Come As You Are: A Celebration of Culture & Connection in the Florida Keys & Key West
FLORIDA KEYS (April 20, 2026) – In the Florida Keys & Key West, being yourself isn’t just welcomed, it’s the whole point. From Key Largo to Key West, the vibe is easygoing, open, and rooted in the islands’ long-standing “One Human Family” philosophy, first embraced in Key West in 2000 and still felt throughout the chain today. Long known as one of the world’s most welcoming destinations, the Keys blend tropical beauty, rich culture and a lively calendar of events that invite everyone to relax, connect and celebrate exactly who they are.
Here's what’s coming up in 2026, from spring through fall.
Conch Republic Independence Celebration
April 17 – 26
Set sail with the Conch Republic Independence Celebration, a delightfully irreverent tribute to Key West’s legendarily tongue-in-cheek “secession,” which took place back in 1982. This weeklong extravaganza blends history with humor, featuring crowd favorites like the Great Sea Battle, the World’s Longest Parade, and the Schooner Wharf Wreckers Cup Race. The energy reaches a fabulously fierce peak during the 44th Annual CR Drag Races on Duval at Bourbon Street Pub, where contestants dash in heels and dazzle in style, turning the streets into a runway of glamour and island spirit. Learn more.
Key West Pride
June 3 – 7
June ushers in the kaleidoscopic Key West Pride, one of the most beloved Pride events in the country. This year’s theme, “Color the Island: A Celebration of Identity Through Color & Creativity,” will transform the island into ajoyous, living work of art. Highlights include the iconic Tea on the Sea aboard Fury Water Adventures, where guests dance into the sunset surrounded by shimmering ocean views. The Celebration of Identity Street Fair fills the streets with music, art, and vibrant community connection, while the Color the Island Pride Parade brings the week to a spectacular close with a joyful procession that ends in a final, unforgettable dance at the famed La Te Dacabaret. Learn more.
Key Lime Festival
July 1 – 5
The Key Lime Festival is a vibrant, multi-day celebration held each summer in Key West, Florida, honoring the island’s signature citrus and quirky spirit. Locals and visitors alike dive into a zesty lineup of pie tastings, gastronomic events, contests, live music, and creative activities across multiple venues to celebrate all things Key lime. Culinary events range from cocktail “Sip & Strolls” and pie-hopping tasting tours to intimate dinners and rum tastings infused with the tart flavor of Key lime. Signature competitions include the World-Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship, Key Lime Pie Drop from the lighthouse, and the fiery 5-Alarm Pie Challenge. Learn more.
Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival
July 10 – 11
Divers and snorkelers can explore part of the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef each July, while rocking out to a unique sub-sea concert that promotes reef protection. (Yes, a concert. And it’s unlike any other dive or snorkel experience on the planet.) The Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival takes place each year at Looe Key Reef, part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary...a protected area located about six miles south of Big Pine Key that’s home to the continental U.S.’s only living coral barrier reef. Learn more.
Hemingway Days
July 22 – 26
Ernest Hemingway look-alikes, writers, anglers, and fans of the late author’s work gather annually in Key West for the Hemingway Days celebration. The festival honors the legacy of the American literary giant who lived and wrote on the island for most of the 1930s. Scores of stocky, bearded men resembling Ernest are to compete in the annual Hemingway® Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, a frequent hangout for the writer during his Key West years. Other festival events include the wacky “Running of the Bulls,” a presentation on 1930s Key West, a commemoration of the 126th anniversary of Ernest’s July 21 birth, a three-day marlin tournament recalling his passion for deep-sea angling, literary readings, and more. Learn more.
Tropical Heat
August 12 – 16
The temperature gets turned up even more this summer with Tropical Heat, a sizzling, all-male celebration that pulses with nonstop energy. Visitors from around the globe gather for sun-soaked pool parties, electrifying dance events, and exciting nightlife. Standout moments include Cowboy Ken’s Pink Pool Party at Island House, where bold, playful pink takes center stage, and Flaunt Your Flamingo at Alexander’s Guest House, an exuberant celebration of tropical style, high-energy beats, and fearless self-expression under island skies. Learn more.
Key West Rum Fest
August 12 – 16
Sip, savor, and celebrate Caribbean culture with premium rum tastings, a Rum Cake Competition, Ti Punch Brunch, Daiquiri Sunset Sails, and more. The centerpiece of the festival, the Grand Tasting Event, takes place on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Key West Theater, where attendees can sample an extraordinary selection of rums from more than 30 premier vendors, meet master distillers and enjoy live music and island-inspired cuisine. Learn more.
Womenfest
September 2 – 6
Every September, the femme-forward Womenfest brings a soulful and empowering energy to Key West. This beloved gathering welcomes lesbians, bisexual and queer women, transwomen, and allies for five days of connection, creativity, and celebration. With the 2026 theme “Lost Women in the Arts,” the event honors the voices of creators and visionaries reclaiming their narratives. From music and themed events to poolside gatherings and shared moments of inspiration, Womenfest offers a meaningful and memorable experience rooted in authenticity and community. Learn more.
