Will 2026 be a year of continuing growth for the concert industry despite constantly increasing ticket prices that have risen from an average of $82 in early 2020 to $144 this year? Or will it be a period of decline as ever-higher production costs, soaring gas prices and an embattled economy have sparked the cancelation of some performances or entire tours?
The answer to both questions is affirmative. If that seems like a contradiction, guess again.
Some of the biggest tours of 2026 swiftly sold out well in advance, including those by Harry Styles, Rush and Olivia Rodrigo (none of which include dates here). So did tours by the San Diego-bound Noah Kahan, Rufus Du Soul and homegrown favorites Pierce The Veil, whose respective full-stadium shows at Petco Park this summer are all sell-outs).
Pierce The Veil will be only second San Diego band to headline a Petco Park concert
Rosalia’s July 3 Pechanga Arena San Diego concert here is also sold out. So are Chris Stapleton’s July 10 and 11 dates at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, David Byrne’s Aug. 27 show at SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheatre, J. Cole’s Sept. 9 gig at Viejas Arena, and more. The number of concerts this summer, sold-out and otherwise, appears to be approaching near-record levels.
Genre-blurring Spanish singing star Rosalia’s 2026 world tour sold out in an instant, including her July concert at Pechanga Arena San Diego. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
But slow-selling tours by Meghan Trainor and The Pussycat Dolls — both of which were headed our way — were canceled before they began, while a joint national concert trek by Post Malone and Jelly Roll was trimmed back. Actor-musician Kiefer Sutherland also canceled his tour, which included a date at the Belly Up, because of low ticket sales.
Like Trainor, former One Direction member Zayn Malik cited health reasons for the cancelation of his San Diego-bound tour. But some fans and media outlets cite low ticket sales as a much bigger factor. To bolster this contention, they shared screenshots from Ticketmaster venue maps which showed large swaths of unsold seats — each indicated by a blue dot — for concerts that were subsequently canceled.
Some observers have named this phenomenon “blue dot fever” and attribute it to a backlash against overpriced tickets. When concerts are canceled because of “scheduling conflicts,” in many cases it’s code for low advance sales.
It is unclear if the success of some tours and failure of others indicates whether music fans are growing more selective, or if some performers (and their managers and agents) greatly over-estimate the performer’s appeal to audiences.
Then again, it may also be a reaction to “dynamic pricing,” which — based on real-time customer demand when tickets go on sale — can see prices double or even triple between the few minutes it takes to select a ticket online and to complete the purchase. In other cases, a lack of demand can lead to last-minute discounts to boost sales, as was the case at Charlie Puth’s tour-opening show here on April 22.
Charlie Puth opened his ‘Whatever’s Clever’ world tour in San Diego as an ardent arts advocate
Even so, in a digital world increasingly impacted by algorithms and all manner of AI, the allure of performers and music fans communing — live and in real time — cannot be underestimated. This holds true whether it’s in an intimate club or at a stadium, an arena or a concert hall, an amphitheater or a makeshift stage in someone’s backyard.
With that in mind, here are some of the likely San Diego highlights to look forward to this summer. As in previous years, concerts that are already sold out are not included in our roundup. Upcoming concerts at The Shell will be previewed in next Friday’s edition of Night & Day.
