Grant Recipients

The South Beach Seafood Festival celebrating its14^th year, will be taking place Wednesday, October 21 – Saturday, October 24, 2026. As the heartbeat of South Florida’s culinary soul, this event kicks off the season every October showcasing our powerhouse culinary teams and their fresh seafood dishes with jaw-dropping chef competitions, exclusive dinners and time on the beach to enjoy it all. The events range from intimate dinners to beach bash competitions, a South Beach Seafood Slam and the Chef Showdown.  The event showcases the talents of South Florida’s leading chefs and culinary leaders, with the event's proceeds ultimately benefitting the EAT SMART program which provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to Florida’s youth through programs at Miami Dade County Public Schools.

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No Vacancy Miami Beach, taking place over 5 weeks, beginning Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, December 19, 2026, is a contemporary art experience that celebrates artists, provokes critical discourse, and invites the public to experience Miami Beach’s famed hotels as destination art spaces by turning hotels into temporary cultural institutions – the very definition of Cultural Tourism. Art will be exhibited throughout twelve (12) hotels in Miami Beach, where lobbies, restaurants, lounges, patio areas, rooms, balconies and swimming pools may serve as a canvas. A total of 228 artists expressed interest in participating in the program this year. No Vacancy is committed to providing art experiences that are accessible to everyone, free and open to the public as well as reinventing Cultural Tourism on Miami Beach.

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The URGE Miami Thanksgiving Festival is a four-day circuit party held annually over the Thanksgiving Weekend in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. It features internationally known DJs, themed nightlife events, a beach party, pool gatherings and after-hour celebrations. The demographic target is primarily adults from 21-40 years of age with strong interest in dance, electronic, and circuit music culture. This event will take place from Friday, November 27 - Monday, November 30,2026, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with a total of 6 events on Miami Beach and 1 other on the mainland.  There will be three significant evening events: a Sunday Beach party and a Monday morning after-hours event. All events, with the exception of one, will take place in Miami Beach.

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Founded in 2006, the INK Miami Art Fair will celebrate its 20^th iteration Wednesday, December 2 through Sunday, December 6, 2026. This is a satellite fair taking place during Miami Art Week dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary works on paper. Since its inception, INK has been committed to showcasing both 20^th century masterworks and newly published editions by international-recognized contemporary artists.

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The Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights will make the holiday season a bit brighter with a blend of music, lights, and projection mapping displays that celebrate the rich tapestry of international holiday traditions intended to captivate audiences of all ages. Taking place from Wednesday, December 9, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027 and presented by the Miami Music Festival. The festival will feature 6 nights of live performances  with 11 total concerts  spanning a variety of genres and will include appearances by holiday characters such as Santa Claus, Elsa (Frozen) and the Grinch. Shows will take place at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM each evening. There will be 1 afternoon concert at 5:00 PM that will celebrate the New Year in a grand, orchestral concert on January 1^st.  The innovative use of projection mapping technology combined with music will create exciting and memorable experiences for all to enjoy. The technology creates vibrant imagery onto 5 iconic buildings along Ocean Drive including The Betsy.

The College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl Game will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday, January 14, 2027, with the ancillary events taking place between Sunday, December 13, 2026 and Thursday, January 14, 2027 throughout South Florida. The game will be televised on ESPN and promoted regionally and nationwide as well as on TNT Television Network (through a sub-license) and ESPN’s family of networks. In addition, as the official broadcast provider of the football game, ESPN Radio, along with the participating teams’ radio networks, are expected to deliver the game's broadcast. This year, a 12-team bracket will be announced on December 6, 2026, after which the Orange Bowl Committee will embark on a national and regional marketing effort to encourage fans to travel to South Florida for the game. The Orange Bowl features a week of exciting events including Welcome Dinners, the AvMed Orange Bowl Beach Run, Bacardi Orange Bowl Rhapsody, Media Party, Game Officials Dinner, and Capital One Orange Bowl Pep Rally. A total of 10 events are scheduled, of which 5 will take place on Miami Beach. Event venues will include South Pointe Park, Joe’s Stone Crab, Fontainebleau Hotel, Lincoln Road and others.

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Now celebrating its 25^th year in 2027, the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon will take place Friday, January 29 – Sunday, January 31, 2027 and is a favorite “racecation” for runners from around the world. The event consists of 3 components including a Health and Fitness Expo at the Mana Wynwood, a Saturday Tropical 5k race (3.1 miles) which takes runners by the cruise port, the Art Deco District, and ends at Nikki Beach. All events lead up to the signature Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday.  

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