February being the peak month of the peak season means top things to do Miami 2026 in all our favorite areas — food, culture, boating and entertainment. Check them out!
One of my favorite art benefits of the year is the Lowe Art Museum’s Evening of Art thanks to the Palette Project art exhibit and auction.. This festive event brings together art collectors, museum patrons, and community supporters to celebrate creativity and culture in a fun, after-hours setting. Guests enjoy an evening featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, exclusive gallery access, and the popular auction. There’s also after-hours access to the Lowe Art Museum’s encyclopedic permanent collection galleries and dynamic temporary exhibitions, including Petah Coyne: How Much A Heart Can Hold.
Funds raised during the event support the Lowe’s exhibitions, educational outreach, and public programming, helping to maintain the museum’s commitment to accessibility and arts education for all.
Details:
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford, Drive, Coral Gables, FL, 33146
Ticket Information
General Admission: $325 ($145 tax-deductible)
Young Collectors: (ages 35 and under): $200 ($145 tax-deductible)
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is back, February 11-15 and at four locations including the Miami Beach Convention Center and Downtown. For more information, click here.
Love this one, Creativity Exploration: Sweet Sculptures at the NSU Art Museum on Valentine’s Day no less! This is a workshop to create sculptures inspired by Naomi Peterson’s sculptures of cake, bon bons, and confections. It’s part of a series of Creativity Exploration adult workshops promote the benefits of material exploration and the mind-to-body experience. Here’s what it says in the class description, ” Studies have shown that 45 minutes of creative activity a day reduces stress and offers mental clarity and relaxation. In addition to producing a sense of well-being, sessions expand participants’ perceptions of forms while increasing brain connectivity through visual and cognitive stimulation.” The workshop is led by educator Lark Keeler, a specialist in mindfulness education.
Preregistration Required. Space is Limited.
Veteran discount tickets thanks to Spirit Charitable Foundation.
Date of event: 2/14/2026
Time: Noon – 1:30 pm
Pricing: $15 for members; $25 for non-members
Location: NSU Art Museum, One East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
Ages: 18+
Now here’s something fun and different to do to start the new year. I went with two girlfriends and we loved it! Rishtedar Indian restaurant that I’ve written about before now has a new bar Rishtedar 305 next to the restaurant. It’s a completely new Indian mixology and nightlife bar operating as its own immersive world.
Its mixology program treats each drink like storytelling, blending Indian aromatics with modern techniques and house infusions. Early standouts include the Spicy Mango Margarita, Masala Mule, and Huerto Hindú, along with vibrant zero-proof options like Watermelon Holi Heat and Mango Masala Mirage.
The space transforms throughout the week — Bollywood-inspired energy on Thursdays, a dreamy, atmospheric Vimana night on Fridays, and a high-voltage dual-concept experience on Saturdays. It’s playful, transportive, and unlike anything else in Wynwood’s nightlife scene.
A late-night food menu complements the cocktails with globally inspired Indian bites such as crispy butter chicken, tikka and paneer sandwiches, lamb seekh kebab, and their signature Mumbai hot dog. Rooted in the brand’s Chilean origins, the menu uses the sandwich as a cultural bridge, balancing bold spices with accessibility for an international palate.
The food is delicious. For my tastes, it’s the best Indian food in Miami (and I’ve been to India three times so have eaten it in the “motherland”).
Rishtedar, 232 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127.
IGNITE Broward, with over 80000 visitors last year,has become a major cultural draw in South Florida. This year it will be back February 13-22 premier festival featuring an array of public interactive light- and sound-based art installations, its immersive large-scale projection mapping, interactive light sculptures and installations, sound-based experiences, musical performances and family-friendly programming by local, national and international artists. In addition, this year will feature a showcase of young emerging local artists from MAD Art & Tech Studio Program, who will debut their work at IGNITE Broward. For a list of participating artists, click here.
The 2026 edition is the festival’s most ambitious yet, running for 10 days with over 25 displays across four Broward County locations: MAD Arts in Dania Beach, Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, ArtsPark at Young Circle in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
This year’s program will also feature inflatable light sculptures—a new addition to IGNITE Broward—by the renowned national collective Pneuhaus, as well as experimental Super 8 video screenings by artist Phil Evans and the Barcelona-based film collective Dostoopos.
The festival is free and open to the public, continuing its mission of making art accessible for all. For a full list of events and festival information, visit IGNITEbroward.com and follow @browardarts.
The Miami Design District announces the return of Miami Concours. Set throughout the neighborhood, the three-day exhibition (Feb.13-15) brings together iconic post-war automobiles, rare vintage supercars, and cutting-edge hypercars—framed by the Miami Design District’s architecture, luxury retail and cultural programming. New for 2026, Sunday’s Red Carpet Showcase will be a ticketed experience, offering curated access and enhanced programming,
This year’s Miami Concours places a special focus on the future of hypercars. Two spotlight presentations anchor the weekend: one tracing the legacy of the V12 through the work of Luc Donckerwolke, beginning with his iconic Murciélago design; and another examining American ambition through a showcase of supercars shaped by visionaries such as Carroll Shelby and today’s emerging builders.
Miami Concours weekend unfolds with:
- Friday, February 13: A ticketed Drive-In Movie Night
- Saturday, February 14: An intimate VIP Collectors Dinner
- Sunday, February 15: The Red Carpet Showcase
General Admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase HERE.
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Jazz lovers take note. Coming up is the 29th Annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival Weekend February 26 through March 1, 2026. Founded in 1996 by internationally acclaimed jazz trumpet legend and Miami native Melton Mustafa Sr., the festival celebrates jazz as a living art form and a powerful vehicle for mentorship, education, and artistic preservation. Tickets are available at:https://mmjf29.eventbrite.com.
Festival Lineup Highlights
The 29th Annual Festival Weekend features a dynamic lineup of Grammy Award–winning, Grammy-recognized, and nationally touring artists, alongside distinguished educators and emerging talent.
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7–9 p.m. at Lorna’s Caribbean & American Grill: Kickoff featuring Jesse Jones Jr. Quartet with special guests.
Friday, February 27, 2026, 8–10 p.m., at The Gardens Cigar & Whiskey Lounge: Funk Jazz All Stars deliver an energetic jazz-and-groove night.
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. at Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center: Student workshops, performances, masterclasses, band showcases, and food trucks featuring the Florida Memorial University Jazz Ensemble and Broward College Big Band.
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 6–9 p.m. at Miami Lakes Hotel / Courtyard: Evening performances by DEB’I United and Jerald Dorsett & Friends.
Sunday, March 1, 2026, 5–9 p.m. at Lou Rawls Performing Arts Center, Florida Memorial University: Red Carpet & VIP Reception with New World SOTA Jazz Ensemble, followed by MMJF Concert featuring FMU Alumni Chorale, Steel Pan Ensemble, Jazz All-Stars, Melton Mustafa Orchestra, and guest artists.
A portion of festival proceeds supports MSM Arts United Inc., the festival’s nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to music education in underserved communities. Proceeds help establish an endowed music scholarship for talented, at-risk youth pursuing the arts.