Burning Spear, seen here in April at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, will perform at the Hollywood Bowl with Ziggy Marley on Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Amy Harris/AP)
JUNE
Ziggy Marley, Burning Spear
The eldest son of the late Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley is a charismatic performer and an accomplished singer, songwriter and band leader. His concerts often mix in some classics by his legendary father with Ziggy’s well-crafted original songs. But the real draw at this show may be Burning Spear, the 81-year-old roots-reggae vocal pioneer who has not performed here since 2022. His repertoire includes such gems as “Marcus Garvey,” “Slavery Days,” “Jah No Dead” and “African Postman.” And when Spear kicks into high gear, his energetic stage moves suggest he may have found Jamaica’s musical fountain of youth. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 20. Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, 5500 Campanile Drive, SDSU. $27.55–$142.75. ticketmaster.com
Lucinda Williams will be opening for Bob Dylan at The Shell on Sunday. (File photo)
Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, John Doe Folk Trio
At 85, Bob Dylan is four years older than Burning Spear and performs even more often. Dylan’s current “Long Hot Summer Tour” finds him, as usual, reinventing classics and deep-album cuts alike. He has also surprised audiences by playing songs long absent from his setlists, most notably “I Shall Be Released” (for the first time in 18 years) and “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” (for the first time in 14 years). He is also including choice cover versions of songs by everyone from Bo Diddley and Eddie Cochran to Bobby “Blue” Bland and Jerry Lee Lewis. For good measure, as of Wednesday his band now includes jazz-and-way-beyond guitar wiz Julian Lage. With Lucinda Williams and X band co-founder John Doe as his opening acts, Dylan’s show should be a welcome triple treat. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21. The Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, downtown. $88.50-$101.50. ticketmaster.com
Argentina’s Emilio Solla and Spain’s Antonio Lizana will make their San Diego concert debut Sunday at the Athenaeum in La Jolla. (Photo courtesy Athenaeum)
Emilio Solla & Antonio Lizana
If there is another duo, anywhere, that teams an Argentinian jazz and tango pianist with a Spanish flamenco singer who is also a terrific saxophonist, I have yet to hear them. Emilio Solla is a Latin Grammy Award winner with a deft touch as a keyboardist and composer. Antonio Lizana soars equally on vocals and alto and soprano saxophones, two instruments he plays with forward-looking modernity. The duo’s first album, 2023’s “El Siempre Mar,” is a borders-leaping aural delight. Expect no less from their San Diego debut concert. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla. $53 and $58. ljathenaeum.org/jazz
San Diego saxophonist, flutist, and periodic vocalist Karl Denson, who has toured with the Rolling Stones, will salute the music of reggae vocal great Jimmy Cliff. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, featuring Bernard Fowler, celebrate the music of Jimmy Cliff
San Diego jazz-funk tenor sax and flute dynamo Karl Denson has been a touring member of the Rolling Stones since 2014 and the leader of Tiny Universe since 1998. He has held his own collaborating with Lenny Kravitz, the Allman Brothers Band, jazz bass great Dave Holland, trumpeter Roy Hargrove and more. Denson and his propulsive band will be joined here by versatile vocal great Bernard Fowler for their tribute to reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. Best known as a touring member of the Rolling Stones since 1988, Fowler counts Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Philip Glass and Paul Simon among his other collaborators. Given his proven ability to make any song his own, it will be fascinating to hear Fowler join Denson to explore the late Cliff’s rich songbook. 8 p.m. June 27. The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $44.30-$77.75. ticketmaster.com
Also of note
Tonight, June 19: Big Mountain, The Holding Company
Tonight, June 19: Songs of Freedom Juneteenth concert, with Daneen Wilburn, The Jazz Lounge
Saturday, June 20: The Lemon Twigs, Music Box
Sunday, June 21: Bill Cunliffe Trio, Tio Leo’s
Tuesday, June 23: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Tuesday, June 23: The Harry Allen and Bill Cunliffe Quartet, Cygnet Theatre
JULY
Renowned saxophonist Charles McPherson is still playing up a storm at 86. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Charles McPherson Quintet
