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Florida

🎭 3–11 Oct 2026 (Miami Carnival)

🗺️ Plan this carnival💰 Estimate cost🎭 First time?

Florida hosts several Caribbean style carnivals from Miami Broward and beyond where diaspora culture and soca take over park spaces and streets.

What to Expect

Miami Carnival is one of the two biggest Caribbean carnivals in North America and the closest thing the US has to a Trinidad road experience. It is run across two counties — lead-up events in Broward, the parade and concert in Miami-Dade — and pulls well over 100,000 people. The 2026 edition is the 42nd, which tells you this is an institution rather than a pop-up.

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2026 runs 3–11 October: the 42nd edition, presented by the Miami-Broward One Carnival Host Committee

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J'ouvert on Saturday 10 October at Central Broward Park; Parade & Concert on Sunday 11 October

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Junior Carnival and Pan Jamboree open the season on 3 October at Tamarac Sports Complex

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Over 100,000 attendees — one of North America's largest Caribbean celebrations

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Two counties: most lead-up events sit in Broward, the main parade in Miami-Dade

Places to Stay

3 options

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East Miami

East Miami

Intercontinental Miami An Ihg Hotel

Intercontinental Miami An Ihg Hotel

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The Moore Miami

Ride-Hailing Apps

Uber

Available across Florida — Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale. Essential for Miami Carnival in October.

Lyft

Good alternative to Uber, especially in South Florida.

Things To Do

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Some links below are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

From Miami: Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer

From Miami: Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer

Miami: Self-drive Jetski Adventure

Miami: Self-drive Jetski Adventure

Getting Around

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A hire car is close to essential — Miami Carnival events are split between Broward and Miami-Dade counties, about 40 minutes apart.

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Metrorail and Metromover cover central Miami but not the carnival venues, which are suburban.

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Uber and Lyft both operate widely and are the usual choice on parade day, when parking near the venue is scarce.

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Driving is on the right.

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Check which county your event is in before booking a hotel — this is the mistake visitors most often make.

Typical Costs from the UK

Return flights (UK, direct to MIA)£450–£800
Mas costume£250–£600
Fetes & events (3–5)£120–£350
Accommodation (5 nights)£500–£1,100
Food, drink & transport£250–£500
Total (estimated)£1,570–£3,350

Estimates only — prices vary by airline, timing and section choice. Use the budget calculator to build your own breakdown.

When to Book

Miami Carnival falls over Columbus Day weekend in October, with J'ouvert on the Saturday and the parade on the Sunday. Flights are the easy part — Miami is one of the best-served long-haul routes from the UK and October is shoulder season, so fares are reasonable if booked a few months out. Sort ESTA before anything else. The thing people get wrong is geography: events are split between Broward and Miami-Dade, which are 40 minutes apart, so check where your events actually are before booking a hotel, and budget for a hire car or rideshare. Mas band registration opens in the spring and the big bands sell out.

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