the fashionable style. Luminaries like Henry Hohauser and Lawrence Murray Dixon came to Miami Beach, giving us landmark buildings like The Colony, Cardozo and Ocean Plaza hotels.
After World War II, tourism to Miami Beach declined, and over the next few decades, many of the Art Deco gems fell into disrepair. By the 1970s, many stunning Art Deco masterpieces had been demolished by developers looking to build bigger, higher structures. In response, the Miami Design Preservation League, led by Barbara Captiman, spearheaded an effort to save Miami Beach’s signature style. In 1979, the Art Deco Historic District was born, ensuring Miami Beach would remain the Art Deco capital of the world. Today, you can learn all about it at the Art Deco Welcome Center in Lummus Park, open year-round.
By: Matthew Meltzer | September 29, 2025