Southern California’s festival calendar is beginning to take shape for 2026, offering a wide-ranging mix of music-fueled events in San Diego and across the region.
From massive, multi-genre gatherings in the desert — welcome back, Coachella and Stagecoach! — and along the coast to festivals centered on hip-hop, electronic music and country, the year ahead reflects the scale and diversity that have long defined the area’s live music scene.
After several unpredictable seasons marked by rising production costs, shifting touring strategies and weather-related disruptions, many festivals are moving forward with a more measured approach — or, in some cases. not moving forward at all.
Some lineups and details remain under wraps, while others are rolling out early ticket options and teaser announcements ahead of full reveals. Together, these events signal a steady recalibration rather than a full reset, one shaped by audience demand, evolving formats and a renewed focus on sustainability.
But sustainability is not easy in a highly competitive and increasingly over-saturated live-music market that continues to see established and newer festivals alike fall by the wayside. By June last year, more than 40 annual festivals in North America had been canceled and many more fell through in other parts of the world.
Closer to home, the future of San Diego’s bayside Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival is unclear. The three-day fete debuted at downtown’s Embarcadero Marina Park North in 2019, was dark in 2020, 2021 and 2023, then returned in 2024 and again — but with a decline in attendance — in 2025.
Wonderfront festival seeks new San Diego home and will shift from spring to fall
No dates or location have been announced yet for this year. A spokeswoman for the Port of San Diego, on whose property each previous edition of the festival was held, told the Union-Tribune that “Wonderfront is not currently scheduled to occur on Port tidelands in 2026.” Wonderfront co-founder Paul Thornton said the May event is now “targeting fall” and that “all options” are being explored regarding the festival’s location, adding: “Look for announcements in the coming weeks.”
In the meantime, there are still plenty of other options for festivalgoers this year. Here’s a look at what’s been confirmed so far.
February
San Diego Jazz Party: Feb. 20-22
Since debuting in 1988, the San Diego Jazz Party has showcased a bevy of acclaimed jazz artists, including such greats as Milt Hinton, Herb Ellis, Houston Person, Snooky Young and San Diego’s Holly Hofmann. This year’s lineup will feature 18 instrumentalists and singers, including Bryan Shaw, Dan Barrett, Danny Coots, Dawn Lambeth, Duke Heitger, Harry Allen, Jason Fabus, Jason Wanner and Jon-Erik Kellso. Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $70-$280. sdjp.org
Skyline Festival: Feb. 28-March 1
The gathering brings Insomniac Events’ techno-forward Factory 93 brand together once again with its house-focused Day Trip counterpart. The 21-and-over event will feature a stacked lineup spanning techno, house and underground dance music, with artists including Marco Carola, I Hate Models, Eli Brown, DJ Gigola, Dennis Cruz, Ben UFO, Richie Hawtin, Avalon Emerson, DJ Seinfeld and Honey Dijon collaborator The Blessed Madonna, among many others. Feb. 28-March 1. Ace Mission Studios, 516 S. Mission Road, Los Angeles. Two-day general admission passes start at $159. skylinela.com
March
Boots in the Park — Norco: March 7
The traveling country music festival’s lineup will be led by Jon Pardi, Koe Wetzel and Jo Dee Messina alongside additional artists John Morgan, Carter Faith and Daniel Bonte. Known for its outdoor format, the festival blends modern country with ’90s and early 2000s favorites, offering fans a laid-back experience that combines live music, food and beverage activations. Boots in the Park has continued to expand its presence across Southern California in recent years, becoming a reliable stop for country fans looking for a one-day festival option. SilverLakes Equestrian and Sports Park, 5555 Hamner Ave., Norco. $104-$249. bootsinthepark.com
CRSSD Fest: March 14-15
A showcase for house-music artists and an array of DJs and electronic music acts, CRSSD Fest will celebrate its 11th anniversary this year. Its 2026 lineup includes Amelie Lens, Dom Dolla, Lane 8, The Martinez Brothers, Polo & Pan, Vintage Culture, Richie Hawtin collaborator Cirez D, Tycho, Tokimonsta, La Roux, Cut Copy and Ben Sterling, among many others, continuing the festival’s genre-spanning approach across multiple stages. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. Two-day general admission passes start at $339. showclix.com
Beyond Wonderland: March 27-28
Insomniac Events brings back its Alice in Wonderland-inspired extravaganza known for its immersive stage designs, whimsical visuals and genre-spanning electronic music programming. The lineup includes Zedd, Benny Benassi, Tiesto and dozens more. Two-day passes start at $229.98. Ages 18 and up only. NOS Events Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino Sale date and pricing to be announced. beyondwonderland.com