Taste the Keys
October 1 – 31
Every October, food lovers and adventure seekers alike are invited to savor the Florida Keys like never before during Taste the Keys, a culinary celebration spotlighting the unique flavors, vibrant culture, and community spirit of Key Largo and the Upper Keys. More than a mere food festival, Taste the Keys is a flavor-packed journey through the region’s top restaurants and culinary gems. Throughout October, indulge in specially curated prix-fixe three-course menus for brunch, lunch, or dinner at participating restaurants, each one offering a deliciously local twist that highlights the distinct personality of the Florida Keys. Learn more.
Fantasy Fest
October 16 – 25
A legendary 10-day spectacle, Fantasy Fest is a time when imaginations run wild and self-expression knows no limits. Known for its dazzling costumes and anything-goes atmosphere, Fantasy Fest transforms Key West into a vibrant wonderland. Among its most anticipated LGBTQ+ highlights is the 43rd Annual Headdress Ball at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater, as contestants unveil breathtaking, over-the-top creations in a glamorous competition that captures the essence of Key West’s bold and creative spirit. Learn more.
High-resolution images, photo credits, and captions are available at this link.
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Scores of bearded, white-clad Ernest Hemingway look-alikes pack Duval Street outside Sloppy Joe's Bar, the legendary author's favorite Key West watering hole, for the Running of the Bulls, a good-natured spoof of Pamplona's famous chase that's become a centerpiece of the annual Hemingway Days festival. Hemingway Days 2026 runs July 22–26 in Key West. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Jeff Ownby of Green Cove Springs, Florida, waves a Spanish flag and rallies the crowd during the Running of the Bulls on Duval Street in Key West. A 10-year Hemingway Days veteran and Look-Alike Contest semi-finalist, Ownby embodies the festival's spirit: part tribute, part spectacle, all Key West. Hemingway Days 2026 runs July 22–26. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Contestant Jesse Ka, color-coordinated in lime green from hat to shorts, gives his all during the World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship in Key West. The no-hands competition is a sticky highlight of the annual Key Lime Festival, which returns July 1–5, 2026. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Faces down and hands behind their backs, contestants dive into Key West's World Famous Key Lime Pie Eating Championship as the clock ticks down. The no-hands, no-mercy competition is a crowd favorite at the annual Key Lime Festival, returning July 1–5, 2026. (Carol Tedesco/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Competitors in sequins, fringe and stilettos navigate a tire obstacle course during the Conch Republic Drag Races on Duval Street in Key West. The crowd-favorite event is part of the 10-day Conch Republic Independence Celebration, returning April 17–26, 2026. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Francis Cappello, right, leaps across a balance beam in platform heels during the Conch Republic Drag Races on Duval Street in Key West. The anything-goes obstacle course is one of the most spirited events of the 10-day Conch Republic Independence Celebration, returning April 17–26, 2026. (Mark Hedden/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Drag royalty QMitch brings towering glam and rainbow spirit to Duval Street during the Color the Island Pride Parade in Key West. The annual celebration of identity, creativity and unapologetic self-expression returns June 3–7, 2026. (Larry Blackburn/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Volunteers carry a 100-foot section of Key West's legendary Sea-to-Sea Rainbow Flag down Duval Street during the Color the Island Pride Parade. The original 1.25-mile flag was sewn by Gilbert Baker, creator of the rainbow flag, and unfurled along the entire length of Duval Street in 2003, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Sections of the historic banner have traveled the world ever since. Key West Pride 2026 runs June 3–7. (Larry Blackburn/Florida Keys News Bureau)
A costumed diver swims among sergeant major fish during Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival festivities at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The annual event invites divers and snorkelers to listen to music broadcast underwater while promoting reef protection and responsible diving practices. This year’s Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, set for July 10-11, features a sub-sea concert on North America’s only living coral barrier reef. (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)
Donna Whitney of Miami, Florida, plays a harp while dressed as a mermaid during Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival festivities at Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The annual event draws divers and snorkelers to a sub-sea concert that promotes reef protection and responsible diving practices. This year’s Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, set for July 10-11, invites participants to explore the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. (Frazier Nivens/Florida Keys News Bureau)
ABOUT THE FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST
The Florida Keys & Key West is a premier getaway destination located at the southernmost tip of Florida and the continental United States. The Keys stretch over 125 miles connected by 42 bridges and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. Discover the spectacular array of diverse activities offered in the Florida Keys like fishing, diving, natural wonders, fine dining and cultural heritage. From large resorts, secluded waterfront hideaways and courtyard guest houses, visitors can uncover the perfect place for their vacation. Restoration, renovation and preservation have become a way of life in the Florida Keys. Whether you’re driving or flying into the Keys, one thing is for sure: there’s simply no place quite like it. Want more reasons to visit The Florida Keys & Key West? Get inspired at visitfloridakeys.com and follow us @thefloridakeys on social media.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Mary B. Haban
Senior Director of Public Relations
Visit Florida Keys & Key West
(305) 394-3142
Visit Florida Keys & Key West PR Agency Team (TURNER)