Winter Rituals

The Culture Edit, February 9th-22nd

Author

Susan Bannon
February 08, 2026

The 62nd Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival runs from February 14th-16th.

Along with typically gorgeous weather, President’s Day brings Miami two of our biggest annual events: the International Boat Show and the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, with attendance topping 100,000 for each.

Personally, I’ve always been amazed at how the boat show gets hundreds of boat slips built and then broken down, seemingly overnight. This year’s event has dropped the downtown locations, now taking place entirely on Miami Beach, saving the rest of the city from the worst of the traffic woes (hooray!).

Starting Saturday, the 62nd edition of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival takes over the bayside parks for three days of art activations, performances, copious festival food, and the ever popular “Arts & Drafts” beer garden. The CGAF has always felt more like a community festival than an Art Basel-style art fair, but that is central to its charm. Whether or not you plan to attend, I wouldn’t recommend driving into the Grove this coming weekend.

Let’s get planning…

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Theater

Sotto Voce

Gablestage presents Sotto Voce, a lyrical meditation on memory, longing, and the legacy of the Holocaust, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics). The plot follows a young Jewish-Cuban researcher obsessed with the MS St. Louis, leading him to an 80-year-old novelist who is still haunted by the love she lost aboard the doomed voyage.

Through February 15th, 7:30pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Miami New Drama: English Only

Following the success of last year’s Dangerous Days, journalist and author Nicholas Griffin returns with another brand new work for Miami New Drama, English Only. Set in Miami in 1980, English Only unfolds in the wake of the Mariel Boatlift, when 125,000 new arrivals to South Florida ignited a fierce grassroots campaign to make English the county’s sole language - sparking a showdown with activists determined to keep Miami-Dade bilingual.

Through February 22nd, Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, $40-$85

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

More Upcoming Theater:

  • Through February 22nd: City Theatre presents How to Break in a Glove, a story of one Cuban-American family’s struggle to fit in and hold tight to each other in 1990’s Miami, at the Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center.

  • February 11th-March 18th: Actors’ Playhouse presents Tony Award-winning tearjerker and musical theater sensation Dear Evan Hansen with a powerhouse cast of national singer/actors for its already iconic songs.

Book Talks

Books & Books welcomes PEN/Faulkner award-winning author and poet David Guterson to discuss his latest novel, Evelyn in Transit, about spiritual searching and the quest to live the right way. The plot follows two seekers - a young, single mother traveling through the American West and a young monk in Tibet - whose journeys toward understanding improbably bring them together.

Wednesday, February 11th, 7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Basilico, Dojo Izakaya, Cebada Rooftop | Drinks: Books & Books Café, Bay 13 Brewery

More Literary Events:

  • Wednesday, February 11th: The SWWIM reading series at the Betsy Writer’s Room presents an evening of poetry readings with four of the women writers in residence, at The Betsy Hotel 7pm.

  • Wednesday, February 18th: Books & Books hosts the latest installment of The (Silent) Reading Party, welcoming reading enthusiasts to come read for 30-60 minutes and then have a drink and discuss what they’re reading, at 8pm.

  • Thursday, February 19th: The Miami Book Fair and Books & Books host a special evening of readings and conversation with the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honorees, at Books & Books at 8pm.

Art Events

Nina Johnson Winter Shows

Nina Johnson Gallery opens three new shows this month: The Tongue is the Child of the Heart (love this title!) by textile artist Megumi Shauna Arai, Tu, yo, y todo el viento entremedio by multimedia artist Constanza Alarcón Tennen (pictured), and Dripped, a group show by artists Oh de Laval, made by Astronauts, Hilliary Gabryel.

