What's New in San Diego this Summer 2026
As the travel and tourism industry celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week (May 3 – 9), San Diego is gearing up for Summer 2026 with a season full of can’t miss moments, including major sporting events, concerts, cultural experiences and standout dining. San Diego is inviting visitors to soak up the sunshine and the feel-good-energy and come to the bright side.
Major Events
The first-ever NASCAR San Diego Weekend will be held during Father’s Day Weekend (June 19 – 21) at Naval Base Coronado, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy. NASCAR San Diego will be three days of races headlined by the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series on June 21, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. In addition to being San Diego’s first NASCAR event, it will also be the first race to take place on a military base.
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Snapdragon Stadium will host “Countdown to ‘26” international soccer matches, in partnership with Sports San Diego, San Diego FC and Lions Sports & Media. The two matches will be Switzerland vs. Australia on June 6 and Colombia vs. Jordan on June 7. San Diego will also serve as basecamp for the national teams of Switzerland and New Zealand as they prepare for the World Cup this summer.
To celebrate the first-ever San Diego NASCAR Weekend, NASCAR San Diego is partnering with the San Diego Padres, Live Nation, and local Audacity Country Station 103.7 KSON to bring the KSON NASCAR San Diego Country Fest to Gallagher Square in Petco Park on June 20. The lineup includes performances by Stephan Wilson Jr., Carter Faith, Tim Dugger and Lakelin Lemmings.
The 2026 Summer Racing Season at the Del Mar Racetrack runs July 17– September 7. This season, fans can look forward to iconic trackside events like Uncorked Wine Fest and Taste of New Orleans, gourmet bites, handcrafted cocktails and world-class Thoroughbred racing.
This summer, SeaWorld San Diego brings back it’s fan-favorite Summer Spectacular concert series. Taking place every Saturday night from June 13 through August 8 at the Bayside Amphitheater, the series features iconic R&B, pop and hip-hop hits from the ’90s and early 2000s, delivering unforgettable live music in a stunning waterfront setting. Headlining performers include Ginuwine, Ashanti, Jordin Sparks and more.
This summer, the Taste of Little Italy food festival returns for two evenings of exceptional bites and vibrant energy on June 16, and June 17. Spanning Little Italy’s 48 square blocks, the annual event offers guests an immersive tasting experience through one of the city’s most dynamic dining destinations. Each night will feature a unique lineup of 20+ restaurants, giving attendees the opportunity to discover something new with every visit.
Arts District Liberty Station is celebrating the Summer Arts Festival on June 13. Summer Arts Fest is a one-day event offering a celebration of music, creativity and community, showcasing some of San Diego’s most talented artists and musicians. There will be live music from bands, food and beverage vendors and a pop-up art market where the community can support local artists and vendors. This event is free, open to the public and outdoors.
Cajon Cruise (formerly Cajon Classic Cruise), returns this summer every Wednesday in May through August. Cajon Cruise transforms Main Street into a lively gathering spot where car enthusiasts and families come together to admire gleaming chrome, revving engines, and an impressive mix of vintage treasures and contemporary machines. Enjoy live music, tasty bites, and the welcoming energy of Downtown El Cajon under its vibrant neon lights.
The Gator By The Bay Zydeco, Blues and Crawfish Festival returns May 7–10, 2026, transforming Spanish Landing Park an authentic Louisiana cultural celebration. Produced by the Bon Temps Social Club of San Diego and Omega Events, the four-day festival brings the spirit of the bayou to San Diego Bay with more than 100 live performances across seven stages, vibrant Mardi Gras-style celebrations and 10,000 pounds of crawfish trucked in directly from Louisiana.
The third annual Sabor Del Barrio returns on Sunday, June 7 in the Barrio Logan Cultural District. Sabor Del Barrio will showcase 35+ local establishments ranging from restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and breweries, as well as a lowrider showcase for attendees to experience the unique culinary art and rich culture the community of Barrio Logan has to offer. Ticket holders will also have free access to local art and cultural spaces as they explore the district, bringing together the stories that reflect decades of Chicano artistry, identity.
