While football fans flock to Miami for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, another Brazilian attraction is quietly taking over the city—and it has nothing to do with the matches.
Across parks, plazas and public spaces, giant jaguar sculptures painted by Brazilian artists are transforming Miami into an open-air gallery. The installation is part of the Jaguar Parade, one of the world’s largest public art initiatives dedicated to wildlife conservation.
For visitors looking to experience Brazil beyond the stadiums, it may become one of the most unexpected cultural highlights of the summer.
Meet Miami’s Newest Residents
The exhibition features 11 monumental jaguar sculptures scattered throughout Miami, each created by a different Brazilian artist.
Far from traditional museum pieces, these colorful felines are designed to be discovered in the wild—well, as wild as Miami gets.
Visitors can encounter them while exploring the city, stopping for photos, learning about the artists behind each work and, perhaps, gaining a new appreciation for the animal that inspired the project.
The jaguar, known as onça-pintada in Portuguese, is the largest feline in the Americas and one of Brazil’s most iconic wildlife symbols. Yet despite its cultural significance, habitat loss and human activity continue to threaten populations across Latin America.
That’s where the Jaguar Parade comes in.
Art With a Mission
Created by Brazilian cultural platform Artery, the Jaguar Parade uses public art to spark conversations about biodiversity and conservation.
Since its launch, the project has traveled through cities including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, New York, and Paris, bringing together artists, environmental organizations and local communities around a common cause: protecting the jaguar and the ecosystems it inhabits.
Rather than presenting conservation through statistics alone, the initiative invites people to connect emotionally with the animal through art.
And in a city as international as Miami, the message reaches audiences from around the world.
A Celebration of Brazilian Creativity
This year’s Miami edition showcases a diverse lineup of Brazilian artists, each bringing a unique visual interpretation of the jaguar.
Participating artists include Fabiano Senk, Gus Attab, Laila Mackenzie, Busy, Lívia Mourão & Rui Machado, Guilherme Kramer, Kássia Borges, Leticce, Vinicius Zoia, Sophie Reiterman and Cíntia Abravanel.
Their works explore themes ranging from biodiversity and coexistence to identity, culture and the relationship between humans and nature.
More Than an Art Installation
The Miami edition also marks a special milestone: the 15th anniversary of Onçafari, the Brazilian nonprofit organization dedicated to jaguar conservation.
Over the past decade and a half, Onçafari has become one of Latin America’s leading conservation organizations, operating 23 conservation bases across nine Brazilian states and helping protect more than 2 million hectares of natural habitat.
The connection between the exhibition and conservation efforts goes beyond awareness. At the end of the project, the sculptures will be auctioned, with 100% of the net proceeds supporting future Onçafari initiatives.
In other words, every jaguar on display helps fund the protection of real jaguars in the wild.
A Different Side of Brazil During the World Cup
The World Cup will bring millions of visitors to the United States, many eager to experience Brazilian culture through football.
The Jaguar Parade offers something different.
It showcases a Brazil that isn’t measured in trophies or goals, but in creativity, biodiversity and cultural expression. A Brazil where contemporary artists use public spaces to tell stories about nature, identity and preservation.
So between matches, beach days and celebrations, keep an eye out for Miami’s giant jaguars.
They may end up being one of the most memorable Brazilian encounters you’ll have this summer.
Jaguar Parade Miami
What: Open-air public art exhibition featuring giant jaguar sculptures created by Brazilian artists
Where: Multiple locations across Miami
When: Summer 2026
Admission: Free