You can celebrate jazz alto saxophone great Charles McPherson’s 87th birthday with him here one month early — and just three weeks before he’ll be feted at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center. You can also marvel at this longtime San Diego resident’s undimmed musical mastery, improvisational ingenuity and ability to inject new emotional depth into every note he plays. 7 and 10 p.m. July 10. Lou Lou’s, Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park. $78. 619-296-2101; loulous.turntabletickets.com/tables
Former San Diego vocal dynamo Adam Lambert is hitting the road to promote his new solo album, “Adam.” (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Adam Lambert
Last summer saw former San Diego vocal powerhouse Adam Lambert memorably portray Judas for three performances of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl. The “American Idol” alum’s upcoming concert here is timed to coincide with the July 10 release of his sixth solo album, “Adam,” whose first two singles nicely showcase his high-octane singing. With or without any classics by Queen, the band Lambert has sung with since 2012, he can be expected to deliver a combustible show. 8 p.m. July 11. Pala Casino Spa Resort, 11154 CA-76, Pala. $60-$280. 877-946-7252. palacasino.com
The Beat Farmers will salute their late leader, Country Dick Montana, who died on stage at a 1995 concert with the band in Canada. (Belly Up)
15th annual Beat Farmers Hootenanny
San Diego’s finest roots-rock band, the Beat Farmers formed in 1983 at the Spring Valley Inn. The group went on to earn national and international acclaim before its swaggering leader, Country Dick Montana, died on stage midway through a 1995 show in Whistler, Canada. Montana was irreplaceable and the band wisely called it a day. Now led by co-founder Jerry Raney, the Beat Farmers reunite periodically and their annual Hootenanny shows at the Belly Up are rollicking affairs that always feature an array of guest musicians. This year’s lineup includes Farmers’ member Joey Harris and his band, The Mentals, along with Sue Palmer, Thomas Yearsley of The Paladins, Whitney Shay, Robin Henkel and Evans Kontopuls. 8 p.m. July 11. Belly Up Tavern, 143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach. $25 (general admission) and $44 (reserved); must be 21 or older to attend. bellyup.com
The Stray Cats will perform at The Sound in July. (Courtesy Stray Cats)
The Stray Cats
The Stray Cats will return to touring in July, a year after guitarist and lead singer Brian Setzer’s auto-immune condition forced the 47-year-old rockabilly trio to cancel its entire 2025 tour. Setzer has not disclosed what his specific condition is, nor has he discussed his prognosis. But given his exacting musical standards, one wouldn’t expect Setzer to return to the road until he is fully ready to rock this town — and the others on his band’s upcoming tour — with his customary verve. 8 p.m. July 26. The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar. $151.45. ticketmaster.com
Also of note
July 3: Khalil Childs Quartet, Dizzy’s
July 6: Jared Mattson & Ruban Nielson, Casbah
July 12: Rachel Lee Sanders, Dizzy’s
July 14: “West Side Story,” featuring the KSDS Jazz Orchestra and the Jennifer Leitham Trio, Cygnet Theatre
July 16: Mohama Saz, The Loons and Saguaro, Casbah
July 17: San Diego International Mariachi Summit Gala Concert, featuring Legado del Mariachi and Symphonic Mariachi Champaña Nevin, Balboa Theater
July 17: Pfft, featuring Mike Keneally, Andrew Synowiec, Bryan Beller and Jonathan Mover, Bornemann Theatre
July 18: Roberta Gambarini & Tamir Hendelman, La Jolla Athenaeum
July 18: “Summer of Love,” a benefit for San Diego Troubadour and San Diego Folk Heritage, Good Samaritan Episcopal Church’s Roetter Hall
July 19: Reverend Horton Heat, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Belly Up
July 19: DakhaBrakha, Music Box
August
Singer-songwriter Judy Collins is bringing her extended farewell tour to Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. (Shervin Lainez)
Judy Collins “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: Farewell,” with Amanda Shires
Judy Collins, who turned 87 in May, isn’t exactly rushing into retirement. But this storied singer, songwriter and author has announced she will step back from extensive touring, at least after her current concert trek concludes in late 2027. Then comes “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes — Celebration Encore,” a series of special encore performances. By the time she celebrates her 90th birthday in 2029, it won’t be too surprising if Collins decides to extend her tour. Either way, the opportunity to hear her sing and share stories is always welcome. And when Collins digs deep into “Send In The Clowns,” one of her signature numbers, goosebumps may result. Be sure to arrive early for Amanda Shires’ opening set. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. $79.15. humphreysconcerts.com
