November will be a very exciting month if you love great food, wine, cocktails, and San Diego’s spectacular waterfront. The San Diego Food + Wine Festival returns November 1-8, 2026, for its 22nd annual celebration. It will be eight days of food, wine, culture, and culinary experiences across San Diego. Tickets are available now.
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What’s New at San Diego’s Premier Food Festival
This isn’t a repeat of last year’s festival with a new date. The San Diego Food + Wine Festival has made some of the biggest programming changes in more than two decades. And that includes a completely reimagined Grand Weekend, a new opening-night experience, culinary districts, and a two-day waterfront celebration at the Embarcadero.
With more than 11,000 attendees expected and more than 150 chefs and tastemakers participating, the festival has become one of the country’s top food festivals. It also has something many food festivals cannot duplicate: San Diego Bay as the backdrop.
San Diego Food + Wine Festival Returns November 1-8, 2026
The eight-day festival brings together chefs, winemakers, spirits producers, farmers, culinary educators, and food personalities from San Diego, Southern California, Baja, and around the country.
A week’s worth of experiences are planned for 2026, ranging from major tasting events to dinners, galas, culinary expeditions, and other special events.
The 2026 Lineup
More than 150 gastronomic trailblazers, Food Network personalities, and Michelin + James Beard-recognized chefs will participate in SDFW’s ambitious Grand Weekend. This includes 70 chefs and traditional cooks from across Mexico.
- Javier Plascencia
- Carlos Gaytán
- Drew Deckman
- Eric Bost
- Susan Bae
- Jonathon Sawyer
- Joe Sasto
- Fariyal Abdullahi
- Maynard Llera
- Tara Monsod
- Suzette Gresham
- Roberto Alcocer
- Gale Gand
- Chris Oh
The New Grand Weekend Is a Major Change
The centerpiece is the newly expanded Grand Weekend Presented by Southwest Airlines®, taking place November 6-8, and the biggest change for 2026.
The Grand Tasting and Grand Fiesta will now take place on consecutive days at Embarcadero Marina Park North, creating a seamless two-day waterfront celebration. Instead of two separate events, the festival has designed the weekend as one larger experience, with each day having its own personality.
The location is part of the appeal, with San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline as the backdrop while you walk around with a glass of wine or a plate of food. It is hard to imagine a more stunning setting for a festival built around San Diego’s food culture.
San Diego Food + Wine Festival Introduces Icons + Legends
Friday, November 6 is Icons + Legends, the new opening-night experience formerly known as Grand Decant.
The evening brings award-winning chefs, luxury wines and spirits together for an intimate start to the Grand Weekend. It is ideal for people who want to start the weekend with some of the country’s most accomplished culinary and beverage talent.
Grand Tasting: Saturday, November 7
Saturday is the flagship Grand Tasting Presented by Southwest Airlines, taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
This is the big tasting experience, with more than 300 tastemakers and vendors expected along the San Diego Bay waterfront. You can sample food and beverages while exploring the festival’s new culinary districts and participate in the annual Chef of the Fest competition.
And this is where the 2026 changes get particularly interesting. Instead of simply moving from booth to booth, the festival will have themed culinary districts. Each one has its own personality and culinary focus.
New Culinary Districts Give the Festival More to Explore
- Smoke + Fire: The place for live-fire cooking, with premium proteins meeting open flames.
- Sweet Street: Have a serious sweet tooth? Sweet Street focuses on pastries, desserts, and coffee.
- So San Diego: The spotlight on San Diego’s independent culinary scene along with local arts and culture.
- Street Feast: Asian Market: Inspired by the energy of Asian night markets, this area brings together the flavors and atmosphere of a vibrant street-food market.
- South of the Border: Explores the people, places, and craftsmanship that make Baja and Mexico such an important part of San Diego’s culinary identity.
