The Complete Guide to Palm Beach's Social Season
Everything you need to know about Palm Beach's winter social calendar: the galas, cultural institutions, polo, private clubs, and the unwritten rules that govern the season from October through April.
Introduction: Understanding the Season
For newcomers to Palm Beach, "the season" can feel like an abstraction. Longtime residents speak of it casually, as if everyone understands its rhythms, its institutions, and its etiquette. The assumption is that you already know.
This guide assumes you don't.
The Palm Beach social season runs roughly from October through April, with the most intensive calendar concentrated between January and March. During these months, the island's population swells, the cultural institutions present their marquee programming, the galas fill the ballrooms, and the private clubs host their most important evenings.
Understanding the season matters for anyone considering a home in Palm Beach County. The social calendar shapes real estate demand, rental pricing, and the practical experience of living here. It also offers a window into what makes this community distinctive: a combination of philanthropy, culture, tradition, and a particular style of gathering that has evolved over more than a century.
Part 1: The Shape of the Season
The Palm Beach social season follows a predictable arc.
October and November: The Warm-Up
The season begins quietly. Residents return from summer homes in the Northeast, the Hamptons, Nantucket, or Europe. The clubs reopen with reduced programming. The cultural institutions announce their winter schedules. Early fundraisers and member events begin to populate the calendar.
December: The Transition
December brings holiday programming, smaller gatherings, and the final preparations for the main season. Notable December events include the Palm Beach Symphony Holly Jolly Fete, holiday luncheons, and charity events that set the tone for what's ahead.
January through March: The Heart of the Season
The International Red Cross Ball traditionally opens the formal gala season in early January. From there, the weeks fill with charity galas, museum openings, symphony performances, polo matches, and private club events. During peak season, it's possible to have a gala or significant event every week.
April: The Wind-Down
By late March and early April, the season begins to taper. Final polo matches, closing concerts, and end-of-season gatherings mark the transition. By Easter or shortly after, many residents begin departing for summer homes.
Part 2: The Complete 2025 to 2026 Event Calendar
Below is a comprehensive calendar of major events, organized by month. All dates should be confirmed with official sources as schedules may change.
December 2025
December 5: Clinics Can Help 4th Annual Cribs for Kids Luncheon, The Ben clinicscanhelp.org
December 6: Piper's Angels Foundation Third Annual Gala: Unmasking Miracles, Kravis Center pipersangels.org
December 7: A Safe Haven for Newborns 8th Annual Holiday Cabaret, Mar-a-Lago asafehavenfornewborns.com
December 8: Palm Beach Symphony 8th Annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fete palmbeachsymphony.org
December 9: Boys & Girls Clubs 7th Annual Cocktails for the Club, St. Andrews Club bgcpbc.org
December 28: National Polo Center Season Opener, George Miller Memorial, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
January 2026
January 9: 65th International Red Cross Ball, The Breakers (Black Tie/White Tie) This historic event brings together global ambassadors, distinguished guests and the nation's military in an unforgettable evening of elegance and philanthropy. Keynote speaker: General Randy A. George, 41st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. redcross.org/south-florida
January 9: Boys & Girls Clubs Wellington Dinner Dance, Wycliffe Golf & Country Club bgcpbc.org
January 10: Lighthouse ArtCenter D'Art for Art: Nautical Nights, Turtle Creek Club, Tequesta lighthousearts.org
January 24: Path to College Shine and Dine Gala, Cohen Pavilion at Kravis Center pathtocollege.org
January 28: Ballet Palm Beach Annual Gala, The Breakers balletpalmbeach.org
January 28 to February 1: Art Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Convention Center South Florida's premier fair for modern and contemporary art, showcasing leading international galleries with exhibitors from London, Basel, San Francisco, Dublin, and Palm Beach. artpalmbeach.com
January 29: Catholic Charities Caritas Dei Bishop's Gala, The Breakers Honoring Emilia and J. Pepe Fanjul and Raysa and Alfonso Fanjul. Contact: 561.360.3334
January 30: Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation Motown Dinner Dance, The Colony pbrayofhope.org
February 2026
February 2: American Friends of the Uffizi Galleries 20th Anniversary Gala, Club Colette Contact event organizers for details.