Carlos Santana, who learned to play guitar while growing up in Tijuana, will perform Aug. 11 at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista with the band that bears his name. The group’s drummer is his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana. (Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group)
Santana, The Doobie Brothers
The Bay Area is well-represented with the pairing of the San Francisco-bred Santana and the San Jose-bred Doobie Brothers. Both bands launched in the 1960s and are now Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Santana, led by former Tijuana guitarist Carlos Santana, still ignites with its fiery, percussion-fueled Latin-rock. The Doobies are as adept with blue-eyed soul and yacht rock as with the harder-edged music that propelled the band to stardom more than 50 years ago. 7 p.m. Aug. 11. North Island Credit Union Amphitheater, 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista. $54.50-$305. ticketmaster.com
Jazz giant Miles Davis will be saluted at 14 concerts over three days in August. The centennial event in his honor is being put on by San Diego radio stations KSDS Jazz 88. (File photo)
Milestones: A Miles Davis Centennial Celebration
To celebrate the 100th birthday of jazz giant Miles Davis, San Diego radio station KSDS-FM is presenting a three-day musical fete that may well be the most ambitious event in the station’s 74-year history. The program will offer concerts, films, panel discussions and special presentations, with performances designed to spotlight different eras from Davis’ shape-shifting career. The lineup this far includes includes Charles McPherson, Jon Faddis, Jeremy Pelt, Terrell Stafford, Gilbert Castellanos, Miles Evans, Bobby Watson, Eric Reed, Kenny Washington, Ernie Watts, Doug Webb, Ralph Moore, Ron Stout, Jerry Pinter, Gerry Gibbs and former Davis band keyboardist Kei Akagi. Aug. 21-23. Wyndham San Diego Bayside Hotel, 1355 North Harbor Drive, San Diego. Times and prices tba. 619-388-3758; jazz88.org
The Roots Will perform at Gallagher Square at Petco Park in August on a triple-bill with Nas and De La Soul.. (AP/Matt Rourke)
Nas, The Roots, De La Soul
One of the most enticing triple-bills of the summer showcases three standout artists, Nas, The Roots and De La Soul, whose landmark albums helped expand and elevate the range and impact of hip-hop in the 1990s and beyond. The uncommonly versatile common denominator in the lineup is The Roots, who since 2014 have been the house band on TV’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Led by drummer and 2022 Oscar-winning documentary film director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, The Roots have collaborated with both Nas and De La Soul, the Long Island trio whose 1989 debut album, “3 Feet High and Rising,” was hailed at the time as “the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ of hip-hop.” That may have been overstating things, but not by very much. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27. Gallagher Square at Petco Park, 840 K Street, downtown. $124.25. ticketmaster.com
Jazz pianist and composer Brad Mehldau will lead a all-star band in a tribute to the songs of Elliott Smith as part of the La Jolla Music Society’s 2026 SummerFest. (David Bazemore)
“Ride Into The Sun: The Music of Elliott Smith”
For those not attending David Byrne’s sold-out concert at SDSU the same night, this talent-packed salute to the late troubadour Elliott Smith should not to be missed. Led by jazz-and-beyond piano great Brad Mehldau, the band features San Diego-born mandolin wizard Chris Thile, ace guitarist Blake Mills, bassist John Davis and drummer Matt Chamberlain, whose other credits include performing with Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam and Bill Frisell. The reverence these five musicians have for Smith’s songs is readily apparent. So is their desire and ability to use those songs as launching pads to new aural vistas, not as final destinations. 7 p.m. Aug. 27. Balboa Theater, 868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter. $51-$138. theconrad.org
Also of note
Aug. 1: Tortoise, Belly Up
Aug. 4: Death Cab For Cutie, Gallagher Square at Petco Park
Aug. 7: Little Feat farewell tour, Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Aug. 13: Al Green, Pechanga Resort & Casino
Aug. 13: Sullivan Fortner Trio, The JAI
Aug. 15: Chante Moore and Jackiem Joyner, with Althea Rene, Thornton Winery
Aug. 17: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Casbah
Aug. 21: Sean Jones/Billy Childs/Ben Williams, Athenaeum
Aug. 25: Wayne Hancock, Soda Bar
Aug. 28: Thee Sacred Souls, The Womack Sisters, Gallagher Square at Petco Park