April
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival: April 10-12, 17-19
The desert’s biggest party returns for two weekends of music, art and large-scale production. This year’s headliners are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G. Additional performers include David Byrne (whose band features UCSD alum Ray Suen), Iggy Pop, Interpol, Kaskade, Nine Inch Noize, Disclosure, Turnstile, Ethel Cain, Teddy Swims, Giveon, Young Thug, Wet Leg, Little Simz, Armin van Buuren and more. There will also be world premiere performance by Anyma, the Italian producer who describes himself as “a hybrid persona, simultaneously coexisting in digital and physical realms.” Empire Polo Club, 81800 51st Ave., Indio. Sold-out. Waitlist options available at coachella.com
The Boots in the Park country music festival will return to San Diego’s Waterfront Park on April 11. (Boots in the Park)
Boots in the Park — San Diego: April 11
The traveling country music festival’s 2026 lineup will be led by Miranda Lambert, Jordan Davis and Dylan Scott. Also set to perform are Mackenzie Carpenter, Kelsey Hart, Daniel Bonte and Brett Ortiz. The outdoor festival blends modern country acts with ’90s and early 2000s favorites. Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, downtown. 99-$149. bootsinthepark.com/festivals/san-diego/
Holo Holo Music Festival – Irvine: April 18
This outdoor islands-themed music festival will skip San Diego this year, but it will be presented in Irvine, as well as San Jose and Sacramento. The event showcases reggae and Pacific Islands-flavored music. The lineup for the Irvine event includes Soja, The Green, Iam Tongi, Sons of Zion, Three Plus, Joseph Soul and Bo Napoleon. Great Park Live, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine. $93-$143. holoholofestival.com
The 2026 Stagecoach Country Music Festival headliners are, from left, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Post Malone. (Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG and Andy Holzman)
Stagecoach: April 24-26
The Coachella fest’s annual country counterpart returns with a lineup that blends modern hitmakers, legends and crossover appeal. This year’s headliners are Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Post Malone. Additional performers include Bailey Zimmerman, Red Clay Strays, Counting Crows, Brooks & Dunn, Hootie & the Blowfish, Teddy Swims, Zach Bryan, Wynonna Judd, Third Eye Blind and Diplo, There will also be late-night programming and returning fan favorites like Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse. Empire Polo Club, 81800 51st Ave., Indio. Three-day general admission passes start at $549; general admission and shuttle combo packages start at $669; Rhinestone Saloon admission passes start at $974; Corral reserved seating starts at $1,199; Corral standing pit access starts at $1,899. stagecoachfestival.com
HarpCo performs at the 2023 Adams Avenue Unplugged music festival in San Diego’s Mid-City. The 2026 festival is scheduled for April 25. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Adams Avenue Unplugged: April 25
The street will be alive with the sound of music — and many, many singer-songwriters — along a 2-mile stretch of Adams Avenue that extends from University Heights to Kensington Heights, with a majority of the venues in Normal Heights. The lineup will include such local favorites as Gregory Page, Sara Petite, Whisky & Burlap and Israel Maldonado, with Alejandro Escovedo as the national headliner. Admission is free and open to all ages, except for the 21-and-up beer garden. 619-282-7329; adamsavenuebusiness.com/event-info/adams-avenue-unplugged/
May
BeachLife Festival: May 1-3
Rock, Americana and reggae will once again be performed against an oceanfront backdrop. The festival is known for its laid-back coastal atmosphere, featuring two main stages and the popular SpeakEasy stage, which provides more intimate, stripped-down sets. This year’s lineup features more than 40 acts, including Duran Duran, The Offspring, James Taylor and His All-Star Band, Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow, and at least three San Diego bands: Switchfoot, Slightly Stoopid and The Schizophonics. 239 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach. Three-day general passes start at $399; three-day General Admission Plus starts at $494; three-day VIP passes start at $949; three-day Captain Passes start at $3,299. beachlifefestival.com
Memphis singer Tierinii Jackson is shown performing at the 2024 Gator by the Bay festival with her band, Southern Avenue. (Brad Elligood/Courtesy Gator by the Bay)
Gator by the Bay: May 7-10
