Photo courtesy LehWeGo
What is Carnival
Traditional Carnival as celebrated in Trinidad and Brazil, is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent every year, usually in February or March. Here in South Florida, Miami Carnival celebrations begin the week before Columbus Day in October. The Saturday before Columbus Day Monday, it kicks off with the Junior Carnival Competition on Saturday of that weekend; followed by the Steelband “Pan Jamboree” on the same evening at the same venue. The Official J’ouvert is held early on Columbus Day weekend Saturday morning starting at 7am, and the grand finale Carnival Sunday, featuring the Mas Band Parade and Concert is the day after J’ouvert. Follow Miami Broward One Carnival (MBOC) social media pages to make the most of your carnival experience during this family event that has many different types of entertainment. We want to ensure you don’t miss out on anything each year. It all Starts HERE!
Your Carnival Guide
Miami Carnival 2026 Venues and Times
JUNIOR CARNIVAL
Saturday, October 3, 2026: 1pm – 8pm
City of Tamarac Sports Complex
9901 NW 77th Street • Tamarac, FL 33321
PAN JAMBOREE
Saturday, October 3, 2026: 4pm – 8pm
Tamarac Sports Park
9901 NW 77 Street • Tamarac FL 33321
OFFICIAL J’OUVERT
Saturday, October 10, 2026: 7am – 3pm
Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium
3700 NW 11th Place • Lauderhill FL 33311
MAS BAND PARADE AND CONCERT
Sunday, October 11, 2026: 11am – 11pm
TBA
NOTE – Venues and times are subject to change. Watch social media for any changes and updates
Parade of the Bands
The Parade of the Bands takes place on Sunday, the day before Columbus Day, and features more than 18,000 masqueraders in twenty-plus mas bands dancing freely through an approved parade route. The parade starts at 11 am and ends at 11 pm which includes the concert that follows the judging of the bands. The pulsating music, the beauty, and pageantry are all legendary!
The Kings, Queens and Individuals costume competitions takes place with the Miami Carnival parade of bands. This part of the competition brings out the biggest and most elaborate costumes as the masqueraders compete for bragging rights, a trophy and huge cash prizes!
What to expect:
- Each band has a theme which they portray on Carnival Day. Expect to see beads and feathers in a kaleidoscope of colors, as well as huge King and Queen costumes – some of them more than 15 feet wide and 20 feet tall.
- Be sure to bring sun block and water.
- Interested in joining in? Please click on the tab Mas Bands for a list of participating bands and their contact information.
The Music Truck
Have you heard about the Pied Piper? During the parade of the bands, you will witness the same phenomenon, with the masqueraders closely following the music truck as it makes its way to the main stage for judging. The music trucks carry the music and entertainment; it is assembled using a trailer bed truck, racks of large speakers and musical instruments, and the DJs and entertainers perform on the truck.
The Steelbands
Pan Jamboree (and in years past, Panorama Competition) is held on Carnival Friday. However, in 2026, Pan Jamboree will be combined with the Junior Carnival on Junior Carnival Saturday, and will be powered by the City of Tamarac and hosted by Visit Lauderdale. This is a time to relax and enjoy the sweet music of the steelpan as the groups perform some of your favorite or local songs from the carnival season. The event offers an authentic platform for those looking for that true Caribbean experience on steel, together with a concert layout, revved up with carnival vibes and steel pan orchestras playing all night long. It is one of the Jewels of any carnival, the sweet, sweet sound of pan!
The Main Stage – Judging Point
After the bands parade on the route the fun doesn’t end. It actually intensifies, as the bands take to the stage to be judged by a panel of experts from the carnival industry. On the big stage, the bands act out their portrayals before the judges in an attempt to win the coveted title “Band of the Year,” along with the huge cash prize.
Experts come in from across the globe to judge the bands in various categories. The bands wait in the wings for their opportunity to cross the main stage and to “let loose,” as they showcase the story behind their portrayals in costume, color and movement.
It is a sight to behold and not one to be missed.
The Business Expo
Showcasing your business to a captive audience has never been easier. Miami Broward One Carnival will showcase businesses at the corporate booth village, allowing visitors to collect information on various services and products available to consumers. Be sure to visit all the corporate booths while enjoying all the Carnival activities.
The Carnival Concert
The concert segment of Miami Broward One Carnival on Carnival Sunday, allows for the showcase of international Caribbean talent. The concert has featured powerhouse soca acts and live bands including most recently, Patrice Roberts, Skinny Fabulous; Nomcebo; J. Perry; Teddyson John; Julien Believe; Shurwayne Winchester to name a few; and in prior years, Machel Montano, David Rudder, Super Blue, Stalin, Crazy, Rikki Jai, Shurwayne Winchester, Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Leon Coldero and Code 868, Kes The Band, Burning Flames, Hot Flames, Jam Band, Alison Hinds, Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and many more. Every year soca lovers flock to Carnival to experience the high energy, live performances of these entertainers. Each year Miami Broward One Carnival delivers an exceptional line up of acts, which include performances by well-known Hispanic and Haitian acts, in an attempt to attract those who share similarities in culture and in the Carnival tradition.
Food and Drinks
Who goes to a cultural event and does not indulge in the food and drink? At the Carnival Village it won’t be any different. The Miami Broward One Carnival food vendors, numbering more than fifty, feature an expansive selection of culinary delights indigenous to the Caribbean region. Foods from the islands of Bahamas, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Dominican Republic and many more are all available in our food court. You can also enjoy rums, beer and beverages from the distillers and breweries representing many islands of the Caribbean. Make your list of those Caribbean dishes you want to taste and come prepared to satisfy that Jerk, Curry or Stew craving as soon as you enter the Park. Be sure to come hungry!
Arts and Crafts
Arts and Craft vendors from as far away as New York and Boston travel to South Florida with t-shirts, flags, toys, games, jewelry, souvenirs, paintings, wood carvings, incense, pottery and more. Bring cash or use one of our ATMs conveniently located throughout the Miami Broward One Carnival village.
