Miami Art Week and Art Basel transform the city into a global stage for art, design and culture — and nowhere shines brighter than the Miami Design District. The neighborhood becomes a living gallery, buzzing with world-class installations, next-level fashion moments, restaurant debuts and nightlife that runs well past sunrise. From major museum-caliber exhibitions to immersive brand activations and star-studded parties, here is everything happening in the Design District and beyond during the season’s most electric week.
What to Do in the Miami Design District
10th Annual Design Commission: Katie Stout’s Gargantua’s Thumb
The Miami Design District’s milestone 10th Annual Design Commission arrives with Katie Stout’s whimsical world, Gargantua’s Thumb. Sculptural characters — from a whale and mermaid to a turtle, trout and alligator — animate the neighborhood, anchored by an interactive carousel. Overhead, hundreds of colorful orbs filled with flora and fauna figures float through the treetops. The installation also appears at Design Miami’s 20th-anniversary fair, making it a headline highlight of this year’s Art Basel programming.
Dates: December 2025 to Spring 2026
Location: Miami Design District
The Craig Robins Collection: Walking on Air
The Craig Robins Collection unveils its 2025–2026 rehang, Walking on Air, centered on the poetic sensibilities of Richard Tuttle. Spanning works from the 1960s to today, the exhibition pairs Tuttle’s delicate constructions with pieces by David Hammons, John Baldessari and Marcel Duchamp, while contemporary voices including Jana Euler, Sasha Gordon, Xinyi Cheng and Mario Ayala expand the dialogue. Housed inside Dacra’s headquarters, the exhibition elevates the District’s Art Basel offerings with museum-grade depth.
Opening: December 1, 2025
Location: DACRA Headquarters, 3841 NE 2nd Ave., Miami
Cartier: Panthére Into the Wild Exhibit
Cartier invites visitors into the world of its legendary panther with Panthére Into the Wild, an immersive multi-room experience delving into the Maison’s heritage, craftsmanship and historic pieces. The installation traces the panther’s rise as an icon and showcases rarely seen works from the Cartier Collection, giving Art Basel week a dose of high jewelry drama.
Appointments: via Eventtia
Dates: December 5–7, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: 23 NE 41st Street, Miami
Cartier’s New Miami Design District Flagship
Cartier’s newly expanded flagship, designed by Liz Diller with interiors by Laura Gonzalez, debuts just in time for the Art Basel crowds. Fluted glass etched with a 1909 brooch motif wraps the facade, while inside, seashell-shaped staircases, lush outdoor terraces and tropical colors nod to Miami’s coastal energy.
Location: 147 NE 39th Street, Miami
Urs Fischer: Purple Drywall With Chicken Rotation
Urs Fischer introduces an offbeat, absorbing installation where a wandering chicken disrupts a modernist grid, while Purple Drywall transforms construction marks into hypnotic wallpaper. Conceptual humor and uncanny beauty collide in this permanent addition to the District’s cultural landscape.
Dates: November 2025, permanent
Location: 3841 NE 2nd Ave., Miami
Blu Scarpa: Dream Courts
Blu Scarpa turns its boutique into a surreal tennis-inspired dreamscape with works by François Piacente and Asaad Morales. Sculptural installations, vivid craftsmanship and a limited-edition La Tennis art shoe merge Italian design with Miami’s creative energy during one of the city’s busiest Art Basel days.
Date: December 4
Location: 56 NE 40th Street, Miami
Jeffrey Deitch: That Was Then, This Is Now
Timed to Art Basel, Jeffrey Deitch debuts That Was Then, This Is Now, an exhibition of 25 artists exploring the collision of past and present. Influences range from Pop Art and Hollywood to Buddhism and commercial aesthetics, expressed through painting, sculpture, digital collage and fashion. The show marks one of the week’s must-see contemporary art moments.
Dates: December 2, 2025 to January 2, 2026
Location: 119 NE 41st Street, Miami
CLAUDIE Art Week Programming
CLAUDIE partners with Bartoux Gallery to showcase Anna Masters’ ethereal works in the Main Dining Room, while the Private Dining Room hosts dreamlike pieces by Frédéric Pinet. VIP cocktail receptions bookend the exhibitions, and a signature drink inspired by Masters’ work rounds out the Art Week experience.
Dates: December 1–7
Location: 1101 Brickell Ave., Suite S-113, Miami
Miami’s Best New Restaurants
Le Specialità
A Milanese favorite since 1977 makes its Design District debut with Spicy Hospitality Group, bringing elevated Northern Italian flavors to Miami’s dining scene just as the Art Basel crowds descend.
Status: Now open
AVA MediterrAegean
Riviera Dining Group launches its newest concept in Coconut Grove, offering coastal Mediterranean cuisine inside a glamorous, Riviera-inspired setting.
Status: Now open
Karyu and Yasu
Two new concepts by Spicy Hospitality Group are set to open this December in the Miami Design District, adding fresh momentum to the neighborhood’s expanding culinary landscape.
Status: Opening soon
Where to Party
CASA NEOS MM Beach Club Art Week Line-Up
A three-day run of big-name sets ignites Art Week on the water.
Friday, Dec 5: Adriatique with Shellona St. Tropez’s first U.S. debut
Saturday, Dec 6: PAWSA
Sunday, Dec 7: Marco Carola
MILA Lounge DJ Line-Up (Dec 2–7)
MILA Lounge hosts an all-star lineup including Miguelle & Tons, ANOTR, Dixon, Desiree, Valeron and Kimonos, paired with a Philippe Carteau collaboration throughout the week.
MILA Miami: Philip Karto Capsule Collection and Art Basel DJ Line-Up
MILA Miami collaborates with designer Philip Karto on a limited-edition capsule collection of hand-painted luxury pieces displayed throughout its Lincoln Road space. A custom handbag will be auctioned for charity, benefiting South Florida Easter Seals. The week continues with nightly DJ sets from Miguelle & Tons, ANOTR, Dixon, Desiree, Valeron and Kimonos, making MILA one of the hottest late-night destinations during Art Basel.
Dates: December 2–7
Location: 800 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Conclusion: The District at Its Peak
Art Basel may bring the world to Miami, but the Miami Design District proves why the city remains a cultural capital long after the fairs close. From blockbuster exhibitions and high-fashion installations to restaurant debuts and all-night parties, the neighborhood becomes a vibrant fusion of art, design, dining and nightlife. Whether exploring monumental public works, sipping cocktails surrounded by contemporary masterpieces or dancing under the stars, visitors experience Miami at its most imaginative — and at its most unforgettable.
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