Meeting of the Minds Leaves Gulf Shores, Moving Parrot Head Convention to Fort Myers Beach in 2027

GULF SHORES, Ala. — After four years of “partying with a purpose” on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the official national gathering of Jimmy Buffett fans is heading back to Florida. Organizers of the Meeting of the Minds convention announced that the 2027 event will move to the Margaritaville Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., ending a run in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach that began in 2023.

The decision was announced by Parrot Heads in Paradise Inc., the national organization of Buffett fan clubs that hosts the annual convention, just days after the 34th Meeting of the Minds wrapped up its fourth consecutive year in Baldwin County. In a letter to members, Parrot Heads in Paradise President Bill Brehm said the move was based on years of attendee surveys, attendance trends and finances, along with a strong desire among members to return to Florida.

Why Meeting of the Minds is leaving Gulf Shores

Brehm said the choice was not made quickly or on the basis of personal preference.

“First and foremost, the decision to relocate Meeting of the Minds was made with one goal in mind: doing what is best for the event, our attendees, and its long-term future,” Brehm said.

“This was not a decision made overnight or based on personal preferences,” he continued. “We have carefully reviewed several years of attendee surveys, attendance trends, financial performance, and feedback from our Parrot Head community.”

He said three considerations drove the outcome: what attendees want, financial responsibility and the long-term sustainability of the convention.

“As stewards of this event, we have a responsibility to make decisions that will allow Meeting of the Minds to remain financially viable, attract new attendees, and continue growing for years to come,” Brehm said. “Our goal is simple: We need to be where our attendees want to go, while maintaining the attendance necessary to keep Meeting of the Minds one of the premier events in Parrot Head Nation.”

Members wanted Florida, but Key West was off the table

Brehm said the move responds to a preference expressed by member Parrot Head clubs for bringing the gathering back to Florida, the state where it spent many of its earlier years.

“We’ve listened to what our members have shared, evaluated the future of our convention, and explored opportunities to make Meeting of the Minds even better,” he wrote.

Many longtime attendees, he acknowledged, would prefer a return to Key West, the island city most closely tied to Buffett’s music and to the convention’s history.

“We know that many of you have expressed a desire to return to Key West. Believe us, we’ve explored that possibility every year,” Brehm wrote. “Unfortunately, the logistical and financial challenges make a return to Key West neither practical nor financially responsible at this time. But one thing became very clear through your feedback: Florida remains a favorite destination for our Parrot Head family.”

He also pointed to the chance to build a closer relationship with the Margaritaville brand, the hospitality and lifestyle company that grew out of Buffett’s music.

“Equally important was the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the Margaritaville brand and create new experiences for our attendees,” Brehm said.

A new home at Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach

The 2027 Meeting of the Minds will be based at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach on Florida’s southwest Gulf Coast. The resort, owned and operated by TPI Hospitality, has 254 guest rooms along with more than 5,000 square feet of indoor event space and up to 15,000 square feet of outdoor space overlooking the Gulf.

The property opened in late 2023, becoming a milestone in Fort Myers Beach’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, which devastated the island community in September 2022. The resort has already drawn Buffett fans: in October 2025 it hosted the inaugural ParrotPHest, a trop rock music weekend.

Dates and registration details for the 2027 convention had not been announced.

“This is an exciting new chapter for Meeting of the Minds, and we believe Fort Myers Beach offers tremendous opportunities to grow our event, welcome new attendees, and continue celebrating the music, friendships, and charitable spirit that bring us together,” Brehm said.

Four years of giving back in Baldwin County

The convention’s slogan, “party with a purpose,” reflects the charitable work that goes along with the concerts and beach parties. During its four years in Gulf Shores, Meeting of the Minds raised money for both local and national charities.

This year alone, direct and assisted contributions through the Parrot Heads in Paradise network to a range of nonprofits totaled about $65,000. Local beneficiaries from the 2026 convention included:

• Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo: $3,500
• South Baldwin Community Theatre: $1,500
• Christian Service Center: $1,500, plus 85 pairs of shoes and 85 toys
• Blood drive: donations collected that organizers said will help save 144 lives

Parrot Heads in Paradise, the official Jimmy Buffett fan club organization, includes a network of more than 175 local clubs and more than 20,000 members nationwide. Over the years, the organization and its chapters have raised more than $64 million for charitable causes, including organizations connected to Buffett’s own charitable efforts such as Singing for Change, as well as community groups in the cities where members gather.

How Meeting of the Minds came to the Alabama coast

Meeting of the Minds has been held for more than three decades. Before arriving on the Alabama coast, the convention met in New Orleans and then for many years in Key West. Parrot Heads in Paradise moved the event to Gulf Shores in 2023, when it was held Oct. 24-29 with The Hangout as headquarters and music spread across venues including the Flora-Bama, LuLu’s and other beach-area spots. About 2,500 club members were expected that first year.

The Alabama setting carried special meaning. Buffett, who was born in Pascagoula, Miss., spent part of his childhood in Mobile and Fairhope and played the Gulf Coast early in his career. His youngest sister, Lucy Buffett, owns LuLu’s in Gulf Shores, which became a regular convention stop. Buffett died in September 2023, less than two months before the first Gulf Shores gathering, and the conventions since have doubled as celebrations of his legacy.

This year’s 34th Meeting of the Minds ran Oct. 21-25 under the theme “The Tiki Bar Is Open,” with The Hangout again serving as the main venue and events in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. The gathering arrived just weeks after Hurricane Isaias forced the cancellation of the National Shrimp Festival, and organizers said they hoped the influx of visitors would help area businesses during a difficult fall season.

What the move means for the Gulf Coast

The departure removes a fall event that filled hotel rooms, restaurants and music venues on Pleasure Island during the shoulder season for four straight years. Fans of Buffett’s music will still find plenty of reasons to visit the area, from LuLu’s and the Flora-Bama to the “Jimmy Buffett: Son of a Son of a Sailor Experience” exhibit at the GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile.

For the Parrot Head community, Brehm framed the change as a fresh start rather than a farewell to the convention’s values.

“Change brings new opportunities, new adventures, and new memories,” he said. “While our location may be changing, our mission remains the same: bringing Parrot Heads together to celebrate friendship, music, community, and our commitment to Party with a Purpose.”

He closed with a line that nods to Buffett’s classic “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”: “New Latitude. New Attitude. Same Parrot Head Spirit.”