In a state driven by innovation, the one constant is change. That rings true across the Golden State in 2026, with the New Year bringing an exciting slate of theme park attractions, museums, hotels, and restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs.
It’s a big year for sports with major events including Super Bowl LX and the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking over stadiums and local venues. On the heels of California’s 175 years of statehood, we’re also part of national milestone celebrations like America’s 250th and the Route 66 Centennial.
Whether you’re exploring California for the first time or revisiting favorite destinations, these events and openings will make for exciting additions to your Golden State bucket list. Here’s a look at what to expect in 2026.
Theme Parks
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City
Get behind the wheel of the street racing franchise’s iconic cars as they drift along the track with 360 degrees of rotation at 72 miles per hour. When it opens in 2026, this will be Universal Studios Hollywood’s first-ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster.
Bluey at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
Bluey and her sister Bingo arrive in Anaheim on March 22 for the debut of their stage show at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theatre. Music, character cameos, and interactive games like Keepy Uppy help bring the cartoon to life.
In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, look for the Mandalorian and Grogu to become a part of the ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run starting in May.
Galacticoaster at LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
The first new roller coaster in more than two decades is landing at LEGOLAND California in March 2026. A space-themed indoor attraction, Galacticoaster is part of the theme park’s new LEGO Galaxy area featuring two other rides and a toddler play zone.
Danny Sanford Elephant Valley at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Escondido
Walk alongside the herd at the San Diego County park’s new elephant exhibit opening in early 2026. The pathways wind through the valley with grasslands on both sides, providing a close-up view of 350 savanna plants and the largest land animals on earth.
Shark Encounter at SeaWorld San Diego
This reimagining of SeaWorld San Diego’s immersive shark experience features a 360-degree underwater tunnel to view 11 different species. It opens in spring 2026 along with a surge tank that simulates crashing waves and tide pools and an all-new VIP tour.
Entertainment and Family Fun
West Harbor in the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro
The Port of Los Angeles serves as the backdrop for this new dining and entertainment district spanning 42 acres of waterfront. Limited attractions are available now, including San Pedro Fish Market and whale watching cruises, while the amusement park, amphitheater, and other restaurants and shops will open in summer 2026.
OCVIBE Opening, Anaheim
Built around the Honda Center and ARTIC, a local transportation hub, OCVIBE is Orange County’s future home for sports and entertainment. The first planned openings for late 2026 include the 50,000-square-foot market hall with 21 chef-driven concepts and six bars as well as a concert hall and an urban park.
Plaza Theatre Reopening, Palm Springs
Experience the revival of Hollywood’s Golden Age at the newly restored 1936 Plaza Theatre, reopened in December 2025 to showcase classic films, live music and stage shows, comedy acts, tribute bands, and more.
Major Sporting Events
Super Bowl LX, San Francisco Bay Area
Football fans will gather at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8 for the culmination of the NFL’s 2025 season. The week leading up to the big game includes a concert experience featuring Sting and The Killers at Palace of Fine Arts, as well as local activations, fan festivals, and photo ops with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
NBA All-Star Weekend, Los Angeles
Basketball’s midseason showcase heads to L.A.’s Intuit Dome with a new U.S. vs. the World round-robin tournament on Feb. 15. The weekend kicks off Feb. 13 and features experiences like the Champions Table tasting, an NBA Legends restaurant takeover at Scopa Italian Roots, and meet-and-greets with team mascots over breakfast.
2026 FIFA World Cup, San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County
Fourteen games will take place across Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area during soccer’s premier event, which will see 48 nations compete for the title from June 11 to July 29. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re heading to the Golden State for the historic tournament.
ONT Field, Ontario
The Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Single-A affiliate, will celebrate their inaugural season at Ontario’s new 190-acre sports and entertainment district. The stadium and concessions open spring 2026, with a surrounding community sports complex planned for October.
NASCAR San Diego Weekend, Coronado
NASCAR’s first-ever event on an active military base is coming to Coronado in San Diego County, which will host a three-day street-race weekend kicking off June 19 with the Craftsman Truck Series followed by the Xfinity Series on June 20. It concludes with a brand-new event, the Anduril 250, NASCAR’s second Cup Series street race, on June 21.
Hotel and Resort Openings
Exciting accommodations planned for 2026 invite new crowds to explore some of the Golden State’s most vibrant destinations. From beach retreats to glamping digs, notable openings include:
● Opening in late summer 2026 on Napa Valley’s Vine Trail, The Elene will feature 50 rooms and suites along with an onsite restaurant.
● The culinary-focused Appellation Petaluma is opening in Sonoma County in summer 2026, bringing a rooftop restaurant and chef Charlie Palmer’s signature dishes.
