The best Miami events in May 2025 to look forward to

Magic City Flea is Miami's most consistent pop-up vintage market, with events running around town every week—though, these days, it's usually posted up on Sundays along Flagler Street in Downtown for the Summer Evening Series from 3 to 8pm. Depending on the day and locale, find anywhere from 15 to more than 70 small shops committed to sourcing the most unique pieces and handcrafting sustainable wares. On Saturday, May 31st from noon to 3pm, the Flea is also popping up at the Legacy Fit flagship in Little River as part of BORN2CREATE, a free, community-focused event that brings together a workout class and cold plunge, a live DJ, local food trucks and more.

Looking for a solid excuse to scope out the newly remodeled and rebranded Shelborne by Proper? The Art Deco gem on South Beach just unveiled a well-deserved facelift by the laidback-luxury Proper Hospitality hotel group, and now its daily Aperitivo Hours provide the perfect reason to stop in and hang a while. Dubbed The Bar, the hotel's lobby lounge is serving a curated selection of coastal favorites in a relaxed, sunlit space that shifts seamlessly from day to night. From 5 to 7pm, partake in half-off select menu items, like a half-dozen fresh oysters with champagne mignonette and chives, Royal Ossetra caviar served with guac and tostadas, and signature cocktails like the avocado oil–washed Shelborne Martini and a tropical-ish espresso martini with reposado tequila and coconut.

PARAISO Miami Beach, the official Miami Swim Week, returns for its 21st edition with exclusive runway shows, brand activations, pop-ups and after-parties from May 28th through June 1st. It's the world’s largest and only official Swimwear Fashion Week, where runway glam and coastal cool collide in a sexy multi-day bender of resort wear and sun-drenched style. From luxury debuts to indie swim stars, PARAISO is the pulse of the swimwear industry—and a quintessential Miami summer scene.

Lest we need another reminder that Miami summers really bring the bugs out, Fairchild is throwing a larger-than-life celebration of our six-legged friends from May 23rd through September 28th. From towering robotic sculptures to a walk-through butterfly pavilion and AR selfie station, hands-on bug encounters and interactive trails, this family-friendly exhibit zooms in on the tiny world of bugs. Select dates will also include the Bugs on Parade insect runway shows, Wander & Glow illuminated nighttime trails, Bug Bites & Brews 21-plus tastings and Big Bug outdoor movies under the stars. Included with general admission; free for members.

On view from May 1 through October 12, ICA Miami debuts a landmark retrospective of Olga de Amaral, the visionary Colombian artist whose 60-year-plus career transformed textile and fiber art as it merged indigenous weaving with Bauhaus design and Modernist abstraction. Presented with Fondation Cartier, the show features over 50 works, from goldleaf Estelas to airy Brumas, including pieces originally commissioned for major public spaces and many never before seen outside Colombia. The show invites viewers to step into a meditative “vertical forest” designed by award-winning architect Lina Ghotmeh, where Amaral’s tactile, light-absorbing works take center stage.

Fairchild Garden is giving us a whole springtime fairy fantasy with the debut of this whimsical scavenger hunt, running from May 9th through June 15th. Follow themed clues left by mischievous sprites in 10 enchanted locations to discover a hidden Fairy Village where imagination blooms. Complete your quest to earn a sparkling fairy pin and a chance to win a Fairchild Family Membership. The self-guided adventure is included with general admission and free for members.

If you're looking for a trippy light show the whole family can enjoy, there's nowhere better than the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome. Every month, they host a night filled with mind-boggling visuals, music and fun, with a different theme every hour. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids ages four to 11. Refreshments and light snacks are available for purchase in the Main Atrium until 10pm. May 10: K-pop, Taylor Swift, Daft Punk and Bad Bunny June 13: Elton John, Queen, Lady Gaga and David Bowie July 12: ABBA (new show), Fleetwood Mac and Red Hot Chili Peppers 

The NYC-imported Smorgasburg, Miami's largest outdoor food market, returns to its Wynwood outpost for a new season featuring over 40 vendors (including 10 new concepts) and more shaded areas for noshing. Graze from a variety of local street foods, international fare, healthy options and inventive creations from the likes of Acai Way, Korean Kitchen, Kabuki Soba, The Lazy Oyster, La Picaña Grill, Lechona Truck, Tio Paella, Puro Chocolate, Cool & Creamy Truck and more.

Tuesday and Saturday nights are prime times to get an authentic taste of Miami's vibrant salsa scene at La Pachanga, a free live music and dance party in the heart of Little Havana. The historic Calle Ocho venue opens up its doors, spilling the sounds of Miami's best salsa bands onto the streets as revelers sip excellent mojitos and take to the wooden dancefloor. Ball & Chain also hosts free salsa and bachata dance classes regularly (check their website for the latest schedule), so you can brush up on your moves—or just watch the pros do their thing as they twirl and gyrate around the crowds.

Founded in 2016, this genre-defying Miami film festival is more than just cinema—it’s a space for resistance, celebration and reimagination through the lens of independent filmmakers from across the Caribbean diaspora. From May 29th through June 1st, Third Horizon pops up at venues across the city with another eclectic program of films, live performances, art and conversations. Expect to be challenged and inspired by the bold storytelling and visual innovation, with a healthy dose of political urgency.