Miami Junior Carnival 2026, which a lot of people simply call the Miami Kids Carnival, was held on Saturday, October 3 at Tamarac Sports Park in Tamarac, Florida. It is one of the signature events of Miami Broward One Carnival, and it is the one built for the next generation of masqueraders.
This year it had a new home. The park, which you will also see listed as the Tamarac Sports Complex, is at 9901 NW 77th Street. Here is how the day went, and the full list of winners is at the bottom.
Getting In: Parking After the Rain
The heavy rain in the days before the event left the parking lot at the park swamped, so nobody could park at the venue itself. The carnival committee had to arrange parking somewhere else and run people in.
The first option was Tamarac City Hall, and by the time I got there it was already full. The second location was the Tamarac Amphitheater, and I started heading that way, but I changed my mind. I parked at a shopping center right next to City Hall instead and caught the free shuttle the committee had laid on. The ride was short, maybe five minutes.
If you are planning for next year, keep that in mind. When it rains, the park lot is not an option, so give yourself extra time and expect to take the shuttle.
First Impressions of the New Location
The moment I walked into the park I was greeted by loud soca music and a line of tents, with vendors and organizations selling food, drinks and more.
I grabbed something to drink and did a quick walkaround to see what the new location was about. The route was short, and honestly it suited a kids’ parade. It was not too long and not too short. It snaked around a roundabout and then came into the staging area.
The Bands
There were 14 junior mas bands this year:
- La Familia
- Fun Generation 2
- Karnival Kidz
- Natural Disasters
- Wassi Babes
- Major Players Jr. Mas Band
- Break Awe Kru
- China Mas
- Royalty Kidz
- Zing Zing Kidzz
- Mas Dynasty
- D’Junction Kids
- Carnival Dreamerz
- Party Room Squad
There was a great turnout, and one of the best things about the day was seeing the youngest masqueraders being helped and encouraged along by their parents. The ages ran from toddlers who were barely walking, through kids of every age, up to a few older teenagers.
The Costumes
I would describe the costumes as every bit as beautiful and detailed as the adult costumes. The only real difference is that they are less revealing, because they are made for kids. The feathers, the colors and the work that goes into them are all there.
The Stage and the Performances
There was a small stage, but the bands performed on the ground in front of it rather than up on it. My guess is that the stage was simply too small to fit everyone. The stage was kept for the judges and the hosts.
The speakers were set up directly beside the stage, and the media were right next to the speakers or kneeling down in front of the stage to get their shots.
It Is Not Boring
Some people have it in their heads that the kids’ carnival is going to be boring. That is the furthest thing from the truth.
The atmosphere was cheerful, happy and positive all day. Rain was in the forecast and it was on everyone’s mind, but I did not see a single drop. For the most part the kids looked like they were really enjoying themselves, and so were the adults around them.
It was not only about the parade, either. A lot of parents and kids were out on the football field, where there were several bounce houses set up and face painting for the kids.
Zing Zing Kidzz Take It All
The Junior Band of the Year went to Zing Zing Kidzz, and they deserved it. Their performance was memorable and full of energy. They did not stop there. Zing Zing Kidzz took first place in every category this year: Band of the Year, King, Queen, and both the Female and Male Individual of the Year.
Pan Jamboree
Pan Jamboree followed straight after Junior Carnival, with the steel bands set up on the same football field. If you came for the kids, it was worth staying on for the pan.
Results: Miami-Broward Junior Carnival 2026
Junior Band of the Year
| Place | Mas Band | Portrayal |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zing Zing Kidzz | Birds of a Feather: Together We Soar |
| 2nd | Carnival Dreamerz | Mas in Magic |
| 3rd | Wassi Babes | One for the Road |
| 4th | Major Players Jr. Mas Band | Tomorrow Land: The City of the Future |
| 5th | D’Junction Kids | Sweetopia |
| 6th | Party Room Squad | Enter the Village |
| 7th | La Familia | Tropical Paradise |
| 8th | Break Awe Kru | Elements of Nature |
Junior King of Carnival
| Place | Name | Portrayal | Mas Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kaden Joseph | Inferno Rising Phoenix | Zing Zing Kidzz |
| 2nd | Elijah Forester | The Dreamscape Futuristic King | Major Players Jr. Mas Band |
| 3rd | Logan Bayer | The Greatest Showman | Carnival Dreamerz |
Junior Queen of Carnival
| Place | Name | Portrayal | Mas Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Heziyah Morris | Jewel Golden Peacock | Zing Zing Kidzz |
| 2nd | Summer Brooklynn David | The Grand Marquee | Carnival Dreamerz |
| 3rd | Malia Pascal | Painorama | Wassi Babes |
Junior Female Individual of the Year
| Place | Name | Portrayal | Mas Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eva Barthelemy | Flamingo Royale | Zing Zing Kidzz |
| 2nd | Keylona Marcano | Aurelia Solaris | Major Players Jr. Mas Band |
| 3rd | Ze’Yaunna-Marie Lexi Wright | Aeris | Carnival Dreamerz |
Junior Male Individual of the Year
| Place | Name | Portrayal | Mas Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Joshua Schwolger | Master of the Tropical Skies | Zing Zing Kidzz |
| 2nd | Kian Flatts | Famalay | Wassi Babes |
Congratulations to every band, every masquerader and every parent who got them there.
Find Your Child in the Photos
I photographed the bands all day, and there are 105 photos from Miami Junior Carnival 2026 in the photo shop, each one available as an instant download in two sizes. Browse the Miami Junior Carnival 2026 photos.
And if you want to know how I shoot a day like this, I wrote about it in How I Shoot Carnival.
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