Hotel News
Le Méridien Pinnacle San Diego will open in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood this summer. The sleek 39-story hotel will offer 231 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool and bar, outdoor fitness center and modern European-style decor. Situated in one of San Diego’s most walkable neighborhoods, hotel guests will have seamless access to the waterfront and Broadway Pier, Santa Fe Depot train station and Little Italy’s bustling restaurants and shops.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines announced the appointment of three distinguished chefs to its award-winning culinary team. Eric Sakai has been named Executive Chef and is joined by Owen Beatty as Chef de Cuisine of A.R. Valentien and Michael Moritz as Chef de Cuisine of The Grill at Torrey Pines. Chef Sakai brings more than a decade of leadership experience in luxury hospitality and fine dining, most recently serving as Executive Chef at the Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas.
The Manchester Grand Hyatt has unveiled the refresh of their Top of the Hyatt cocktail bar and dining space with a limited-time pop-up,The Hidden Forty. Running through May 29, this speakeasy-inspired experience transforms the newly-renovated rooftop into a clandestine hideaway inspired by Art Deco glamour and a Prohibition-era cocktail culture.
Performing Arts
The San Diego Symphony has announced their 2026 Conrad Prebys Summer Season at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The iconic waterfront venue is home to the Symphony’s summer season and will feature performances by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, genre-spanning touring and guest artists, blockbuster films in concert and more. The summer season officially kicks off on June 26 with a performance led by SDSO Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare.
La Jolla Music Society is celebrating the 40th annual SummerFest from July 31 – August 29, 2026. This annual chamber music festival brings the greatest classical musicians and more from around the world to The Conrad in La Jolla for four weeks of concerts planned by Music Director and acclaimed concert pianist Inon Barnatan. SummerFest 2026 takes on the theme “Making History.”
San Diego Opera presents the Southern California premiere of Fellow Travelers, set to debut at the Balboa Theatre in downtown San Diego and run from July 10-12. Based on Thomas Mallon’s novel, Fellow Travelers, the opera follows two men as they navigate a secret, heated romance amid political paranoia and fear in the McCarthy Era. The debut coincides with San Diego Pride Month.
The Rosin Box Project, a local nonprofit contemporary ballet company, presents the third show of their 2026 season, DEBUTS: The Frame Wide Open from July 29-Aug. 2 at The Joan, one of San Diego’s newest performing arts centers. The show will feature bold new works from choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Christian Denice and Carly Topazio in an intimate setting.
The La Jolla Playhouse has announced the lineup for their 2026 Summer Season, which includes the award-winning show Purpose (May 12– June 7), the West Coast premiere of The Monsters (June 2–28), and the world premiere of The Family Album.
Visual Art and Museums
On view at the Mingei International Museum, To Catch a Fish (May 2 – November 1, 2026) explores the global relationship between people and the sea through more than 60 works of craft and art—from handwoven fishing tools to ceremonial objects and contemporary works, including pieces by Indigenous artist Marianne Nicolson. Elevating the experience, the museum’s Michelin-recognized, award-winning restaurant ARTIFACT will host a special edition of its ARTIFACT at Night dinner series on May 21, inspired by coastal cuisines and seafood traditions from around the world.
A new exhibition at the USS Midway Museum tells the story of the Midway 11, USS Midway aviators who were captured during the Vietnam War, and endured captivity as prisoners of war in North Vietnam. Through personal accounts and historic artifacts, Captive Warriors: The Story of the Midway 11 honors their resilience and their return home with honor in 1973.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is the only West Coast venue to present Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys from April 18 through August 9. Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, the exhibition features more than 130 works by 37 Black American and diasporic artists from Africa, Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, drawn from the personal collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Marking the collection’s San Diego debut, the thematically organized show offers a powerful, large-scale exploration of contemporary art and cultural legacy.
San Diego Art Matters and the International Community Foundation, in partnership with the Prebys Foundation and the City of San Diego Cultural Affairs, are launching Artists Count: San Diego + Tijuana. The initiative’s first-of-its-kind research effort aims to engage artists across San Diego County and Tijuana with the goal of documenting the real economic and civic impact of working artists. Alongside the research, the initiative will invest $1.3 million directly into 42 artists across the region, paired with professional development to support artists advancing their practice, strengthening communities and collaborating across borders.