February 5: Palm Beach Island Hospice Evening 2026, The Breakers Contact: 561.832.8585
February 5: Curetivity Annual Dinner Dance, Mar-a-Lago Contact: 561.281.4887
February 6: Boys & Girls Clubs 45th Annual Winter Ball, The Breakers bgcpbc.org
February 7: Norton Museum of Art Gala, 6:30 PM The Norton Museum of Art's annual Gala will celebrate Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection, an extraordinary exhibition of 75 works from one of the world's foremost private collections of 17th-century Dutch art. Honoring Ronnie Heyman and Contemporary Artist Loie Hollowell. Includes live auction in partnership with Sotheby's. norton.org/gala-2026
February 7: LIFE's 32nd Annual Lady in Red Gala, The Breakers Featuring The Temptations and Comedienne Rita Rudner. life-edu.org
February 11: Heart to Heart Dinner, The Little Club (supporting Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach) bgcpbc.org
February 15: U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship Final, National Polo Center, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
February 16: Palm Beach Symphony 24th Annual Gala "A Standing Ovation," The Breakers Honorary Gala Chairs: Susan and Bob Wright. Gala Chairs: Amy and John T. Collins. Black tie. palmbeachsymphony.org/gala
February 17: Palm Beach Atlantic University 34th Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon, The Breakers Contact: 561.803.2021
February 18: Center for Family Services 27th Annual Old Bags Luncheon, The Breakers ctrfam.org
February 19: American Heart Association 71st Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball, The Breakers Chairs: Susan and Bob Wright. Contact: 561.697.6605 heart.org
February 20: Society of the Four Arts 250th Anniversary Dinner Dance (By Invitation) fourarts.org
February 21: Cleveland Clinic Florida Annual Palm Beach Ball, The Breakers Tickets: $1,200. clevelandclinicflorida.org
February 21: Society of the Four Arts Contemporaries Gala: Pioneers of Palm Beach Contact: 561.530.6015 or events@fourarts.org
February 21: Edna Runner Education Center 40th Year Gala, Admirals Cove ewrunnerctr.org
February 22: C.V. Whitney Cup Final, National Polo Center, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
February 27: Place of Hope Annual Lexus Hope Bash, Mar-a-Lago placeofhope.com
February 27: Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Annual Dinner Dance, Bradley Park (By Invitation) palmbeachpreservation.org
February 27: Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year, Kravis Center bgcpbc.org
February 28: Ballet Palm Beach Gala by the Sea, The Breakers Honoring Anka Palitz's 50 years of contributions to the arts. balletpalmbeach.org
Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach The ninth edition returns Winter 2026. Specific dates to be announced. Opening day typically features ticketed preview sessions, followed by three weeks of general admission. kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org
March 2026
March 1 to 7: Lighthouse ArtCenter 13th Annual Plein Air Festival Includes Kick Off at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and concludes with Collectors' Party and Sale. lighthousearts.org | jupiterlighthouse.org
March 7: amfAR Gala Palm Beach (Black Tie) One of the most successful and important events in the fight against AIDS. amfar.org
March 12: RDK Melanoma Foundation 26th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show, The Breakers melanomafoundation.com
March 12: Grey Team Red, White and Vogue Fashion Show and Dinner, Mar-a-Lago redwhiteandvogue.com
March 15: Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts Gala benzaitencenter.org
March 21: Jupiter Medical Center Foundation 49th Annual Black-Tie Ball, The Breakers Supporting the Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center expansion. Contact: 561.263.3712 jmcfoundation.org
March 25: Lighthouse for the Blind 5th Annual EnVision 20/20 Luncheon, The Beach Club lhpb.org
March 27: Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation Dancing with the Palm Beach Stars, Mar-a-Lago pbrayofhopefoundation.org
March 29: USPA Gold Cup Final, National Polo Center, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
March 31: Preservation Foundation Preservationist Dinner (By Invitation) palmbeachpreservation.org
April 2026
April 1 to 26: U.S. Open Polo Championship, National Polo Center, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
April 26: U.S. Open Polo Championship Final, National Polo Center, Wellington
May 2026
May 1: Boys & Girls Clubs Great Futures Golf Classic, Breakers West Country Club bgcpbc.org
May 3: NPC International Event (USA vs. TBD), National Polo Center, Wellington nationalpolocenter.com
Part 3: The Cultural Anchor Institutions
Several institutions anchor the Palm Beach cultural calendar. Understanding them helps you navigate the season.
The Society of the Four Arts
The Four Arts is one of Palm Beach's most important cultural institutions. Founded in 1936, it occupies a 10-acre campus along the Intracoastal Waterway that includes galleries, a performance hall, libraries, and sculpture gardens.
The 2025 to 2026 lecture series features notable speakers including Justice Anthony Kennedy, Christiane Amanpour, Andrew Roberts, Joshua Bell, Gary Player, Dan Buettner, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and Sir Niall Ferguson.
Throughout the season, the Four Arts presents concerts, films, exhibitions, and educational programs. The current exhibition features Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist.
Norton Museum of Art
Located in West Palm Beach, the Norton is Palm Beach County's premier art museum. The museum was transformed by Foster + Partners and features galleries, gardens, and a 37,000-square-foot sculpture garden.
The 2026 Gala on February 7 celebrates the Leiden Collection exhibition, the largest exhibition of privately held Dutch 17th-century paintings ever organized in the United States.
Palm Beach Symphony
Under the baton of Maestro Gerard Schwarz, the 2025 to 2026 Masterworks Series features world-renowned soloists including Shelly Berg, Misha Dichter, Alisa Weilerstein, Vadim Repin, Simon Trpčeski, and Emanuel Ax.
