MIAMI GARDENS, FL, May 19th, 2026
The Miami Dolphins have officially moved into the next stage of their 2026 offseason program as organized team activities begin in Miami Gardens. For a team entering a new chapter under head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, these spring practices offer the first extended look at how the new staff is shaping the roster, installing systems, and setting expectations before training camp.
Miami’s organized team activity schedule began on May 18 and continues with sessions on May 19, May 21, May 26-27, May 29, June 8-9, and June 11. The team will also hold mandatory minicamp from June 2-4. Because the Dolphins have a new head coach, they were allowed to begin their offseason program earlier than teams with returning coaches and also held a voluntary minicamp from April 21-23.
Organized team activities (OTA) are still a controlled part of the NFL calendar. Players can take part in on-field work, 7-on-7 drills, 9-on-7 drills, and 11-on-11 team periods, but live contact is not allowed. That means the Dolphins can begin evaluating timing, communication, position battles, and scheme fit without the full physical demands of training camp.
This period is especially important for Miami because the franchise is adjusting to a new coaching voice after the end of the Mike McDaniel era. Hafley’s staff will use these sessions to establish terminology, practice structure, and the early identity of the team before the intensity increases later in the summer.
One of the biggest storylines is the quarterback position. Malik Willis is expected to be one of the most closely watched players during OTAs as Miami evaluates how he fits into the new offensive system. The Dolphins are also looking to reshape the overall personality of the team, with early emphasis reportedly placed on toughness, physicality, focus, and effort.
The spring schedule also gives rookies and new additions valuable time to adjust before training camp. First-year players are learning the pace of the NFL, while veterans are getting their first real opportunity to show how they fit under the new staff. For a team undergoing major changes, OTAs are less about final answers and more about building a foundation.
Training camp will be the next major step after the offseason program wraps up. The NFL typically shuts down for several weeks after June minicamp and OTAs before teams report back in late July. That is when padded practices, deeper roster competition, and preseason preparation begin in earnest.
For Dolphins fans, training camp is also the first real chance to see the new-look team in person. Miami’s training camp practices are held at the Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens, located near Hard Rock Stadium. The complex includes a 125,000-square-foot training facility, a 92,200-square-foot indoor field, two outdoor grass practice fields, recovery areas, hydrotherapy, meeting rooms, and other performance resources.
The Dolphins’ current training camp FAQ states that fans need tickets to attend public practices, but tickets are free and can be claimed in advance. Fans may claim up to six free tickets per day, and parking is also free. Practices are held at the Baptist Health Training Complex at 2000 NW 27th Ave. in Miami Gardens.
Public training camp practices generally begin at 9 a.m., with parking opening at 7:30 a.m. and gates opening at 8:30 a.m. Seating is general admission, with shaded bleachers and a grass berm available on a first-come, first-served basis. If bad weather forces practice indoors, the session is no longer open to the public and is not rescheduled.
That makes training camp a much more complete preview than OTAs. Spring practices help coaches teach and evaluate. Training camp shows how players respond when the pace rises, the pads come on, and roster spots are truly on the line. For the 2026 Dolphins, that late-July period may be the first clear sign of how quickly the new era is taking shape.