Miami Beach holiday lights 2026: the Holiday Festival of Lights on Ocean Drive lists Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. Menorah, Santa and markets from 2025 inside.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival’s Holiday Festival of Lights page, the City of Miami Beach 2025 holiday lineup and 2025 menorah lighting notice. City Parks and Recreation: 305-673-7730.

Miami Beach’s holiday lights are on Ocean Drive, where the Holiday Festival of Lights turns the art deco facades of the 1400 block into a projection-mapped light show with a live orchestra, Santa and a 20-foot Christmas tree. Its organizer has published four December dates. The city has not yet announced the rest of its 2026 holiday lineup; the other events below are from 2025, with the year marked, and we will update them when 2026 dates are out.

The city’s tree lighting at Winter Wonderland and the drone shows are on our separate Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

At a glance

  • Holiday Festival of Lights: Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 1440 Ocean Drive.
  • Hanukkah 2026: begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12.
  • Questions about city events: Parks and Recreation, 305-673-7730.

Holiday Festival of Lights on Ocean Drive

The Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights, presented by the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival, is staged at 1440 Ocean Drive, the Betsy Hotel. A full symphony orchestra plays while light designs are projected across the building facades, and Santa, the Grinch and Elsa appear during each show. There is holiday food and drink and Ocean Drive’s 20-foot Christmas tree.

Date Shows
Saturday, Dec. 12 (with the city’s Holiday Extravaganza drone show, seen from Lummus Park) 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 6 and 7:30 p.m.

The organizer’s page lists these dates and times without a year beside them; they fall on the same weekend pattern as the 2025 shows (Dec. 14, 20 and 21), which the city’s 2025 lineup listed among its free holiday events. Check the page before you go for any change.

Menorah lighting

The City of Miami Beach lights a Hanukkah menorah outside City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive. In 2025 the lighting was at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 (city notice). Hanukkah comes earlier in 2026: it begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends Saturday, Dec. 12, according to the Hebcal Jewish calendar. The city has not announced the 2026 lighting time.

Santa, shows and markets in 2025

The city’s 2025 holiday lineup included these events. Their 2026 dates are not out yet.

  • Santa and Friends Festival on Lincoln Road, Dec. 12, 2025, with a Miami Beach Students Holiday Showcase on Dec. 13.
  • Elf Jr. The Musical at the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Dec. 14 and 15, 2025, with K.O. Performing Arts. Tickets were sold.
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas, a free SoundScape Cinema screening at SoundScape Park, 400 17th St., Dec. 17, 2025. The series then paused until January.
  • The French Market at South Pointe Park, 1 Washington Ave., 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2025, with pastries, jewelry, ceramics, home goods and flowers.

Getting there in the holiday weeks

In 2025 the city closed Ocean Drive to cars from Dec. 24 through Jan. 11, with restaurants extending outdoor seating, and the Ocean Drive Association ran a free slow-moving tram between 5 Street and 14 Place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 24 through Jan. 4. The city’s free trolley runs 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

City Hall closed on Christmas Day, and there was no garbage pickup on Christmas Day for homes on city service from 1 Street to 41 Street, with no makeup day (holiday trash schedule). Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the best holiday lights in Miami Beach? On Ocean Drive, at the Holiday Festival of Lights at 1440 Ocean Drive.

When is the Holiday Festival of Lights? Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20, per the organizer’s page.

Where can kids see Santa? At the Festival of Lights shows; Lincoln Road’s Santa event was Dec. 12 in 2025.

Where is the menorah lighting? Outside City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive; 2026 time to come.

What this means for you

  • Pick a Sunday show at 1440 Ocean Drive for smaller crowds than the Dec. 12 drone night.
  • Take the free trolley to Ocean Drive; it is closed to cars over the Christmas and New Year weeks if the city repeats its 2025 plan.
  • Watch the city’s events calendar from November for the 2026 lineup.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve in Miami Beach, Black Friday and holiday shopping and kids’ activities.