The best things to do in Miami this week

A monumental collection of modern art has landed in Miami by way of Berlin’s Museum Berggruen, featuring nearly 100 works by artists such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Paul Klee, and others. On view October 29, 2026 through February 28, 2027, the exhibition traces key movements and figures of early European modernism, including Heinz Berggruen, the famed art collector and dealer behind this storied collection. Highlights include Matisse’s iconic cut-outs, Giacometti’s haunting sculptures, early Cubism works by Picasso, and Cézanne’s vibrant post-impressionist paintings.

Back for its 13th year, Miami Film Festival GEMS offers eight days of cinematic fun with exclusive screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and red carpet moments. Events take place all over South Florida including Coral Gables Art Cinema, the Koubek Center near Little Havana, and Silverspot Cinema in Downtown. Catch the Florida premiere of Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid, get a first look at Oscar hopefuls like Fjord and All of a Sudden, or experience Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with a special 20th anniversary screening at Vizcaya. On Monday, November 2, actor John Turturro ponders his decades-long career with Variety magazine and accepts the Variety Creative Vanguard Award. On November 9, director-actor John Cameron Mitchell performs at a special 25th anniversary event of Hedwig and The Angry Inch.

This James Beard Award-winning chef is throwing a dinner party, and you’re invited to the table. On Thursday, October 29, Chef Michael Schwartz draws from the culinary traditions of Oaxaca to prepare a seven-course menu at his Design District restaurant, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. Along with the cooking, Chef Michael is leading the small-group dinner himself, layering the experience with personal stories and insight to each dish. Your $200 seat also includes a welcome cocktail and seven beverage pairings to accompany courses like mussels in mole de mar with chochoyotes, crispy sweetbreads with whipped hominy, and charcoal-grilled lamb loin with mole negro, Seminole pumpkin and Mexican pepperleaf.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means Miami has even more parties and events than usual. We’re talkin’ neighborhood takeovers in Coconut Grove, a spooky cocktail bar in Midtown, sunset soirees with world-famous DJs and views of Biscayne Bay, and family-friendly festivals that welcome little ones. Get the scoop with our inside guide to the best Halloween parties and events this year.

Catch a free outdoor movie every Wednesday night at SoundScape Park in Miami Beach. Running October through May, the annual SoundScape Cinema Series welcomes all ages for weekly screenings spanning Blockbuster hits, vintage classics, and holiday films. The series kicks off with Selena (Oct. 7), followed by The Goonies (Oct. 14), Casper (Oct. 21), and The Addams Family (Oct. 28). Screenings take place rain or shine, starting at 8pm. Bring your own setups to watch comfortably; think lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and fresh-made subs from La Sandwicherie. The venue accommodates 200 to 300 on the lawn, but prime spots get scooped up quickly, so plan accordingly. Free to attend, no reservations required.

Little Havana's street party and gallery walk, Viernes Culturales, happens every last Friday of the month along Calle Ocho from 8th to 27th Avenue. Running strong since 2000, it celebrates Latin culture with an old-school pachanga, featuring art exhibits from over 30 local artists, an artisan market at Domino Plaza, live music, and dancing in one of Miami's most famous cultural hubs. Dr. Paul George's free Little Havana Walking Tour begins at 7pm from the Historic Tower Theater for anyone who wants the deeper history alongside the party.

We may not experience fall weather in Miami, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play pretend. Throw on a flannel shirt and head south to Homestead for the seventh annual Harvest Festival at The Berry Farm. Open seven days a week through November 15, the sprawling estate welcomes families and teens to explore a five-acre corn maze, sunflower fields, hayrides, and a giant pumpkin patch that makes for a great photo backdrop. For the grown-ups, an on-site bar offers themed cocktails like the Tipsy Apple Mule and Harvest Sangria. Tickets run $17 for adults and $14 for children ages 12 and under. Free for ages 2 and under.

What’s better than karaoke? How about karaoke with a live band and a hilarious drag queen host who happens to have sensational range? Las Rosas’ weekly live band karaoke returns every Tuesday, hosted by the venerable Karla Croqueta. Join the fun starting at 9pm. 

A new citywide cocktail program is offering discounted drinks at some of the best bars and restaurants in Miami, all October long. Back for its second year, ¡Salud! is sort of like the Miami Spice program, but instead of prix-fixe dinner, you get happy hour pricing on exclusive ¡Salud! cocktail menus. The catch? Offers are only available ‘til 10pm. More than 50 local spots are participating this year, including old favorites like Macchialina, Grazianos, Fox’s Lounge, and Sweet Liberty. See what the hype is about at spots like ViceVersa, go for glamour at the Delano’s Rose Bar, or check out newer, curious spots like Lovecat by Bar Not Found.

Miami Spice returns August 1-October 31 with special-priced three-course menus available at over 300 local restaurants. Prix-fixe menus start at $40 for brunch and lunch, and range $50-$65 for dinner, excluding tax and gratuity. A new “Reserve” tier ups the ante with $95 signature experiences. Check out a Michelin-starred darling in the Grove, savor Peruvian ceviche in Kendall, or see what’s newly opened in Doral. Or why not do it all? Explore the full list of Miami Spice 2026 participating restaurants.