A high-energy group portrait of approximately ten people celebrating at the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Many are wearing pirate-themed attire, including red bandanas, gold jewelry, sunglasses, and colorful beaded necklaces. They are smiling and shouting toward the camera, with several individuals making "rock on" hand gestures while leaning against a metal crowd-control barricade. The outdoor background features palm trees and a residential building under an overcast sky.

Gasparilla 2026 photos: Every stone cold pirate we saw on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard over the weekend

Their timbers were shivered.

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

A wide shot of the Tampa City Council seated at a curved wooden dais during a morning workshop. Seven council members are visible behind the desk, with the City of Tampa seal and American and Florida flags centered on the wall behind them. A digital overlay in the corner identifies the meeting as a "Tampa City Council 9:00 a.m. Workshop" dated January 29, 2026.

News & Views

Tampa Monitor: Council approves additional funding for South Howard Flood Relief project

The project’s future is still in doubt after councilmembers approved moving $21.5 million to the effort.

by Michael Bishop and The Tampa Monitor February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

A group of thirteen people stand together in a breakroom or meeting space, all raising one fist in a gesture of solidarity. They are dressed in casual and work attire, including t-shirts and polo shirts, smiling toward the camera. The room has grey walls with blue wainscoting, several rows of blue plastic chairs in the foreground, and long white tables along the side.

News & Views

Union push at Tampa International Airport sees restaurant workers asking contractor for fair process to organize

Employees of SPP America want the same benefits as their unionized counterparts in Orlando.

by McKenna Schueler February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

A daytime street-level view of Rey Park in Tampa. The scene features a corner intersection with a yellow pedestrian crossing sign and a street sign for Howard and Cherry. Large, mature oak trees with hanging Spanish moss shade the park, which is enclosed by a black chain-link fence. In the background, park benches and a small white sign for the park are visible under a clear blue sky.

News & Views

Tampa Monitor: City council could approve up to $5 million for parks in West Tampa and Gandy

Gandy & Palonis Park, and West Tampa’s Rey Park are up for discussion

by Michael Bishop and The Tampa Monitor February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

Two people in professional attire stand in conversation indoors. The individual on the left is wearing a grey textured blazer, a silver pendant necklace, and long earrings while holding a plastic water bottle and gesturing with their hand. The individual on the right is wearing a dark olive suit jacket and a blue patterned tie, standing with their arms crossed. In the background, a large landscape painting of a sunset over a body of water is partially visible.

News & Views

Gulfport hears from Jennifer Webb, others running for city council

Two seats are up for grabs, with the election set for March 10.

By Leah Budrick / WMNF NewsFebruary 2, 2026February 2, 2026

A close-up of a wooden display stand at an outdoor market featuring "Beard & Beauty" skincare products. The top shelf holds glass dropper bottles of face oil and small jars of face masks, while the bottom shelf displays several bars of artisanal soap in brown paper packaging labeled "FACE." In the bright, out-of-focus background, customers are seen browsing the various vendor stalls under a white canopy.

Arts & Entertainment

Indie Flea returns to Tampa with pre-Valentines waterfront market

by Ray Roa January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

A close-up side view of an ornate, white and gold Southern Lion Dance costume being performed outdoors. The lion head features fluffy white fur, shimmering gold sequins, and colorful pom-poms, with a large pink and gold decorative tongue hanging from the mouth. In the background, a sunny parking lot is visible with several people watching the performance near parked cars and a white building under a clear blue sky.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa artist is collecting funds to save Café Hey’s endangered lion dance

Michelle Sawyer is rallying support to keep Tampa Heights’ Chinese New Year tradition alive.

by Laura Troyer January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

A person with curly brown hair and glasses sits in a blue chair, speaking into a black handheld microphone. They are wearing a dark navy blazer over a white patterned button-down shirt, captured in a candid moment during a panel or presentation with a white wall and a blue television screen in the background.

News & Views

Public defender to bring services directly to Tampa residents with ‘PD13 Street Legal’

Lisa McLean, will bring her office and more to the University Community Resource Center from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 21.

by Valerie Smith January 31, 2026January 31, 2026

A close-up stage shot of two performers appearing from behind a wooden structure. On the right, a person in a red, black, and white reindeer-patterned sweater looks forward with a shocked or wide-eyed expression. To their left, another person in a dark suit with a bloodied face and red gloves holds a large mallet over their shoulder and looks on with a sinister smile.

Arts & Entertainment

Pulitzer-winning composer brings Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ to Opera Tampa for one weekend only

Shows are on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.

by Marty Clear January 30, 2026February 13, 2026

Music

Ortrotasce is Tampa Bay’s lord of analog darkwave

Nic Hamersly’s most recent release, “Muscle Memory (Malfunctioning),” feels otherworldly.

by Laura Troyer January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A black-and-white group portrait of three people standing on and near a set of railroad tracks. The individual on the left is wearing a striped polo shirt and dark trousers; the person in the center is wearing a sleeveless black top and sunglasses; and the person on the right is wearing a graphic t-shirt, sunglasses, and athletic sneakers. In the background, a large industrial building with graffiti and a "W X" railroad sign are visible.

