As a kid, I remember what is now known as the Miami Open presented by Itaú blasting on my grandparents’ old TV set in their Florida home.
As a kid, I remember what is now known as the Miami Open presented by Itaú blasting on my grandparents’ old TV set in their Florida home. My siblings and I visited them every spring break, and I have distinct recollections of running in from the beach, sand still on my feet, and parking myself in front of my grandfather’s chair to watch the annual tennis tournament and stars like Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, and Martina Hingis .
Back then, the more quaint-feeling event was called the Lipton Championships—before it would later become commonly known as the Sony Ericsson Open. And it was all played on leafy Key Biscayne, a well-heeled—but sleepy—island about seven miles southeast of Downtown. These days, the Miami Open is a different entity altogether; a major juggernaut that unfurls beneath the arena floodlights of Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium, layered with myriad dining and bar options, and infused with the kinetic energy for which the Magic City is so well known. Outside of the Grand Slams, tennis’s next major threshold consists of “1000-level” tournaments. The U.S. hosts three of them: Miami, the BNP Paribas Open , and Cincinnati. You can guess where the biggest party is. “Miami in general has so, so many options,” the tournament’s director James Blake told Vogue. “The top players will always be here, so die-hard tennis fans love it. But we’re really thinking about the casual fans, too, and how to deliver a better experience to them with more and more options. We’re really trying to weave in the fabric of Miami’s culture, with lots of music, fun, and food—even the arts.” On the Hard Rock’s grounds, crowd-pleasing eateries such as Miami Slice , Omakai , and Suviche often garner long lines. Murals by local artists dot the setup. A padel pop-up was even placed just inside the entrance. And that’s just the beginning: MARI, a live events and experiences company, is the tournament’s new owner and it is looking to propel its appeal even further for the future. The buzz doesn’t end at Hard Rock’s gates either; the Miami Open also sees many major pop-up events, parties, and charitable initiatives hosted throughout the area, particularly during the early stages of the tournament when more players are in town. Ahead of this weekend’s finals, we spotlight some of the standout social moments in and around the event—a showcase of performance, a city-wide spectacle and, now, a cultural calendar mainstay. Vamos! MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 20: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain is congratulated by Joao Fonseca of Brazil after their match on Day 4 of the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. MIAMI, FL - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers & Carlos Alcaraz pose for a photo after the game against the Miami Heat on March 19, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE
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