Restaurants, Breweries and Nightlife
This summer, international restaurant-lifestyle concept Zuma will open its first California location within downtown San Diego’s historic The Guild Hotel. Zuma is known for its high-energy izakaya-style experience and the menu is shaped by three distinct culinary experiences—the sushi counter, the robata grill, and the main kitchen. The space will span approximately 12,000 square feet with the capacity to seat around 270 guests.
The Padres’ newly named events and hospitality business, Finest Collective, has opened the Diamond Room, a late 1970s-inspired cocktail just outside Gallagher Square at Petco Park. The Diamond Room offers specialty cocktails and small bites amid velvet and leather décor, complete with mirrors, turntables, a disco ball, and dark tones. This new premium space is open for fans to enjoy before or after Padres games and events.
Japanese-inspired Cloak & Petal, which earned Michelin recognition in December 2025 in the “Good for: Groups” category, will open its own coffee shop this summer. Black Mizu Café is expected to open in July inside the Little Italy restaurant and feature coffee beans from North Park’s Torque Coffee along with a simple food menu. Then in the fall, a Japanese/Pacific Rim-themed brunch menu from Executive Chef Robert Cassidy will be added. The space will also serve as a private dining space for Cloak & Petal during non-café hours.
Opening this summer at One Alexandria Square in La Jolla, Ikaria is the latest restaurant project from the team behind Marisi, Puesto, and the James Beard-nominated Roma Norte. Inspired by the Greek island of Ikaria, one of the world’s original Blue Zones, the eastern Mediterranean concept will blend clean, vibrant flavors with bold Middle Eastern influence. Beyond dining, Ikaria aims to be a true destination, featuring wine and cooking classes, fermentation workshops, and educational programming.
Opening Summer 2026 from chef Cesarina Mezzoni and the force behind the Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized Cesarina Ristorante and Elvira, Corallino is Chef Cesarina’s most ambitious project to date. Opening in San Diego’s waterfront Point Loma neighborhood, Corallino channels the area’s deep-rooted fishing heritage through a coastal Italian lens, pairing regional seafood with an in-house dried pasta program designed specifically for seafood-driven sauces.
San Diego-based Harland Brewing Company is taking its brews to the green with their new location: Harland Clubhouse at Mission Bay Golf Course. Set to open May 2026, this venture marks Harland’s fifth outpost and will bring a welcoming, old-school clubhouse atmosphere and family-friendly menu to the public golf course and driving range. The Harland team has set out to create a space for gathering–whether that be for post-golf days, date nights or family outings, and plans to host a variety of golf activations and live music events in the space.
Major Attraction News
SeaWorld San Diego has announced a summer opening date for the much-anticipated Shark Encounter Exhibit. Opening May 22, park guests can get a more immersive, up-close view of the new shark species. At the surface level, guests can observe sharks from above while discovering fun and informative facts throughout the sandy setting. Educational signage and photo opportunities provide insights into shark behavior, habitats, and conservation. As visitors move deeper into the winding exhibit, the environment transforms into a breathtaking underwater perspective where sharks glide overhead.
Another new addition is coming to SeaWorld San Diego this summer, a nightly drone show debuting Friday, May 22 and lasting through the summer season. Ocean of Dreams, featuring 600 fully synchronized drones with a soaring soundtrack, celebrates the beauty of the ocean, inspired by marine life and ocean conservation. The 12-minute immersive drone show transforms the night sky into a living ocean, taking guests on a journey beneath the waves
This summer, visitors to Balboa Park can see the Park’s newly-restored historic pergola in the Central Gardens. Originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition alongside the Botanical Building, the pergola was one of 12 that once graced the grounds. Lost during World War II when Balboa Park served as a military training site, this cherished feature has now been thoughtfully revived, preserving the park’s history while creating a renewed space for visitors to gather and connect. The unveiling of this restoration marked the completion of the larger Botanical Building Restoration project that began in 2019.
This summer, visitors can once again enjoy the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, which reopened to the public on March 1 after extensive upgrades and accessibility improvements. This majestic reserve nestled within urban San Diego is the home of the nation's rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine, as well as of one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California.
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ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO TOURISM AUTHORITY
The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of more than 1,000 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. SDTA members include tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts, attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as other companies indirectly involved in tourism. Visit sandiego.org to learn more.
The majority of funding received by the San Diego Tourism Authority is derived from San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds. Lodging business in the District raise these funds through self-assessments for the purpose of promoting tourism in the San Diego region.