Every September, thousands of people across the United States lace up their shoes for one powerful reason. They walk to end childhood cancer. In Miami, one of the most spirited editions of this nationwide movement takes place at a beloved South Florida landmark. The 2026 edition is already building momentum, with teams forming, donations flowing, and the community coming together ahead of a day that every participant will remember.
Whether you are a first-time walker, a seasoned fundraiser, or a parent who wants to show your children what giving back looks like, this guide covers everything you need to walk into the day with confidence.
Event at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Event Name | St. Jude Walk Miami |
| Date | Saturday, September 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center |
| Address | 10901 SW 24th Street, Miami, FL 33165 |
| Organizer | ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| Fundraising Goal | $650,000 |
| Participation Options | In-person or virtual |
| Registration | Free |
| Official Website | fundraising.stjude.org |
| Local Contact | Maria Ruiz de Luque |
| Contact Phone | 786.422.4774 |
Why This Walk Matters
When St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened its doors in 1962, childhood cancer was considered incurable. The statistics were grim, and most families had nowhere to turn. Today, that picture looks entirely different. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from just 20 percent to more than 80 percent.
That progress did not happen by accident. It happened because of research, because of dedicated medical staff, and because of people who showed up every September and walked. Every dollar raised at events like this one goes directly toward continuing that work.
Families who bring their children to St. Jude for treatment never receive a bill for anything. Not for treatment. Not for housing. Not for travel. Not for food. The hospital operates on donated funds, and the St. Jude Walk Miami is one of the key community events that makes that mission possible.
Date and Location
The 2026 walk takes place on Saturday, September 26. The venue is the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center, located at 10901 SW 24th Street in Miami, Florida, 33165.
This is a well-known South Florida venue with ample space for the full event experience, including the walk route, a celebration area, and family-friendly activities. The address sits off Coral Way in the University Park area, making it accessible from multiple directions across Miami-Dade County.
September 26 falls during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is recognized nationally every September. Walking on this date places the Miami community within a nationwide movement happening simultaneously across dozens of American cities.
How to Get There
The Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center is located in the University Park neighborhood. Several major roads provide access, including Southwest 8th Street (Calle Ocho), Coral Way, and the Dolphin Expressway. The venue has dedicated parking on site, which is a significant advantage for participants driving in from across Miami-Dade, Broward, or Monroe counties.
If you use Google Maps or a navigation app, searching for the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center at 10901 SW 24th Street will direct you to the correct entrance. Arriving early is strongly recommended, particularly if you are part of a team, since the opening ceremony and walk start typically happen within the first hour of the event opening.
Registration: How to Sign Up
Registration for the walk is free. That is correct. There is no fee to participate, in person or virtually. However, all participants are encouraged to fundraise and to help the Miami team reach its $650,000 goal.
You can register through the official St. Jude fundraising website at fundraising.stjude.org by searching for the Miami event. Once you arrive on the Miami event page, you have three options:
- Form a team and invite others to join you
- Join an existing team that has already been created
- Register as an individual participant
After registering, you receive a personal fundraising page. According to the organizers, participants who personalize their fundraising page with a photo and a personal story raise seven times more than those who leave the page blank. That is a meaningful difference, and it takes only a few minutes to do.
In-Person vs. Virtual Participation
One of the most thoughtful features of this event is the option to participate virtually. Not everyone can travel to the venue on the day. Some participants live outside Miami. Others have health or mobility challenges. Still others want to walk in their neighborhood or on a treadmill and still be part of the national movement.
Virtual participants register the same way as in-person walkers. They set their own route, walk on September 26, and fundraise in exactly the same way. Virtual participants can still earn St. Jude Walk gear and share their experience on social media as part of the nationwide event.
If you choose to walk in person, the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center provides the full event experience, including the opening ceremony, the walk route, the celebration area, and activities for families and children.
The Walk Route
The walk at the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center takes place on the venue grounds. The course routes participants through the expo grounds in a family-friendly format that is suitable for all fitness levels, including young children, seniors, and participants with mobility aids.
This is not a competitive race. It is a community walk. You can move at whatever pace works for you. There are no time limits and no minimum distances. The goal is to walk together, to be present, and to show that the Miami community stands behind the children and families of St. Jude.
Based on how similar walks operate at sister events across the country, the experience typically begins with an opening ceremony that sets the emotional tone for the day, followed by the walk, and then a celebration party with music, food, and community energy.
Fundraising: How It Works and Why It Matters
Fundraising is the heart of this event. The Miami walk has set a 2026 fundraising goal of $650,000. Every dollar raised goes directly to fund the ongoing research and patient care at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Top teams from earlier editions give a sense of what motivated groups can achieve. Teams like S.H.E. Gives Back, the Miami Supreme and Supreme Twins Foundation, and Maria’s Angels have already made significant contributions in the current campaign cycle, demonstrating how much can be accomplished when communities come together.
