¡ARTE VIVA! – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Artistic Diversity
Get ready to embark on a journey into the vibrant heart of Hispanic arts and culture as Florida's Paradise Coast gears up for another exhilarating celebration. ¡ARTE VIVA! , presented by the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), is a yearlong extravaganza that promises to be an unforgettable tribute to the rich cultural tapestry of the Hispanic community, which makes up nearly 30% of the region’s population.
Award Recognition
¡ARTE VIVA! recently was recognized by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), earning two 2025 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards. The festival won a Gold Award for the Best Single Magazine Display Ad and a Silver Award for Best Media Component for the Meet the Artist Video Series. The Florida Festivals and Events Association recognized the festival with their SunSational awards, including First Place for Best Promotional Mailer for the display ad, and Third Place for the Website.
"Our CVB partners are thrilled to participate and bring new programs to our destination,” said John Melleky, arts and culture manager for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB., “¡ARTE VIVA! provides a tremendous platform to promote Collier County’s cultural assets because we know that the arts in Collier County mean business."
Celebrating Día de los Muertos
The 2025-2026 season of ¡ARTE VIVA! will introduce extraordinary new programs and returning favorites.
The first weekend in November brings Día de los Muertos to the area at various locations. Originating in Mexico, this vibrant holiday invites the community to come together, share cherished memories of loved ones, and celebrate the bonds that unite us. There are a variety of events and activities, which include:
- A grass wall installation at the Marco Island Center for the Arts;
- The annual Día de los Muertos Celebration at Naples Botanical Garden on November 1 and 2. They will have their eight-foot Calaveras sculptures created by Ricardo Soltero, children’s activities, ofrendas, music by Sudamerican Latin Groove and Orquesta Tropical Sound, and dance performances by Ballet Folklorica Jaliscience and Danza Azteca Guadalupana;
- The Immokalee Pioneer Museum will also feature the Danza Azteca Guadalupana through a photography exhibition by artist Lizette Morales through January 2026;
- The free Artis—Naples Día de los Muertos Celebration event during the afternoon on November 1. There will be lectures, Danza de los chinelos, vibrant musical performances, ofrendas, and hands-on themed crafts;
- The Farmers Market on Third Street South opens their season during this festive weekend and showcases Hispanic food and vendors as part of the 60 vendors each Saturday;
- On the evening of November 1, The Perry Hotel brings two dining experiences to life with El Rugido de los Muertos, the Roar of the Dead. One is an outdoor marketplace at Easy Tiger with drink specials and Mexican food stations. The other is an indoor culinary journey at Tigress restaurant that includes Tequila Pairing with each dinner course. Both include one of the best views of the sunset in North Naples and special appearances by Executive Chef Iggy Ortiz and celebrity chef Partner Dale Talde.
Visual Arts Take Center Stage with Multiple Exhibitions
- Naples Art Institute will bring the work of Spanish artist Joan Miró for the exhibition Joan Miró: Fire in the Soul from December 13, 2025 to April 4, 2026;
- Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum presents There and Here: New Perspectives of the Permanent Collection, showcasing highlights and rarities from the permanent collection and to celebrate the Baker Museum’s 25th anniversary from January 10, 2026 to July 1, 2026;
- The Marco Island Center for the Arts showcases Hispanic artists in two exhibitions – Words as Art from October – November and Snap, Crackle and POP ART! From May – June;
- In March, the Naples Art District will celebrate its 20th anniversary through an exhibition that showcases nature’s endurance, resilience, and transformation of Wings of Wonder: The Miraculous Migration of the Monarch Butterfly to Central Mexico;
- The Face of Immokalee is a captivating public art installation at Lipman Farms in Immokalee. Photographer Michelle Tricca honors the resilient Immokalee community through a striking series of black-and-white portraits of its children;
- Naples Art Institute has large outdoor Art Fairs in January, February, and March that will bring national artists to Florida’s Paradise Coast.
The Rhythm and Melodies of Talented Hispanic Artists Fill the Air
- Gulfshore Opera will perform Bizet’s Carmen at Artis—Naples on December 7;
- The Marco Island Center for the Arts' Musical Interludes will introduce a variety of musical talents, including Latin Grammy nominee Leslie Cartaya; jazz trumpeter and alto saxophonist Fernando Ferrarone; and Brazilian guitarist Everton Azevedo;
- Opera Naples Festival Under the Stars will include Hispanic artists and productions created by Artistic and Music Director Ramón Tebar, who himself hails from Valencia, Spain;
- Artis—Naples boasts a lineup with nationally renowned a series of symphonic works.
This year’s lineup will also include the South American Exhibit at Naples Zoo and much more. ¡ARTE VIVA! is set to offer residents and visitors an unrivaled assortment of events and performances throughout the year, spread across multiple locations throughout Florida's Paradise Coast. It's a heartfelt tribute to Hispanic culture's beauty, vibrancy, and unique contributions.