Music

Tampa band Sleeping Pills fuses jagged post-punk with garage-y surf riffs and new-wave hooks

The outfit celebrates a new album, ‘Patterns in the Sea,’ in February.

by Laura Troyer January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

Music

Tampa’s Pusha Preme blends rap with electro-soul

The masked artist has spent years building traction through sharp lyricism and a strong sense of identity.

by Laura Troyer January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A flash-lit group portrait of three people holding bouquets of flowers. The individual on the left has voluminous curly dark hair and is wearing a brown textured button-down shirt with baby's breath tucked into the pocket. The person in the center has long wavy hair with a pink flower tucked behind their ear, looking upward. The person on the right has long curly dark hair and a wide smile, holding a bouquet of yellow and pink lilies.

Music

Jupiter Bloom is the indie-rock crew Tampa didn’t know it needed

The band’s releases and live shows alike feel youthful without being naive.

by Laura Troyer January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

Music

Tampa’s Miller Lowlifes are the beer-sloshing uncle at the backyard barbecue of pop-punk

The Lowlifes’ full-length album, Pinch Hitters, dropped on storied Tampa punk label A.D.D. Records,

by Laura Troyer January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A vibrant, symmetrical illustration of a moth with orange-and-yellow patterned wings set against a black background. The moth is surrounded by celestial and nature-themed elements, including white and blue stars, crescent moons, and green leafy stems at the bottom. The design features bold geometric shapes and a bright pink accent in the center of a top star.

Arts & Entertainment

Seven emerging Tampa Bay artists to watch in 2026 and beyond

The more artists we spoke with, the more we considered what it means to emerge.

by Jennifer Ring January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with a dark beard and a red baseball cap, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. They are wearing a unique, multi-colored button-down shirt featuring yellow and blue tie-dye patterns, a "Yosemite National Park" patch, a "Jake" name tag, and an American flag patch on the sleeve, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa artist Fary Charles channeled rage, disappointment, and a desire to prove himself into his latest solo show

The artist also known as ‘Junkyard’ mixes music with painting.

by Jennifer Ring January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with short, curly grey hair and a bright smile. They are wearing vibrant red cat-eye glasses, silver hoop earrings, and a black crew-neck top, posed against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Second-act Tampa artist Mary-Helen Horne discovers printmaking while planning her retirement

Horne describes her work as ‘a celebration of the fragile diversity of our natural world.’

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with wavy brown hair, a beard, and glasses, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. They are wearing a blue and white vertically striped button-down shirt and have black gauge earrings, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

New work from Tampa artist Patrick Carew explores what it means to experience HIV in the post-prep era

Art insiders know him as the curator of Reverb, a small gallery in Kress Contemporary.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

A studio portrait of a person with long, wavy brown hair featuring blonde highlights and a shaggy fringe. They are wearing a black "TIGERSEX" sleeveless t-shirt, bright red lipstick, and multiple facial piercings, including a septum ring and a lip piercing, all set against a solid grey background.

Arts & Entertainment

Meet Jesi Cason, St. Petersburg Month of Photography’s Photo Laureate

Cason has photographed Grammy award-winning musicians, Olympic athletes, realtors and more.

by Jennifer Ring January 29, 2026January 30, 2026

Meet The Chefs - Now in St. Pete & Tampa - Save & Get Your Tickets Now!

Tampa Bay Journalism Project

Gasparilla 2026 photos: Every stone cold pirate we saw on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard over the weekend

Tampa Monitor: Council approves additional funding for South Howard Flood Relief project

Union push at Tampa International Airport sees restaurant workers asking contractor for fair process to organize

Tampa Monitor: City council could approve up to $5 million for parks in West Tampa and Gandy

Gulfport hears from Jennifer Webb, others running for city council

Indie Flea returns to Tampa with pre-Valentines waterfront market

Tampa artist is collecting funds to save Café Hey’s endangered lion dance

Public defender to bring services directly to Tampa residents with ‘PD13 Street Legal’

Pulitzer-winning composer brings Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ to Opera Tampa for one weekend only

Ortrotasce is Tampa Bay’s lord of analog darkwave

Tampa band Sleeping Pills fuses jagged post-punk with garage-y surf riffs and new-wave hooks

Tampa’s Pusha Preme blends rap with electro-soul

Jupiter Bloom is the indie-rock crew Tampa didn’t know it needed

Tampa’s Miller Lowlifes are the beer-sloshing uncle at the backyard barbecue of pop-punk

Seven emerging Tampa Bay artists to watch in 2026 and beyond

Tampa artist Fary Charles channeled rage, disappointment, and a desire to prove himself into his latest solo show

Second-act Tampa artist Mary-Helen Horne discovers printmaking while planning her retirement

New work from Tampa artist Patrick Carew explores what it means to experience HIV in the post-prep era

Meet Jesi Cason, St. Petersburg Month of Photography’s Photo Laureate