The recommended approach to fundraising is simple:
- After registering, personalize your fundraising page with a photo and your personal reason for participating
- Share the page link directly with friends, family, and colleagues via text, email, or social media
- Download the St. Jude Walk mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, to track donations and share updates in real time
- Reach out to local businesses for corporate donations or team sponsorship
Participants who reach certain fundraising milestones earn St. Jude Walk gear, from T-shirts and bags to other branded items. These rewards arrive before or on the event day and serve as a visible reminder of the impact each participant has made.
How to Form or Join a Team
Teams are the engine of this event. When friends, family members, coworkers, or community groups walk together, they raise more money and create a more powerful experience for everyone involved.
To form a team, visit the Miami event page at fundraising.stjude.org and select the option to create a new team. Give your team a name, set a fundraising goal, and share the team link so others can join. You become the team captain and can track your team’s collective progress through the dashboard.
To join an existing team, search for the team name on the event page and click the option to join. This is especially useful if your employer or faith community has already created a team and wants members to register under the same banner.
Corporate teams are particularly encouraged. Companies that participate gain a meaningful team-building experience while contributing to one of the most respected charitable missions in American healthcare. ALSAC, the organization that runs fundraising for St. Jude, provides corporate team resources and support to help businesses maximize their impact.
What to Bring and Wear on the Day
Preparation makes the experience more enjoyable and comfortable. September in Miami is warm and humid, so planning your clothing and gear carefully is important.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and moisture-wicking clothing
- Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the morning
- Apply sunscreen before you arrive, and bring a small travel-size bottle for reapplication
- Carry your phone for photos, the St. Jude Walk app, and communication
- Bring a small bag or fanny pack for personal items
- Consider bringing a small snack, especially if you are attending with young children
- Wear your official St. Jude Walk gear if you have already received it, since it helps identify you as part of the team and builds community spirit on the day
If you are attending with children, keep the experience age-appropriate and focused on the spirit of giving. Many families use the walk as an opportunity to talk to their children about empathy, community, and what it means to help someone in need.
Volunteering at the Walk
If you cannot participate as a walker, volunteering is another meaningful way to contribute. Volunteers support the event in a variety of roles, including registration check-in, route support, celebration area setup, and participant assistance throughout the day.
To express interest in volunteering at the Miami walk, contact the local walk staff partner Maria Ruiz de Luque at 786.422.4774 or at maria.ruizdeluque@alsac.stjude.org. Volunteers are an essential part of making the day run smoothly, and the organizers welcome help from individuals, community groups, and corporate volunteer teams.
The Broader St. Jude Walk National Movement
The Miami event is one of dozens of St. Jude Walk locations across the country, all taking place on or around September 26, 2026. Other cities hosting walks this year include Chicago at Brookfield Zoo, Tampa at Benchmark Arena, Southern California at Marina Green in Long Beach, Palm Beach, the Greater Bay Area in San Francisco, New York, and many more.
Additionally, the National Virtual Walk allows supporters who do not live near a physical event location to participate from anywhere in the country. The national virtual campaign has a goal of $1,500,000 and already has thousands of participants raising funds across all 50 states.
Together, these events form one of the largest annual childhood cancer fundraising movements in the United States.
Conclusion
The St. Jude Walk Miami on September 26, 2026, is more than a walk. It is a community statement. It takes place at the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center at 10901 SW 24th Street, and it carries a $650,000 fundraising goal that the Miami community is working hard to surpass. Registration is free, and participants can join in person or virtually. Walkers can form teams, join existing ones, or participate as individuals. Every donation raised supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s work to end childhood cancer, and every family treated there pays nothing for their child’s care. Personalizing your fundraising page, downloading the St. Jude Walk mobile app, wearing comfortable clothes suited for a September morning in Miami, and reaching out to friends and family early are the four most effective steps you can take before the event. This is a walk worth showing up for, and it is one that leaves both participants and the children of St. Jude better off for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the St. Jude Walk Miami 2026?
The walk takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Miami Dade County Fair and Expo Center, located at 10901 SW 24th Street, Miami, FL 33165. The venue is in the University Park area of Miami and is accessible from Coral Way and the Dolphin Expressway.
How do I register, and is there a registration fee?
Registration is completely free. You can register at fundraising.stjude.org by searching for the Miami walk event. Once on the event page, choose to form a team, join an existing team, or register as an individual. You can also choose to participate in person or virtually.
What is the fundraising goal for the Miami event, and where do the funds go?
The 2026 fundraising goal for the Miami walk is $650,000. All donations go directly to support the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides treatment, housing, travel, and food to patient families at no cost. Research funded by St. Jude has helped raise the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened in 1962.
Can I participate virtually if I cannot attend in person?
Yes. The event offers a full virtual participation option. Virtual walkers register the same way as in-person participants, set their own route, walk on September 26 wherever they are located, and fundraise using the same tools and personal fundraising page as in-person participants. Virtual walkers can also earn St. Jude Walk gear based on their fundraising milestones.
How can I contact the local walk organizer for questions about the Miami event?
The local walk staff partner for the Miami event is Maria Ruiz de Luque. She can be reached by phone at 786.422.4774 or by email at maria.ruizdeluque@alsac.stjude.org. You can also send a message through the official event page at fundraising.stjude.org.