Miami Carnival 2026: Dates, J'ouvert & Parade
Miami Broward Carnival is one of the biggest Caribbean carnivals in North America — mas, steelpan, soca, J'ouvert and island food every Columbus Day weekend. Here is what happened in 2026, and where to watch it all.
2026 schedule
- Sat, Oct 3 — Junior Carnival & Pan Jamboree, Tamarac Sports Complex (free, family-friendly).
- Fri, Oct 9 — Red Road Fete, Tamarac Village Amphitheater.
- Sat, Oct 10 — Official J'ouvert, Central Broward Park — 20+ paint and powder bands.
- Sun, Oct 11 — Carnival Day Parade & Fete, Central Broward Park — 16+ mas bands, live concert, food village.
Miami J'ouvert
J'ouvert starts before dawn: paint, powder, mud and oil behind the music trucks, dancing into sunrise. Many say it is the best part of Miami Carnival. Wear clothes you can throw away.
Carnival Day Parade
On Sunday the mas bands cross the stage in full costume — feathers, beads and colour — followed by a concert with international soca artists.
Questions people ask
When is Miami Carnival 2026?
Miami Broward Carnival 2026 ran over two weekends, Saturday October 3 to Sunday October 11, 2026 — Columbus Day weekend. The Carnival Day Parade & Fete was Sunday, October 11.
Where is Miami Carnival held?
For 2026 the carnival moved fully to Broward County for the first time: Junior Carnival at Tamarac Sports Complex, Red Road Fete at Tamarac Village Amphitheater, and J'ouvert and the parade at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium.
When is Miami J'ouvert?
The official Miami Carnival J'ouvert was Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Central Broward Park, with more than 20 paint and powder bands.
When is Miami Carnival every year?
Miami Carnival is held every October over Columbus Day weekend, with J'ouvert on the Saturday and the parade of the bands on the Sunday.
Watch Miami Carnival on MasLife World TV
Hundreds of Miami Carnival videos — J'ouvert, the parade of the bands and the fetes, from 2026 and past years.
