With less than four weeks to go, the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee went live on Facebook and Instagram on September 10 for the first episode of Carnival Voices, a series of live updates they plan to run every week until Carnival.
The hour-long conversation was hosted by attorney Marlon Hill, with the committee’s director of operations, Shane Carter, and producer DJ D-Life reading out questions from viewers. I watched the whole thing so you don’t have to, and there was a lot in it — including some event times that are different from what was first published, the first real details about how the new Carnival Day layout will work, and a straight answer about why the parade left the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds.
If you are already planning your trip, start with our Countdown to Miami Carnival 2026 post for flights, hotels and rental cars. This post is about what’s new.
Why the Parade Moved to Broward
This was the question everyone had, and the committee answered it directly.
According to Marlon Hill, the move had nothing to do with where the Caribbean community lives. The Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, which is also a nonprofit, had other business opportunities to pursue, and the contract was not renewed. That left the committee looking for a new home for Carnival Day from early summer.
The committee thanked Broward County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, Lauderhill Mayor Denise Grant, the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Lauderhill Police Department for helping make Central Broward Regional Park work on short notice.
For anyone who has been going for years, Hill put the distance in perspective: the new location is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the fairgrounds, depending on traffic. And for the history lovers, Miami Carnival started back in 1984 on 183rd Street in what was then Carol City — today’s Miami Gardens.
Both hosts were honest that plans are still being finalized. The phrase of the night was “the ink is not dry,” and it came up more than once.
The 2026 Schedule, With Times
Here is the full lineup as the committee announced it on the live stream. Some of these times differ from what was published earlier, so if you saved an older schedule, update it.
Saturday, October 3 — Junior Carnival
- Where: Tamarac Sports Complex, Tamarac
- Time: Parade pushes off at 12 noon
- Cost: Free
- Bands: 14 junior Mas bands, presented by TD Bank
Parents will again be allowed to walk alongside their children on the parade route, something the committee started last year. Shane said some junior bands still have costumes available but they are selling fast, so check the band list on MiamiCarnival.org if your child wants to play.
Saturday, October 3 — Pan Jamboree
- Where: Tamarac Sports Complex (same location as Junior Carnival)
- Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Bands: Four steelbands confirmed so far, with more possibly being added
Pan has always been part of the second half of Junior Carnival, but this year it’s being expanded into its own evening. Shane described it as having a “pan in the hollows” feel, with the park setting giving it an outdoor, in-nature atmosphere.
Friday, October 9 — Red Road Fete
- Where: Tamarac Village Amphitheater, 9090 NW 57th Street, Tamarac, FL 33351
- Time: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Featuring: Bunji Garlin, Alison Hinds and Skinny Fabulous
Red Road Fete is new for 2026. It’s produced by the City of Tamarac in partnership with Miami Broward One Carnival as part of the city’s push to grow tourism — Tamarac has just opened a new hotel in the area.
Saturday, October 10 — J’ouvert
- Where: Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill
- Time: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The layout will be similar to what people experienced before. If you get there early, look out for the traditional opening that the committee added last year — characters performing the rites that open Carnival before the amplified music starts. The list of J’ouvert bands is on MiamiCarnival.org.
Sunday, October 11 — Parade of the Bands, Concert & Fete
- Where: Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill
- Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (same hours as last year)
- Bands: 16 to 17 Mas bands
- After the parade: A concert and fete with top Caribbean artists. The lineup is expected to be announced within about a week of the live stream.
What Carnival Day Will Look Like
This was the most useful part of the conversation, especially if you’re watching rather than playing Mas.
No fences. At the fairgrounds, spectators watched the bands from behind fencing. This year, the route will have barricades on both sides, with security along the way. You’ll be able to see the bands clearly, hail up your friends and family as they pass, and hang out with your crew while the bands go by.
Don’t storm the bands. Being close does not mean you can join a band you didn’t pay to play in. The committee was clear that anyone who storms a band may be escorted out. Bands will have their own marshals, and the committee has its own security that has been trained on the route.
A route of about 2.8 miles. Shane said the route is pushing 2.8 miles and meanders through the park, so masqueraders won’t be rushed. The final route still depends on permits, and whether any part of it goes out onto the roads beyond the park is still being worked out. The committee has promised to post the route before Carnival.
A separate entrance for masqueraders. Masqueraders will have their own way in, and instructions will come from each band.
Folding chairs are allowed. Security will check them, but you can bring one. The committee also said there will be areas set aside for people with disabilities to watch the parade.
Food and drinks. Food vendors and bars will be inside the venue. If you’re in a band, your wristband only gets you that band’s amenities. Spectators can buy drinks at the bars, but the committee said there may be areas where drinks are not allowed — that detail is still being finalized.
Tickets and VIP
There will be two ticket tiers for Carnival Day:
- Parade only
- Parade and concert
VIP is available and will include a buffet, drinks, access to the concert and a closer view of the bands near the judging area.
As always, buy your tickets from MiamiCarnival.org or the committee’s official outlets — not from random people on social media.
Parking: Plan Ahead
If there’s one thing to take away from this update, it’s this: don’t just show up and expect to find parking.
The shuttles people remember from the fairgrounds were a requirement of Miami-Dade County’s parks department. They cost money, and they won’t be part of this year’s setup. Instead, the committee is working on a list of private lots, homeowners association lots, and rideshare drop-off points around Central Broward Regional Park.
That information, along with driving directions and the route, is expected within the next week or two. Until then, plan to carpool or use rideshare, and remember that Carnival Day takes place in a residential community — so don’t park where you’ll get towed.
The committee also asked everyone to respect the neighborhood: use the trash cans, use the portable restrooms, and keep in mind that drones will be monitoring the venue.
Want to Support Miami Carnival?
Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Unlike carnivals in Trinidad or Barbados, where the government covers much of the cost, Miami Carnival relies on ticket sales, sponsors and donations.
You can make a tax-deductible donation through the Donate button on MiamiCarnival.org, and you can choose to direct it to a specific program, such as Junior Carnival or the steel pan program.
As Shane put it, quoting one of the committee members: “Culture needs community.”
Where to Get Updates
- Website: MiamiCarnival.org
- Instagram: @miabrocarnival
- Email: info@miamicarnival.org
We’ll also keep adding official events to the Caribbean Chit What’s On page.
Final Thoughts
Moving a carnival in a matter of months is not easy, and I appreciated how straightforward the committee was about it. They didn’t pretend everything was finished — they told people what’s confirmed, what’s still being worked out, and when to expect answers.
The biggest changes for 2026 are really good news for spectators: no fences, a longer route through the park, and everyone closer together instead of spread out across a huge space. The biggest thing to watch is parking, so keep an eye out for that announcement.
I’ll be on the road again this year, bringing you the videos and photos. If you’ve got questions about Miami Carnival 2026, drop them in the comments and I’ll try to get answers.
See you in Broward!
Related: Miami Broward Carnival 2026: New Location for Carnival Day Parade
[…] If you want to see the photos that come out of these weekends, the archive is in the photo shop, and there is a full rundown of this year’s schedule in our Carnival Voices update. […]