Now in its 23nd year, this homegrown event bills itself as “Mardi Gras in May” and imports 10,000 pounds of crawfish from Louisiana each year. This year’s edition will feature more than 100 performances on seven stages. The initial batch of confirmed headliners includes: Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen; 2011 Grammy Award-winner Chubby Carrier; Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie; The Pine Leaf Boys, featuring Wilson Savoy; and John Németh with the Johnny Vernazza Band. Spanish Landing Park, 3900 North Harbor Drive. Children 17 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Lineup and ticket information will be posted at gatorbythebay.com
Joshua Tree Music Festival: May 14-17
This family-friendly, twice-a-year gathering in the Mojave Desert blends live music with wellness and community programming. Known for its eclectic, genre-spanning music, the festival also offers yoga classes, workshops and creative activities. This year’s lineup includes San Diego’s Steve Poltz, Thumpasaurus, DJ Lady D, and more. Joshua Tree Lake Campground, 2780 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree. Four-day passes start at $289; Super Supporter four-day passes start at $516; junior passes (ages 11-17) start at $93; children’s passes (ages 5-10) start at $61; kids 4 and under get in free. Camping and vehicle passes are sold separately. joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Newport Beach Jazz Festival: May 29-31
Expect established and rising acts for this jazz-in-name-only festival’s 30th edition. The full lineup will be announced in the coming months, but previous editions have featured everyone from Babyface, Average White Band and San Diego vocal favorite Rebecca Jade to Tower of Power, The Commodores and Chaka Khan. Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach. Fans can sign up for more information on ticketing at festivals.hyattconcerts.com.
The band Switchfoot performs at the 20th annual Bro-Am beach festival in Encinitas in 2022. The 2026 festival is scheduled for June 13. (Erick Frost)
June
Bro-Am 2026 — June 13
The Grammy Award-winning San Diego rock band Switchfoot launched its annual Bro-Am music festival and surf competition in 2005 to raise money for charities that aid young people here in need. The free open-air event has raised more than $3 million to date. This year’s edition takes place June 13 and will be preceded by a ticketed June 11 benefit party, with Switchfoot headlining on both days. A full lineup announcement is due this spring. Moonlight Beach, 400 B Street, Encinitas. Free. broam.org/
Apocalypse — Zombieland: June 19-20
Heavy bass and post-apocalyptic theatrics will rule with the return of Bassrush’s fest. The 18-and-over event leans into the darker edges of dubstep and bass music, pairing large-scale production with immersive visuals and themed environments. Promoted as “Summer of the Living Dead,” the 2026 edition has begun teasing its next chapter, with lineup details, set times and ticket information expected in the months ahead. Queen Mary Waterfront, Long Beach. Ticket information has not yet been released. apocalypsefest.com
San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival: June
Expect a characteristically mellow vibe at the seventh edition of this bayside attraction. No lineup has been announced yet, but recent editions have featured two former San Diego singers — Gregory Porter and Michael Franks — along with such smooth-jazz favorites as Spyro Gyra, Boney James, Jeff Lorber and Escondido-based saxophonist Richard Elliot. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, downtown San Diego, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. Ticket prices tba. sandiegosmothjazzfestival.com
July
Warped Tour: July 25-26
Long known as a rite of passage for punk, alternative and emo fans, this all-ages festival has historically blended emerging acts with established names across rock-adjacent genres while maintaining its DIY spirit and community-driven ethos. The lineup has yet to be announced, and fans are encouraged to check back on Warped Tour’s socials in the coming months. Marina Green, 386 E. Shoreline Drive, Long Beach. Two-day general admission passes start at $179.98. warpedtourlongbeach.com
August
Baja Beach Fest, Aug. 7-9
For fans of reggaeton and Latin trap music, this 8-year-old festival is the place to be. The 2026 lineup has not been announced, but past years’ performers included Don Oma, Ozuna, Becky G, Peso Pluma, J Balvin and Tijuana’s Grupo Firme, which in 2022 became the first regional Mexican banda music group to headline a full-stadium concert at San Diego’s Petco Park. Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico. $399 to $1,399 for three-day passes. bajabeachfest.com
Rhymefest: Aug. 15
Hip-hop fans can mark their calendars for this returning gathering, with organizers opening early sign-ups. While details remain limited, the festival has positioned itself as a platform for lyric-driven hip-hop and performances, with further announcements expected in the coming months. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. Ticket details have not been released; early bird presale sign-ups are available at rhymefestla.com.