Thursday, February 12th, Opening Reception 6-8pm, Nina Johnson Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Little Haiti / Little River

Nearby Eats: Walrus Rodeo, Bar Bucce, Fooq’s | Drinks: Conventillo, Mi Chini at Phuc Yea

Progressive Art Brunch

The Progressive Art Brunch is one of my favorite art events in town: part bar crawl, part art crash course, part scavenger hunt. You have five hours (11am-4pm) to see the current exhibits at fourteen local galleries sprinkled throughout Allapattah, Little River and Little Haiti. Typically, some type of sparkling wine is available at each stop, which can get a bit messy if you don’t take time to stop for lunch. Galleries usually aren’t open on the weekends, and the PAB isn’t a monthly event (it comes around when the galleries decide it’s time), so you don’t want to miss it.

Sunday, February 22nd, 11am-4pm, Various Galleries, Free

Neighborhoods: Allapattah, Little River, Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ (Allapattah), the Citadel (Little River), Bar Bucce (Little River) | Drinks: Imperial Moto (Coffee), Off Site Nano Brewery 

More Upcoming Art Events:

  • Thursday, February 19th: as part of its free Third Thursdays series, the Bass Museum welcomes artist Lawrence Lek for a conversation about his newly commissioned multimedia work on the dissolving boundaries between man and machine, at 6:30pm.

Indie Cinema

The Man Who Saves the World?: Screening with Live Q&A

Film Still: “The Man Who Saves the World?” by Rough House Pictures

Coral Gables Art Cinema presents a special screening of The Man Who Saves the World?, a quirky new documentary by acclaimed director Gabe Polsky about spiritual journeyman Patrick McCollum. Produced by comedy trailblazer Danny McBride, the film swerves from absurd to profound as McCollum takes us on a globe-spanning adventure. A live virtual Q&A with Patrick McCollum himself will follow the screening.

Sunday, February 15th, 3pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $22

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Music

An Evening with Samara Joy

Gen Z jazz phenom Samara Joy sings like she’s been doing this for decades, with a voice and style that evoke her influences, notably Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. A multiple Grammy Award-winner at the ripe old age of 26, Joy released her most recent album, Portrait, in 2024.

Thursday, February 12th, 8pm, Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht, $53-$152

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Davóne Tines: Anthem

Up-and-coming bass baritone Davóne Tines has been shaking up the opera world with his innovative concerts, and his Recital No. 1: MASS with the New World Symphony was one of the coolest things I saw last year - a blend of poetry, visuals, and song that brought down the house. So I’ll be in the seats for his return visit to New World this February, when he’ll be performing his Concerto No. 2: ANTHEM, which weaves spirituals, popular music, and spoken word poetry into “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

February 21st-22nd, 7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $25-$140

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Pauline | Drinks: Little Torch, Water Lion at the Sagamore

More Upcoming Music Events:

  • Thursday, February 12th: Music at McBride Plaza presents a free outdoor concert by international guitar duo Miami Nylon, playing a mix of jazz and flamenco at downtown Coral Gables’ McBride Plaza, at 5:30pm.

  • Friday, February 13th: Legendary 90’s hip hop trio Digable Planets celebrates the 30th anniversary of their second and final album, Blowout Comb, with a national tour, landing at the Miami Beach Bandshell for one night only, at 8pm.

  • Saturday, February 14th: Back for its second year, the Arsht Gospel Choir Invitational welcomes choirs from all backgrounds to compete for a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at Gospel Fest Miami, at 6pm.

  • February 14th-15th: Grammy-nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk headlines two full nights of Cuban funk, with a host of musical guests and dancing led by the kids of Salsa Z, at ZeyZey, with festivities starting at 6pm.

  • Sunday, February 15th: Superstar tenor and “King of the High C’s” Juan Diego Flórez gives a concert of opera favorites and Spanish songs at the Arsht Center (only tier 3 seats left!), at 7:30pm.

  • Tuesday, February 17th: Maestra Sebrina Alfonso leads the South Florida Symphony Orchestra in a Florida premiere of Nathalie Joachim’s Had to Be, with guest cellist Seth Parker Woods, at New World Center at 7:30pm.

