The Underline Receives Levitt Foundation Grant to Launch Free Miami Concert Series Through 2028
- camilarosiaz
- 7d
- 2 min read
Friends of The Underline has secured a multi-year grant from the Levitt Foundation, bringing a new free outdoor concert series to Miami beginning in 2026. The award funds 10 no-cost performances next year and supports additional seasons in 2027 and 2028, positioning The Underline as a recurring host site for the national Levitt Music Series.
The Levitt Foundation, known for supporting one of the country’s largest free outdoor music networks, backs communities that want to expand access to live performance. Each Levitt Music Series presents seven to ten free concerts annually, with programming designed to foster connection across diverse audiences and genres.
As The Underline moves forward with its Phase Three expansion, the Levitt BLOC Miami Music Series will activate several locations along the linear park, including the new Inter Grove Gallery in Coconut Grove. The program aligns with The Underline’s mission to create accessible cultural experiences while highlighting both emerging and established Miami artists. A full 2026 schedule will be announced soon.
Lisle Bowen, Chief Marketing Officer of Friends of The Underline, said the grant will help shape “a powerful first season of free concerts,” supporting local talent and broadening cultural offerings throughout the city.
Grant recipients for the 2026–2028 cycle were selected through public voting and a national review process. Miami residents cast ballots from September 5–15, 2025, ultimately choosing The Underline as their preferred host for the series.
The Levitt BLOC program—short for Building Layers of Community—is designed to disperse concerts across multiple public spaces in a single city, expanding reach and increasing neighborhood engagement. Sharon Yazowski, President and CEO of the Levitt Foundation, noted that the model “fosters social connections and adds to the economic vitality and cultural vibrancy across neighborhoods,” welcoming The Underline as a new grantee.
In total, the Levitt Foundation will award more than $7 million over the next three years to nonprofits in 66 communities nationwide. The concerts span a wide range of genres, including pop, jazz, Latin, folk, blues, country, world music, and children’s programming.