The Gasparilla invasion of pirates in Tampa is happening today, and here are the details and important information for the 2026 event.
The pirate invasion will take place Saturday, January 31st from 11:30am – 1:00pm. The Jose Gasparilla sets sail and docks at the Tampa Convention Center. People can witness the Gasparilla Invasion from a number of spots in downtown Tampa, including waterfront hotels, Davis Island, and Harbour Island.
The parade of pirates time is set for 2:30pm. Here is the 2026 Gasparilla parade map:
Traffic will be heavy in and around Tampa’s downtown due to the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Officials are urging people to allow ample time to arrive at your destination and to secure parking. The free TECO Line Streetcar (8:30am – 2:30am) and the free HART bus shuttle service (9:30am – 7:00pm) will be available to transport between Ybor and Downtown Tampa.
The city also released a legal alcohol zone map for the event.
On-street parking meters will be enforced from 8:00am until midnight. No Parking and Parking By Permit Only signs are posted in neighborhoods and will be enforced. Available event parking options for Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest ($30 event parking):
- Pam Iorio Parking Garage (S. Florida Ave & Channelside Dr.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Tampa Convention Center Garage (Tampa St. & Brorein St.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Fort Brooke Garage (Whiting St. between Franklin St. & Florida Ave.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Whiting St. Garage (N. Morgan St.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Selmon Expressway Downtown parking lots
- 6am – 10pm
- Royal Regional Lot (Tampa St. & Fortune St.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Scott Street Lot (Morgan St. & Scott St.)
- 6am – 10pm
- Poe Garage (N. Ashley Dr. & W. Cass St.)
- 6am – 10pm – due to the parade route, this garage will close from 3:00pm – 7:00p.m. No entry or exit will be allowed during this time.
- Twiggs Street Garage (Twiggs St., west of Nebraska Ave.) $25
- 8aa – 6pm
- Centro Ybor Garage (5th Ave. & 15th St.) $20
- 10am – 6pm
- Palm Ave. Garage (13th St. & 9th Ave.) $20
- 10am – 6pm
The City of Tampa issued the following traffic advisories for the local area due to the pirate invasion:
JANUARY 31, 3:00 AM TO MIDNIGHT
- Bayshore Blvd between Brorein St and Platt St
- Platt St/Channelside Dr between Plant Ave and Franklin St
- Cardy St between Parker St and Bayshore Blvd
JANUARY 31, 5:30 AM TO 9:00 PM
- Crosstown – EB Willow Ave Exit Ramp (Exit 4)
JANUARY 31, 7:00 AM TO MIDNIGHT
- Ashley Dr between Brorein St and Channelside Dr
- Brorein St between Florida Ave and Parker St
- Franklin St between Channelside Dr and Water St
- Water St between Franklin St and Florida
- Harbour Island Blvd over Harbour Island Bridge
JANUARY 31, 9:00 AM TO 9:00 PM
- Kennedy Blvd between Florida Ave and Hyde Park Ave
- Ashley Dr between Tyler St and Brorein St
- Whiting St between Ashley Dr and Tampa St
- Washington St between Ashley Dr and Tampa St
- Jackson St between Ashley Dr and Tampa St
- Madison St between Ashley Dr and Florida Ave
- Twiggs St between Ashley Dr and Florida Ave
- Zack St between Ashley Dr and Florida Ave
- Polk St between Ashley Dr and Florida Ave
JANUARY 31, 11:00 AM TO MIDNIGHT
- N Boulevard between Kennedy Blvd and Main St
JANUARY 31, 2:00 PM TO 9:00 PM
- Laurel St between N Boulevard and Doyle Carlton Dr
- Green St between Laurel and N Boulevard
- Cass St between Willow Ave and Tyler St
- North A St between Willow Ave and Newport Ave
- North B St between Willow Ave and Gilchrist Ave
- Carmen St between Willow Ave and Delaware Ave
- Newport Ave between Cass St and North A St
- Gilchrist Ave between Cass St and Fig St
JANUARY 31, 2:30 PM TO 9:00 PM
- Swann Ave at MacDill Ave (Eastbound Closure Only)
- Howard Ave between Mississippi Ave and Platt St (Southbound Closure Only)
- Willow Ave between Swann Ave and Platt St (Southbound Closure Only)
JANUARY 31, 3:00 PM TO 9:00 PM
- Platt St at Howard Ave
- Platt St at S Boulevard
- S Boulevard between Cleveland St and Kennedy Blvd
- S Boulevard between Cleveland St and Platt St (Southbound Closure Only)
- Kennedy Blvd between Boulevard and Hyde Park Ave
JANUARY 31, 3:30 PM TO 9:00 PM
- Cass St between Tyler St and Tampa St
- Tyler St between Tampa St and Cass St
JANUARY 31, 4:30 PM TO 9:00 PM
- Whiting St at Fort Brooke Garage entrance to Florida Ave (Westbound Closure Only)
- Whiting St at Morgan St (Westbound Closure Only)
- Whiting St at Jefferson St (Westbound Closure Only)
- Kennedy Blvd at Himes Ave (Eastbound Closure Only)
- Kennedy Blvd at MacDill Ave (Eastbound Closure Only)
- Kennedy Blvd at Howard Ave (Eastbound Closure Only)
- Kennedy Blvd at S Boulevard (Eastbound Closure Only)
Check for local Tampa road closures online.
The City of Tampa also posted a Gasparilla Detour Route to TGH:
2026-pirate-fest-detour-routes-to-tgh