  • Thursday, February 19th: the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra returns to the Arsht Center for an evening of Brahms, led by artistic director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, at 8pm.

  • February 20th & 22nd: Seraphic Fire, our own world-class vocal ensemble, presents American Folk, featuring classics like Simple Gifts and Farther Along, at Coral Gables’ Church of the Little Flower and the Miami Beach Community Church.

  • Friday, February 20th: Composer and NEA Jazz Master Terence Blanchard leads his band and the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quintet for a performance of his Malcolm X Suite, at the Arsht Center at 8pm.

  • Saturday, February 21st: 70’s disco supergroup Sister Sledge, still together and still touring, graces us with their presence, at ZeyZey, with opening sets starting at 8pm.

Dance

DDTM: Love in the Air

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, the young, contemporary ballet company run by former Miami City Ballet principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra, presents Love in the Air, a special Valentine’s Day recital of romantic pas de deux. The program of neoclassical and contemporary works explores love in its many forms - passionate, playful, and profound.

Saturday, February 14th, 8pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $33

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Miami City Ballet: Into the Magic City

Back in 1985, seminal Miami arts patron Toby Lerner Ansin scraped together the funding to found Miami City Ballet, forever altering the cultural landscape of our city. To celebrate her 85th birthday, the company presents Into the Magic City, a program that celebrates Ansin’s pioneering spirit, featuring a World Premiere by perhaps the world’s leading ballet choreographer, Alexei Ratmansky, entitled Roses from the South, Three Waltzes for Toby.

February 20th-22nd, 7:30 evenings, 2pm matinees, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $35-$309

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Mignonette, Yamashiro, Casadonna | Drinks: Klaw, ViceVersa

More Dance Events:

  • Friday, February 13th: Dance NOW! Miami presents A Life in Dance, a collaboration with Miami Dance Futures celebrating the life and work of Miami dance luminary Dr. Daniel Lewis, at Little Haiti Cultural Complex at 10am.

  • Thursday, February 19th: Dance NOW! Miami presents Dance & Romance, a free performance at the Normandy Fountain, from 6:30-8:30pm.

  • Saturday, February 21st: Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami presents Endless Love, an evening of classical pas de deux, at the Fillmore Miami Beach at 8pm.

Planning Ahead

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those restaurants you want to try book up. Here are a couple of upcoming events to get on your calendar now…

February 25th-March 1st

Montreux Jazz Festival Miami

Since 1967, the Montreux Jazz Festival has taken place for two weeks every summer in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, now drawing 250,000 music lovers each year. Two years ago, they chose Miami and the Hangar in Coconut Grove as the site of their first stateside festival, and it was a smashing success, selling out weeks in advance (which is pretty impressive given the ticket prices). Now the MJT is back for a third year, adding two nights at the Miami Beach Bandshell, with a star-studded lineup including Jon Batiste, Toto, and Bomba Estéreo.

5pm until late, The Hangar in Coconut Grove, tickets from $154 (single day) to $611 (five day) for general admission

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove

Nearby Eats: AVA, Krüs Kitchen, Bayshore Club | Drinks: pretty sure the festival will have you covered here, but if you want something different, head to Regatta Grove or Sipsip rooftop at the Mayfair.

March 7th-10th

Florida Grand Opera: Turandot

Florida Grand Opera saves the best for last this season, welcoming renowned French-Italian tenor Roberto Alagna for Puccini’s final showstopper, Turandot. Best known as the vehicle for possibly the most transporting aria in all of opera (Nessun dorma - yes, that one), Turandot has it all: high-stakes drama, breathtaking spectacle, and a legendary score. *If you plan to attend the Saturday premiere, be aware people get really dressed up. So if you’re looking for an excuse to break out the tux or ballgown, this is it!

Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center, $32-$357

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Brasserie Laurel, Casadonna, Klaw | Drinks: Klaw rooftop, ViceVersa

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