Grand Fiesta Moves to the Waterfront
Sunday, November 8 is the Grand Fiesta Presented by Southwest Airlines, and this year it moves to the Embarcadero as part of the new two-day waterfront format.
Grand Fiesta celebrates the culinary and cultural connection between San Diego and Baja, with chefs from Tijuana, Baja California, and San Diego. You can enjoy Mexican wines and spirits, Latin-inspired food, music, art, and the annual Taco TKO competition.
Last year’s event sold out early, as it appeals to everyone who loves Baja food and culture.
The Chefs Coming to San Diego Are a Big Deal
One reason the San Diego Food + Wine Festival belongs on any serious food lover’s calendar is the caliber of talent it attracts.
The 2026 lineup includes chefs and culinary personalities connected to Michelin Guide recognition, the James Beard Foundation, Food Network and Top Chef.
Among the announced talent are two-Michelin-star chef Suzette Gresham, Top Chef finalist Joe Sasto, Lilo executive chef Eric Bost, James Beard Award winners Maynard Llera and Susan Bae, Baja culinary pioneer Javier Plascencia, pastry chef Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman, Chris Oh, Fariyal Abdullahi and sommelier and wine educator Cha McCoy.
The festival’s official lineup includes more than 150 chefs and tastemakers, representing both sides of the border and culinary talent from across the country.
And there is plenty of San Diego talent involved, too. Local chefs such as Roberto Alcocer, Eric Bost, JoJo Ruiz, and others are part of the 2026 programming.
More Than the Grand Weekend
After my first year attending, I realized the festival is about more than the three signature events. The week includes dinners, wine lunches, cooking classes, educational programs, neighborhood experiences, and culinary excursions.
There is even a Baja Culinary Expedition that takes guests into Valle de Guadalupe for an immersive day of Michelin Guide-recognized food and wine experiences.
For food lovers who want something beyond a large tasting event, these smaller experiences can be some of the most memorable parts of the week.
The Festival Is Also Focused on Food Rescue
The San Diego Food + Wine Festival has another side worth knowing about.
The festival launched its Food Rescue Program in 2024 to move toward a zero-food-waste festival. During Grand Weekend, the festival collects surplus ingredients and prepared food and delivers them to a recovery area, where they are repackaged and distributed through community partners.
The festival says it has already rescued and redistributed more than 3,000 pounds of food through local organizations. The 2026 program is expanding through partnerships with Rethink Food and the San Diego Food Bank as the Festival’s official food rescue program partners.
If you are looking for one event that captures what makes San Diego such an interesting food destination, this is an easy one to add to your calendar.
FAQ's
When is the San Diego Food + Wine Festival 2026?
The San Diego Food + Wine Festival takes place November 1-8, 2026, with events held throughout San Diego. The signature Grand Weekend runs November 6-8, featuring Icons + Legends on Friday, the Grand Tasting on Saturday and the Grand Fiesta on Sunday.
Where is the San Diego Food + Wine Festival held?
The San Diego Food + Wine Festival takes place at venues throughout San Diego. The 2026 Grand Weekend is centered at Embarcadero Marina Park North on the San Diego Bay waterfront. The Grand Tasting and Grand Fiesta are both held there on November 7 and 8.
What is included with San Diego Food + Wine Festival tickets?
Most San Diego Food + Wine Festival events are all-inclusive unless otherwise noted. At the Grand Tasting and Grand Fiesta, ticket holders can enjoy the food and beverage tastings included within their ticketed area. VIP ticket holders also receive access to VIP tents and tastings.
Is the San Diego Food + Wine Festival 21 and over?
Yes. All San Diego Food + Wine Festival events are 21 and over. Guests must have valid photo identification, and children, including infants, are not permitted at festival events.
What are the main events at the San Diego Food + Wine Festival?
The three signature Grand Weekend events are Icons + Legends on Friday, November 6, the Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 7, and the Grand Fiesta on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The festival also features dinners, wine experiences, workshops, culinary excursions, and other events throughout the week.
