Miami Carnival Parade & Fete
Oct 11, 2026
From: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Caribbean music, masquerade bands and Carnival pageantry take center stage in Broward County on Sunday, October 11, when the Miami Carnival Parade & Fete closes out the 2026 festival at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill. The broader Miami Broward Carnival celebration runs October 3–11, with events in Tamarac and Lauderhill leading up to the signature Sunday celebration. The annual festival brings together live music, traditional costumes, island cuisine and cultural programming rooted in Caribbean Carnival traditions.
What to Expect at the 2026 Miami Carnival
The 2026 edition of Miami Carnival, presented by the Miami-Broward One Carnival Host Committee, showcases Caribbean culture through live performances, masquerade traditions, steelpan, food and visual artistry.
The festival brings participants and visitors from across South Florida, the Caribbean and beyond for a celebration shaped by soca, steelpan and the elaborate costumes and storytelling of masquerade bands. Throughout Carnival Day, attendees can also explore the Caribbean Food Village, arts and crafts vendors, cultural experiences and family-friendly entertainment.
The centerpiece arrives Sunday, when more than 16 masquerade bands take to the route at Central Broward Park, transforming the grounds into a moving display of costume design, music and competitive creativity. The parade transitions into a live fete featuring international Caribbean performers.
The Main Event: Miami Carnival Parade of Bands & Fete
On Sunday, October 11, the Miami Carnival Parade & Fete brings the festival to its finale at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill. More than 16 masquerade bands will present elaborate costumes accompanied by music, dance and the communal “jump up” traditions associated with Caribbean Carnival.
After the parade, the celebration shifts into a live concert experience featuring international Caribbean entertainment. The surrounding Carnival Day programming includes the Caribbean Food Village, arts and crafts vendors, cultural experiences and sponsor activations. The event is presented by Visit Lauderdale and powered by the City of Lauderhill and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Tickets
Tickets for the Miami Carnival Parade & Fete are available through the official Miami Carnival ticketing partner, CaribTix. Ticket options and prices may vary as the event approaches.
How to Join the Carnival Festivities Before the Main Event
The celebration begins Saturday, October 3 with Junior Carnival, where young masqueraders take part in the traditions of mas through costume design, dance and competition. The program introduces a new generation to Carnival culture through events including band, junior soca and Junior King and Queen competitions. The current ticket listing places Junior Carnival at Tamarac Sports Complex.
On Friday, October 9, Pan Jamboree puts the steelpan at the center of the festival with an evening devoted to one of the Caribbean’s defining musical traditions. Steelbands and pan players bring the instrument’s distinctive melodic sound into the Carnival setting, continuing a tradition long associated with the festival.
The Official J’ouvert follows Saturday, October 10 at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill. The early-day celebration brings together soca, paint, powder and movement, drawing on the street traditions that distinguish J’ouvert from the formal masquerade parade that follows.
By: Tracy Block | July 28, 2026