South Florida Magazine

Entertainment & Culture

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Audience attending a Miami Film Festival screening
Film & Hollywood

Hollywood Comes to Miami for the GEMS Film Festival

Miami Film Festival GEMS returns with an impressive collection of new movies, international premieres and familiar Hollywood names. This year's program opens with Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut, featuring Julianne Moore, and includes a special appearance by actor John Turturro. For movie lovers who enjoy seeing tomorrow's award contenders before their wider release, GEMS is one of the city's best cultural experiences.

Miami-Dade • October 29–November 5, 2026
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Red carpet at a previous Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Film Festivals

Fort Lauderdale Keeps Its Red-Carpet Tradition Alive

Fort Lauderdale has become an inviting destination for independent cinema, offering moviegoers something more personal than the usual multiplex experience. FLIFFShorts arrives in November, followed by the 41st Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in February. Expect international films, conversations with filmmakers and the glamorous festival atmosphere that has long made South Florida a favorite among visiting performers.

Fort Lauderdale • November 5–8, 2026 and February 19–27, 2027
Festival information →
Audience at a Miami Short Film Festival screening
Independent Cinema

Miami Short Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Storytelling

Big stories do not always require two hours on screen. The Miami Short Film Festival celebrates its 25th edition with work by emerging and established filmmakers from around the world. Screenings at O Cinema, Silverspot Cinema and the Deering Estate offer audiences a chance to discover inventive filmmaking, meet creative talent and experience short-form cinema in a setting that encourages conversation.

Miami and Miami Beach • November 13–15, 2026
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Thoroughbred horse racing, one of the historical settings explored in Buddy from Brooklyn
Movies in Development

Buddy from Brooklyn: Horse Racing, High Fashion and the Dark Side of New York

A sprawling American crime story is taking shape in Buddy from Brooklyn, the motion picture project based on the extraordinary life of Howard "Buddy" Jacobson. The film explores the intersection of Thoroughbred racing, Manhattan modeling agencies, glamorous 1970s nightlife and a sensational criminal case. Producer Jay Shapiro's project recently welcomed Buddy's grandson, Zachary Jacobson, as executive consulting producer, adding an important family perspective as development continues.

Motion Picture Development • Gural & Jacobson LLC
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A stage production of the Broadway musical Hamilton
Broadway & Theater

Hamilton Returns to Fort Lauderdale in a Blockbuster Broadway Season

Broadway's revolutionary musical Hamilton returns to the Broward Center, giving South Florida audiences another opportunity to experience Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed fusion of American history, hip-hop and live theater. The season also brings Death Becomes Her, Mamma Mia!, The Outsiders and other major productions to the downtown Fort Lauderdale stage.

Broward Center • Hamilton: November 10–22, 2026
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The illuminated Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
Concerts & Music

Sting, Maroon 5 and More Bring Star Power to Hollywood

The Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood continues attracting internationally recognized recording artists. Sting is scheduled for November 25, while Maroon 5 brings two performances to Hard Rock Live on December 28 and 29. The venue's autumn lineup also features Il Volo, Lindsey Stirling and other established acts. With the spectacular Guitar Hotel as its backdrop, the resort remains one of South Florida's most recognizable entertainment destinations.

Hollywood • November–December 2026
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Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco performing stand-up comedy
Comedy & Celebrity

Sebastian Maniscalco Brings His Signature Comedy to South Florida

Few comedians can turn an ordinary family dinner, a strange social encounter or a minor inconvenience into a full evening of laughter quite like Sebastian Maniscalco. The popular Italian-American entertainer brings multiple performances to Hard Rock Live in November. The venue's comedy schedule also includes Russell Peters, Chelsea Handler and, in January, Steve Martin and Martin Short.

Hollywood • Maniscalco: November 19–22, 2026
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Author presentation at a previous Miami Book Fair
Authors & Personalities

Tony Shalhoub, Jeff Garlin and Literary Stars Head to Miami Book Fair

Miami Book Fair is not simply about books. It is one of the city's most entertaining gatherings of celebrated writers, actors, comedians and creative personalities. Among the announced guests are Tony Shalhoub, Jeff Garlin, Margaret Atwood, Colson Whitehead and Bonnie Garmus. The eight-day celebration brings author interviews, book signings, public discussions and an enormous weekend street fair to downtown Miami.

Miami Dade College • November 15–22, 2026
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Contemporary art installations at Art Basel Miami Beach in a previous edition
Art & Nightlife

Art Basel Turns Miami Beach into an International Cultural Playground

For one extraordinary week, Miami becomes an international meeting place for artists, collectors, celebrities, designers and nightlife personalities. Art Basel Miami Beach anchors the festivities with leading galleries and contemporary art, while the surrounding city fills with exhibitions, gallery receptions, private parties and fashionable gatherings. It is a time when art, entertainment and South Florida society naturally come together.

Miami Beach • December 4–6, 2026
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Miami City Ballet dancers performing The Nutcracker
Dance & Performing Arts

Miami City Ballet Brings Holiday Magic Back to the Stage

Miami City Ballet returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center with George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, one of the region's best-loved holiday traditions. The production combines elaborate costumes, graceful choreography and Tchaikovsky's unforgettable music. The company's new season under artistic director Gonzalo Garcia also includes Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Swan Lake, giving dance enthusiasts plenty to look forward to in 2027.

Downtown Miami • December 11–27, 2026
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Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami
Musical Theater

Neil Diamond, The Great Gatsby and Jersey Boys Headline Broadway in Miami

Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center has a particularly appealing Broadway season ahead. A Beautiful Noise celebrates the songs and life of Neil Diamond in December, followed by the lavish world of The Great Gatsby in January. Audiences can also look forward to The Sound of Music, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Jersey Boys. From classic American music to extravagant period costumes, the season offers something for just about every theatergoer.

Adrienne Arsht Center • December 2026–June 2027
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The illuminated Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Entertainment

West Palm Beach Welcomes a Glamorous New Season of Broadway

The Raymond F. Kravis Center remains a cornerstone of Palm Beach County's cultural life. Its 2026–2027 Broadway season includes Spamalot, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Great Gatsby, BOOP! The Musical and Alicia Keys' acclaimed Hell's Kitchen. Add the center's concerts, classical performances and special engagements, and downtown West Palm Beach continues to offer a lively alternative to an evening farther south.

West Palm Beach • November 2026–June 2027
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