September
Adams Avenue Street Fair: Sept. 19-20
Now in its 44th year, San Diego’s oldest annual free music festival typically features 75 bands and solo artists performing on seven outdoor stages that stretch over five blocks in Normal Heights. The 2026 lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but previous editions have featured a host of current local favorites and everyone from gospel-music legend Pops Staples, former Rolling Stones’ guitarist Mick Taylor and No Doubt to such San Diego-bred bands as Iron Butterfly and the Beat Farmers. Iron Butterfly and the Beat Farmers. Adams Avenue, between 32nd St. and Hawley Blvd., Normal Heights. Free. adamsavenuebusiness.com/adams-avenue-street-fair
Nocturnal Wonderland: Sept. 19-20
This Insomniac Events-produced festival is known for its glowing art installations, forest-style layouts and wide-ranging electronic programming that spans house, techno, bass and trance music. Ticket sales are underway, with details of the lineup expected in the lead-up to September. Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino. Two-day general admission passes start at $169.98; two-day GA passes with a 3D collectible magnet start at $179.98; VIP passes start at $319. nocturnalwonderland.com
Same Same But Different: Sept. 26-28
The waterfront music, art and wellness festival is returning to Lake Perris. The lineup has yet to be announced, but fans can expect DJs and funk and indie acts to be in the mix. Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris Fans can sign up for the waitlist at ssbdfest.com.
October
San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival: Oct. 1-4
Now in its third year, this ambitious festival features concerts in both sides of its namesake cities. The 2026 lineup has not been announced yet, but past performers have included Cindy Blackman Santana, Arturo O’Farrill, Gerald Clayton, the Nortec Jazz Experience, David Sanchez, San Diego’s Gilbert Castellanos, Escondido-bred singer Gabrielle Cavassa and more. Lineup and concert locations will be announced online at sdtjjazz.org.
ComplexCon: Oct. 3-4
Part music festival, part fashion showcase and part cultural convention, this event blends performances with streetwear drops, art installations and conversations around youth culture. The Los Angeles edition has previously featured performances and appearances from artists such as Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Kid Cudi and Ye. This year’s location and tickets have not been announced. Fans can sign up for updates through complexcon.com.
Mission BayFest: Oct. 16-18
San Diego’s largest annual reggae-dominated music festival returns to Mission Beach. The lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but last year’s edition featured more than 30 bands and solo artists, including Sublime, Steel Pulse, KRS-One and San Diego’s Slightly Stoopid. Mariner’s Point Park, 1215 Mariners Way, Mission Beach. Three-day passes range from $300 to $500. bayfestsd.com/
Escape Halloween: Oct. 31-Nov. 1
The Insomniac-produced festival will return with its signature production, spooky-themed activations and elaborate stages. The lineup has yet to be announced. NOS Events Center 689 S. E Street, San Bernardino. Two-day general admission passes start at $229; two-day General Admission Plus passes start at $269; two-day VIP passes start at $349; shuttle passes start at $83. escapehalloween.com.