Miami Beach Highlights New Hotels, Restaurants and Events for Spring 2026 Travel Season
Recent openings include Casa Cañita on Ocean Drive, UNFRAMED Miami Beach in the cultural district, and an underwater art sculpture park called The REEFLINE.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami Beach is introducing a range of new hotels, dining concepts and cultural installations for the 2026 travel season, according to the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority.
Recent hotel openings include Casa Cañita, located inside a historic Art Deco building on Ocean Drive. The property features live music and a ground-floor restaurant, La Cañita Beach, run by James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein.
UNFRAMED Miami Beach, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, has opened in the city’s cultural district overlooking Soundscape Park and The Fillmore. The hotel emphasizes art and design in its architecture and interior details.
Dolce Miami Beach, a 90-room boutique hotel by Wyndham, is also new to the area. Off the coast, The REEFLINE has been installed as an underwater art sculpture park, snorkeling trail and hybrid reef. The project combines public art with environmental conservation. The destination continues to offer guided Art Deco walking tours. Miami Beach has one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in the world.
Two annual events are scheduled for late May. The Hyundai Air & Sea Show takes place May 23–24, 2026, featuring military aircraft, powerboat racing and demonstrations over the shoreline. Paraiso Miami Beach, a fashion industry event, runs May 28–31, 2026, with runway shows and presentations.
“Miami Beach is the epicenter of diverse events that connect with travelers who have varying interests and styles. At the MBVCA, we proudly support annual events that have become traditions for families, couples, multi-generational groups and solo adventurers,” adds Grisette Roque Marcos, Executive Director, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority. “Our schedule of events, both new and returning, have been designed to provide experiences only found in Miami Beach. As part of our commitment to enhance travel planning for visitors, ongoing discounts and deals can be accessed and booked at experiencemiamibeach.com.”
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Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle Returns to Washington, D.C., June 27–28
The 34th edition of the food and music festival takes place on Pennsylvania Avenue, featuring barbecue competitions, international flavors, live music and eating contests.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle will return to Pennsylvania Avenue on June 27–28, 2026. The event, which the U.S. Congress has recognized as the “Official National BBQ Championship,” draws more than 100,000 attendees annually and raises money for local charities.
This year’s theme is “American Cuisine Is World Cuisine,” highlighting how immigrant traditions have shaped American food. The Giant World of Flavors Sampling Pavilion will feature cuisine from nearly 20 countries, with participation from embassies and international food brands including Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Canada and Japan.
More than 50,000 dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded to competing pitmasters. Attendees can sample free items at the Taste of Giant and Taste of Summer tents. Competitions include the National Pork BBQ Championship, the Kingsford Great American Cook-Off, the Smithfield American Rib Championship, the KCBS-sanctioned National BBQ Championship, and eating contests for wings, watermelon and hot dogs. Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating champion Miki Sudo is scheduled to participate.
Live music will be performed across six stages, with genres including rock, reggae, salsa, R&B and Washington’s local go-go style. Cooking demonstrations will be led by celebrity chefs. Sports teams including the Washington Wizards, Mystics, Capitals, Washington Spirit and D.C. United will offer interactive experiences. The event also includes FIFA World Cup-themed activities.
Other attractions include a beer and wine tasting area, a restaurant row featuring barbecue restaurants from around the country, and an augmented reality experience called “51 Steps to Freedom” focused on American history.
The event is hosted by Giant Food, which opened its first Washington, D.C., store in 1936 and is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The barbecue battle also joins the official DC250 festivities marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Felis Andrade, director of community relations at Giant Food, said in a statement that the company is “fired up for our community to come together and taste different flavors from around the world in the heart of our nation’s capital.”
The event takes place on Historic Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd to 7th Streets NW. Hours are Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.bbqdc.com, with free admission offered at select Giant stores.
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SeaWorld Parks Announce Summer Lineup With New Drone Shows and Nighttime Animal Presentations
Parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio will debut all-new drone spectacles and evening animal shows starting in late May and June.
ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld parks on both coasts and in Texas have released their summer schedules for 2026, featuring first-time drone shows at the San Diego and San Antonio locations and an updated drone show in Orlando.
The three parks will introduce nighttime animal presentations, live entertainment and extended evening hours as part of their summer programming.
SeaWorld Orlando
Beginning June 12, SeaWorld Orlando will run its Electric Ocean nighttime event. The lineup includes a new drone and fireworks show, a cirque-style acrobatics show called Hydro Surge, and a DJ dance party called Club SeaGlow. Three nighttime animal presentations will also debut on June 12:
- Shamu Celebration: Light Up the Night, featuring killer whales with lighting and music
- Sea Lions Tonite, a comedy-focused show with sea lions
- Dolphins: Touch the Sky, with bottlenose dolphins and storytelling
The park will also open a new attraction called Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice this summer, which simulates a scientific mission to extreme environments.
SeaWorld San Diego
San Diego’s summer offerings begin May 22. The park will debut a 12-minute drone show called Ocean of Dreams, using 600 synchronized drones. A new shark exhibit called Shark Encounter features 11 shark species in an interactive setting. Dolphin Adventures includes dolphins, pilot whales and younger dolphins. Another show, The Wonders of North American Wildlife, compares wildlife species across the continent.
On June 12, the same three nighttime animal shows as Orlando will begin: Shamu Celebration, Sea Lions Tonite and Dolphins: Touch the Sky. Returning shows include BMX Blast! and Pirates Ahoy! The Battle for Mermaid Cove. A summer concert series on Saturdays features 1990s and early 2000s hip-hop and R&B acts.
SeaWorld San Antonio
San Antonio’s summer season also starts May 22 with its Electric Ocean event. The park will introduce a RhythMotion Ocean Parade, a water ski stunt show called Hydropower: Xtreme FX, and a drone finale called SeaWorld Illuminight with 400 drones.
The same two nighttime animal shows — Shamu Celebration and Sea Lions Tonite — will begin on May 22. The park has also opened a new ride called Barracuda Strike, described as the tallest inverted family coaster in North America.
Annual Passes
SeaWorld is promoting annual passes as the most cost-effective way to attend multiple summer visits, with benefits including merchandise discounts and reserved seating. All three parks are owned by United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS). For schedules and tickets, visitors can check the individual park websites: SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio.