Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival 2026

Date: April 23–26, 2026 | Public festival: Sunday, April 26, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: REEF Ocean Exploration Center, 98380 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL
Cost: Free (public festival); $90–$120 per team (derby registration)

If you’re looking for the most genuinely unique local event in the United States this weekend, look no further than Key Largo. The 17th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival runs April 23–26, 2026, organized by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) — and the free public festival on Sunday, April 26, is open to anyone who wants a front-row seat to real conservation science in action.

Here’s the concept: teams of 2–4 divers spend Friday and Saturday hunting invasive lionfish in Florida’s reefs, competing to remove the most fish, the biggest, and the smallest. Lionfish are a destructive invasive species in the Atlantic — voracious predators of native reef fish with no natural predators of their own. REEF’s derbies have become one of the most effective single-event removal tools available, with the 2025 edition pulling over 1,600 fish from South Florida reefs in just two days.

The public Arts Festival on Sunday at the REEF Campus transforms the weigh-in into a celebration: lionfish tastings, filleting demonstrations, live music, interactive science booths from environmental organizations, food trucks, and local craft beer. Think part conservation rally, part neighborhood block party, with the added thrill of watching divers bring in their hauls.

The festival is free, family-friendly, and — given that it’s held in Key Largo on a Sunday afternoon — one of the most rewarding ways to spend a Florida spring weekend.

🎥 Worth watching

Search YouTube: “REEF Lionfish Derby Key Largo” for underwater footage, weigh-in highlights, and festival atmosphere videos.

🐦 Follow on social

@REEF_HQ on Instagram for derby updates and lionfish content.

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❓ FAQ — Florida Keys Lionfish Derby 2026

Q: What is the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby?
It’s an annual competitive diving event where teams remove invasive lionfish from Florida reefs, organized by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

Q: Is the public festival free?
Yes. The Arts Festival on Sunday, April 26 (noon–4 p.m.) at the REEF Campus is completely free and open to all ages.

Q: Can I eat lionfish at the festival?
Yes — lionfish tastings are a highlight of the festival. Lionfish is described as similar in taste to hogfish and is considered delicious.

Q: How many lionfish were removed in 2025?
Over 1,600 lionfish were removed from South Florida reefs during the 2025 derby — a conservation record for the event.

Q: Do I need to be a diver to participate?
Only for the competitive derby. The public festival is open to everyone, including non-divers.

Q: Where exactly is the REEF Campus?
98380 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 — on the bayside of the Overseas Highway.