Performances take place at the Kravis Center throughout the season.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
The Kravis Center is the region's major performing arts venue. Beyond the Palm Beach Symphony, it hosts touring Broadway productions, dance companies, solo performers, and special events.
Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach
The Preservation Foundation focuses on protecting Palm Beach's architectural heritage. The organization hosts the Annual Dinner Dance (February 27, 2026) and the Preservationist Dinner (March 31, 2026), both by invitation.
Part 4: Polo in Wellington
Polo is a defining feature of the Palm Beach County winter season. The National Polo Center in Wellington hosts world-class competition from late December through early May.
The 2026 Polo Season
The season opener, the George Miller Memorial, takes place on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The centerpiece of the NPC season is the iconic Gauntlet of Polo, a three-part series: the C.V. Whitney Cup (February 11 to March 1), the USPA Gold Cup (March 4 to 29), and the U.S. Open Polo Championship (April 1 to 26).
Key dates:
December 28, 2025: Season Opener January 4, 2026: Heritage Cup Final February 15, 2026: U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship Final February 22, 2026: C.V. Whitney Cup Final March 29, 2026: USPA Gold Cup Final April 26, 2026: U.S. Open Polo Championship Final May 3, 2026: NPC International Event
Sunday Polo
Available every Sunday January through April. The Pavilion's brunch features an ever-changing array of delicious items spread out over various stations.
Hospitality options include general admission stadium seating, fieldside tailgates, Pavilion Brunch, and VIP boxes.
Part 5: Art Fairs and Design Events
Art Palm Beach
Art Palm Beach returns January 28 to February 1, 2026, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. This year's edition expands its reach with exhibitors from London, Basel, San Francisco, Dublin, and Palm Beach.
Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach
The Show House expanded to Palm Beach in 2017 and recently celebrated its eighth successful edition in Winter 2025. The ninth edition returns Winter 2026.
The Show House attracts 15,000 visitors each year and all proceeds benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
Part 6: The Private Clubs
Private clubs remain central to Palm Beach social life. Membership provides access to dining, golf, tennis, fitness, and social events not available to the general public.
The Everglades Club
The Everglades Club is Palm Beach's most exclusive private club. Founded in 1919, it occupies a historic Addison Mizner building on Worth Avenue. The club maintains no public website and membership is by invitation only.
Bath and Tennis Club
The Bath and Tennis Club (B&T) is located oceanfront on the island's south end. Membership is by invitation and requires sponsorship.
Palm Beach Country Club
Palm Beach Country Club offers golf, tennis, dining, and social programming on the island's north end.
Club Colette
Club Colette hosts numerous galas and private events throughout the season, including the American Friends of the Uffizi Galleries Gala and Lighthouse Guild events.
Part 7: Key Venues
The Breakers
The Breakers is Palm Beach's grand oceanfront resort and hosts major galas including the International Red Cross Ball, Palm Beach Heart Ball, Norton Museum Gala, Palm Beach Symphony Gala, and many others.
Mar-a-Lago
Mar-a-Lago hosts numerous charity events throughout the season including the Big Dog Ranch Rescue gala, Place of Hope Lexus Hope Bash, and Dancing with the Palm Beach Stars.
The Colony Hotel
The Colony hosts smaller events and dinner dances including the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation events.
Worth Avenue
Worth Avenue hosts events, exhibitions, and the popular historical walking tour throughout the season.
Part 8: Practical Guidance
Calendar Management
Book early. High-demand events sell out quickly. Monitor official pages for ticket releases.
Be selective. You cannot attend everything. Focus on the institutions and causes that matter most to you.
Dress Codes
Black tie means black tie. Tuxedos for men, formal gowns for women.
White tie appears at the International Red Cross Ball and select other events.
Cocktail attire is common for smaller events.
Always confirm the dress code on the invitation or website.
Transportation
Valet parking is standard at most venues. Arrive early for galas.
For Wellington polo, allow extra travel time on Sunday afternoons.
Part 9: Resources and Quick Reference
Society Coverage
Palm Beach Society: pbsociety.com Chart Magazine Events: chartcharityart.com
Cultural Institutions
Society of the Four Arts: fourarts.org Norton Museum of Art: norton.org Palm Beach Symphony: palmbeachsymphony.org Kravis Center: kravis.org Preservation Foundation: palmbeachpreservation.org
Major Events
International Red Cross Ball: redcross.org/south-florida Kips Bay Show House: kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org Art Palm Beach: artpalmbeach.com
Polo
National Polo Center: nationalpolocenter.com Wellington Polo Tour: wellingtonpolotour.com
Venues
The Breakers: thebreakers.com Worth Avenue: worth-avenue.com
Details are subject to change. Always confirm dates, dress codes, and availability on official event pages. Information is general and not intended as professional advice. Equal Housing Opportunity.
If you're considering a home in Palm Beach County and want to understand how the social season shapes the experience of living here, we welcome a conversation.
