In West Palm Beach, when the locals refer to The Season, they aren’t talking about the festive season but rather the city’s social events calendar and seasonal events.
The city’s much-anticipated season usually starts in November and continues through April. It’s during the season that this stretch of the Florida Coast, including the nearby Palm Beach, truly transforms into something breathtaking. From Black-tie galas to one of the largest boat shows in the US, there’s a social event for every type of person to enjoy.
Additionally, although the season doesn’t inspire a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ experience, once the arc is over, West Palm Beach becomes a fairly quiet respite with a few year-round social activities worth attending. So, without wasting much more time, let’s dive into the West Palm Beach events in 2026 you could attend.
2025 to 2026: November through March
Since we are writing this in late April, many of the 2025 to 2026 West Palm Beach season events have already taken place.
However, this is a good time to learn what usually happens each year. Then you get a better picture of what to expect when you look at the West Palm Beach social calendar for 2026 and 2027.
The events that you already missed are a preview of what the 2027 season will hold. For those relocating to West Palm or planning a purchase ahead of next winter, this is the social infrastructure you are buying into:
November and December: The Season Opens
As the season opened, private club dining rooms resumed their schedules and families returned. The city settled into an easy sociability before the gala circuit proper began. The Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival (December 11 to 14) always draws a mix of longtime residents and serious newcomers. Over four days, there were dinners, tastings, and chef events. Most individuals who were serious about food and wine had put it in their calendar early.
Towards the end of the month, on December 28, the National Polo Center in Wellington opened its season with the Butler Handicap. This signaled that the equestrian world to the west had woken up alongside the city. For those new to Wellington, it runs entirely on its own social register. It represents a barn culture that rewards those who engage with it on its own terms. During the season, the Sunday brunch tickets always sell out well ahead of time.
January: The Calendar in West Palm Beach Turns Formal
The Red Cross Ball, which took place on January 9, 2026, truly opened the gala circuit, as it has for well over six decades. In the same month, it’s worth knowing that although not a staple in the calendar, there was a notable cultural moment on January 22.
On this date, the Glazer Hall opened inside the restored Royal Poinciana Playhouse, a 1958 John L. Volk building on Palm Beach Island. The 400-seat hall is now the island’s first new nonprofit performing arts venue in more than sixty years. Its inaugural season included American Ballet Theatre and performances by soprano Renée Fleming.
February: This Month is Peak Season
As you now know, the Red Cross Ball on January 9 opened the gala circuit in earnest. From there, February accelerated quickly. More than twenty galas fell within the month alone, with The Breakers hosting a significant share of the black-tie evenings. Because of this, calendar conflicts became a routine problem.
There were so many that many had to book in advance and pick which one they wanted to attend the most. Here are some of the highlights that took place:
- Boys & Girls Clubs 45th Annual Winter Ball. (February 6, The Breakers)
- Norton Museum of Art Gala. (February 7, Norton Museum of Art)
- US Open Women’s Polo Championship Final. (February 15, National Polo Center, Wellington)
- Palm Beach Symphony 24th Annual Gala. (February 16, The Breakers)
- Delray Beach Open Tennis Finals. (February 22, Delray Beach Tennis Center)
- Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. (February 26 through March 1, PGA National Resort & Spa)
March and April: The Season’s Final Push
After the February gala whirlwind, March shifted things into a lower gear. There was the Palm Beach International Boat Show. This ran from March 25 to 29 along Flagler Drive, with the show visible directly across the water from Palm Beach Island.
With more than $1.2 billion worth of vessels on display, including a dedicated Superyacht Show Palm Beach zone for boats above 80 feet, it was one of the more spectacular events on the calendar. Exhibitors included Sunseeker, Azimut, and Benetti.
There was also a VIP Windward tier that offered early entry and private hospitality. Over 55,000 visitors came through across those five days. If you missed it this year, the show historically falls in the last week of March. If you ask us, it’s worth planning around for 2027.
April also brought the US Open Polo Championship to a close. It was held at the National Polo Center in Wellington, with the final on April 26. Sunday brunch tickets gave access to Field One and the hospitality tents. And for all the arts and culture enthusiasts, the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens on Barcelona Road ran its Sunday concert series through the month, with tickets around $35.
Year-Round: What West Palm Beach Offers Outside The Season
If you think that West Palm Beach can’t hold its own outside the November to April window, you’d be mistaken. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, with its 2,193-seat Dreyfoos Concert Hall and two smaller venues, hosts more than 1,800 events annually, with performances continuing well into summer.
You can look forward to Ballet Palm Beach performing Giselle at the Kravis on May 16, 2026. Additionally, the Norton Museum of Art, consistently ranked among the top 20 art museums in the United States, is open year-round. This museum offers several exciting exhibitions that are open to the public. Plus, the museum has a proposed Phase 2 expansion. It will soon add a waterfront gallery space and a public art park.
Moreover, Clematis Street and Rosemary Square are the heart of the West Palm dining scene, while Worth Avenue on Palm Beach Island operates year-round, a short drive across the Royal Park Bridge. These areas offer visitors and residents alike much to look forward to experiencing.
Living the Season vs. Visiting It
When you are a visitor, there is an urge to try it all (Naturally). But with residents, they can choose to attend these events each year and can opt in or out based on actual preferences, likes, and dislikes. So if you live in West Palm Beach at one of the ultra-modern condominiums at residences like The Berkeley Palm Beach, you can pick and choose how to plan your social calendar each year.
Residences at The Berkeley Palm Beach are positioned on the water and close to the Kravis, the Norton, and the polo grounds at Wellington. So, although you’re nearby, you won’t be at the center of any of it unless you choose to be.
West Palm Beach Events in 2026: Planning for the 2026 to 2027 Season
You won’t be short of things to do in West Palm Beach in 2026, nor will you be in 2027. The West Palm Beach events from 2026 to 2027 will fill the social calendar quickly. However, the best seats, tables, and tickets tend to go to those who plan well. That’s why planning ahead is always worth it. If you’re looking for residences to enjoy the upcoming season and year-round events, book a sales appointment with our team at The Berkeley Palm Beach.
