FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With outdoor music venues stirring to life across the rest of the country, the annual tsunami of summer tours is rolling toward South Florida, with the biggest names in pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop and country performing on local stages.

Of course, summer concert season is an arbitrary construct down here, where there are just two seasons: Hot and Not Too Bad. Our recommendations for the best summer concerts take place within a similarly subjective timeline, beginning with Memorial Day Weekend and ending with the Mavericks on Sept. 11. Because it may be one of the most rewarding concerts of the year.

Here are our favorite shows, large and small, each recommended in ruthlessly efficient 10-word bites.

May

Carlos Vives: King of Colombia’s vallenato sound is a perfect summer starter. May 23, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

“Weird Al” Yankovic: Zany musical punster joined by clowning of Puddles Pity Party. May 26, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Jelly Roll: Post Malone’s summer stadium opener also headlining quick shed tour. May 28, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Keith Urban: Album “Flow State” (out June 12) is yacht rock(!) covers. May 29, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Dave Matthews Band: Beloved jammer brings summer tour to town for two nights. May 29-30, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. LiveNation.com

The Black Crowes, Whiskey Myers: Robinson brothers’ dirty South anthems paired with freewheeling country rockers. May 30, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Marcus King Band: He’s still one of the great young guitarists touring today. May 31, Mizner Park Amphitheater, Boca Raton. Ticketmaster.com

June

Stewart Copeland: Former Police drummer to open his spoken-word tour here. June 3, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

Young the Giant: Touring new album “Victory Garden,” with openers Cold War Kids. June 4, FTL War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale. Seatgeek.com

Charlie Puth: The multitalented performer has major stardom written all over him. June 5, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Rosalía: Spanish singer’s album “Lux” prompted wildly enthusiastic praise all over. June 4, June 6, Kaseya Center, Miami. KaseyaCenter.com

Evanescence: Amy Lee and band open 2026 tour in South Florida. June 11, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso: Argentina’s hip-hop pop duo sharing buzzy album “Free Spirits.” June 12, The Fillmore Miami Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Summer Walker: Two Grammy nominations for R&B hit “Heart of a Woman.” June 14, Kaseya Center, Miami. Seatgeek.com

A$AP Rocky: Actor, entrepreneur, stylist titled prescient (?) new album “Don’t Be Dumb.” June 15, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

The Red Clay Strays: Rising country originals will have music from new album “Grateful.” June 18, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Vince Gill: Nimble guitarist, sweet vocalist, part-time Eagle celebrating 50th anniversary. June 20, Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

Josh Groban: Singer-songwriter will be joined by the riveting Jennifer Hudson. June 20, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Hilary Duff: Actor-singer’s tour will support new album “luck … or something.” June 21-22, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. LiveNation.com

Todd Rundgren: More hits than you may remember, and he sounds great. June 23, The Parker, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

Ariana Grande: Boca Raton-raised pop star’s first local shows since 2019. June 30, July 2-3, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. Seatgeek.com

July

Joe Jackson: Album “Hope and Fury” blends pop, rock, jazz, Latin inspiration. July 1, The Parker, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

Shakira: Returning after three nights at Hard Rock Live in December. July 1-2, Kaseya Center, Miami. KaseyaCenter.com

Madison Beer: Pop siren’s got a following and a new album, “locket.” July 2, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Tame Impala: Painterly synthpop project opening its North American Deadbeat tour here. July 6-7, Kaseya Center, Miami. KaseyaCenter.com

Tori Amos: Exquisite artist performing long-awaited album “In Times of Dragons.” July 7, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach. Kravis.org

Train: Celebrating 25 years of “Jupiter” with Barenaked Ladies, Matt Nathanson. July 8, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Chicago, Styx: Monsters of the Midway unite for a classic-rock jamboree. July 13, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

J. Cole: Influential rapper-producer brings The Fall-Off Tour to town. July 14, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

Ne-Yo, Akon: Work up a summer sweat with R&B duo’s nostalgic jams. July 15, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Men at Work, Toad the Wet Sprocket: A fun pairing in one of South Florida’s underappreciated venues. July 16, Pompano Beach Amphitheater. PompanoBeachArts.org

Megan Moroney: Surprising Tortuga cameo offered sneak peek of Cloud 9 Tour. July 18, Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise. Seatgeek.com

Louis Tomlinson: Young crooner touring with album “How Did I Get Here?”, July 24, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

Lionel Richie; Earth, Wind & Fire: They call the tour Sing a Song All Night Long. July 24, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Toto, Christopher Cross, the Romantics: What we like about them? So many great sing-alongs. July 31, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

August

Mumford & Sons: Trio’s world tour with music from recently released album “Prizefighter.” Aug. 6, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Mötley Crüe: Glam-metal faves celebrating 20th anniversary of “Carnival of Sins.” Aug. 14, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Jordan Davis: Country heartthrob touring with introspective LP “Learn the Hard Way.” Aug 14, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Jack Johnson: Surfer-musician returns with SURFILMUSIC Tour (named for new documentary). Aug. 18, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson: Gloom-rock gods share malevolent mirth on a co-headlining tour. Aug. 20, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. LiveNation.com

Squeeze, Adam Ant, Haircut 100: Squeeze wordsmiths Difford and Tilbrook have a new album, “Trixies.” Aug. 20, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Slightly Stoopid, the Elovaters: Reggae-rockers help wind down the season with joint tour. Aug. 22, Sunset Cove Amphitheater, Boca Raton. AXS.com

Ricardo Montaner: The Argentine-Venezuelan pop icon brings world tour to Miami. Aug. 29, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

Brooks & Dunn: The classic country duo’s renaissance continues with Neon Moon Tour. Aug. 29, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

311, Dirty Heads: Kick back in the grass with more reggae-rock favorites. Aug. 30, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

September

Hayley Williams: Paramore singer touring with “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.” Sept. 3, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach. Ticketmaster.com

Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors: Listening to the radio in Mom’s Camry in the ’90s. Sept. 3, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood. Ticketmaster.com

Juanes: Latin rock star set to tour with new album, “JuanesTeban.” Sept. 4, Kaseya Center, Miami. Ticketmaster.com

Nicko McBrain’s Titanium Tart: Iron Maiden drummer, Boca Raton resident plays Maiden and more. Sept. 5, Culture Room, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

The Mavericks & Friends: RIP Raul Malo. Mavericks enlist vocalists James Otto, Emily West. Sept. 11, The Parker, Fort Lauderdale. Ticketmaster.com

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