● Ultra-luxury is coming in 2026 to the Transbay District with the opening of Rosewood San Francisco, a skyscraper hotel with an indoor lap pool, indoor-outdoor restaurant, and a private lounge.
● Coming June 2026, Outbound Yosemite offers a new way to adventure near the popular national park with a range of cabins and modern guest rooms with elevated amenities.
● The historic Oasis at Death Valley is adding 50 luxury RV sites with full hook-ups adjacent to its 18-hole golf course.
● Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is reopening in 2026 following an extensive restoration, unveiling a new family pool and beach, Nobu Restaurant, bungalow suites with private plunge pools, and renovated guest rooms.
● Kali Hotel and Rooftop, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, will become the only hotel in Inglewood’s Hollywood Park upon its anticipated opening in September 2026.
● Starting summer 2026, you can catch a wave in Palm Springs at DSRT Surf resort. Along with a machine-powered sustainable surf pool, the new complex will include hotel rooms, luxury villas, pickleball courts, and more.
● Families will have a new luxe accommodation option when the Hotel Solea, an Autograph Collection Hotel opens in spring 2026 in Carlsbad, just minutes away from LEGOLAND California.
Restaurants and Nightlife
Ilora, Calistoga
This fine-dining spot is helmed by a French Laundry alum who's set to prepare modern Californian fare, in a partnership with Calistoga’s Theorem Vineyards. Opening fall 2026.
Rotation by Feast It Forward, Napa
A new chef each month helms the kitchen at Oxbow Public Market’s new culinary residency restaurant. Opening late 2025/early 2026.
Horn Barbecue, Fresno
Chef and cookbook author Matt Horn is bringing his Michelin-recognized Horn Barbecue to Fresno, where he learned to cook in his grandmother’s backyard. Until it opens in 2026, check out his other restaurants in Oakland, Lafayette, and Elk Grove.
Little Mountain, Montecito
Opened in November 2025, the Upper Village restaurant features a custom wood-fired hearth to cook shareable dishes of locally grown vegetables and fresh seafood sourced from Montecito’s backyard.
Spacca Tutto, Pacific Palisades
Nancy Silverton's new Italian American restaurant in Los Angeles will anchor the reopened Palisades Village in August 2026, bringing a robust list of 250 wines and creative bar dishes along with steakhouse classics.
Wilde’s, Los Angeles
Savor a taste of British pub fare at this Los Feliz restaurant, which opened in late October 2025 with staples like Welsh rarebit, bangers ‘n’ mash, and meat pie, all served with a farm-to-table flair.
Sant Ambroeus, Beverly Hills
The celebrity-favored restaurant hailing from Milan is coming to the West Coast for the first time with a flagship location in Beverly Hills featuring Italian classics created with California produce. Opening in 2026.
Chick & Hawk, Encinitas
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk collaborated with local chef Andrew Bachelier to open the laid-back fried chicken restaurant in the beachside San Diego County town of Encinitas. The Birdman is a must-order—a spicy sandwich with creamy kimchi sauce and sweet-spicy pickles to deliver an excellent crunch.
Retail Openings
Union Square Flagships, San Francisco
Downtown’s luxury shopping plaza is experiencing a resurgence with new retailers like the Bang & Olufsen flagship on Geary Street, the brand’s largest in the world that opened in late 2025. Zara is opening a four-story flagship in 2026 and Uniqlo plans to open over the summer with one of its first flagship stores outside of New York.
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
In November 2025, Beverly Hills’ upscale shopping street got a glow-up with the flagship openings of a four-story House of Dior and a relocated Bulgari storefront. Both boutiques elevate the retail experience with features like Dior’s first U.S. restaurant helmed by Dominique Crenn and Bulgari’s rooftop terrace.
South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
Manolo Blahnik opened its first West Coast location in December at South Coast Plaza, joining other notable 2025 openings including Piaget, Zara’s first men’s only boutique in the U.S., and Kim Kardashian’s Skims. Looking ahead to summer 2026, London-based diamond designer Jessica McCormack has plans to open her first West Coast boutique at the center.
Westfield UTC Expansion, San Diego
The phased opening of a 70,000-square-foot expansion begins spring 2026, bringing high-end brands including Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, and Zegna to the new luxury wing.
Museums and Culture
Palo Alto Museum, Palo Alto
The historic Roth Building is being reborn as the Palo Alto Museum in February 2026, showcasing local history through living artifacts and interactive exhibits, including an AI-powered conversation with animated portraits of those who shaped Palo Alto.
Dataland, Los Angeles
The world’s first museum of ethically-generated AI arts is opening spring 2026 inside the Frank Gehry–designed Grand LA complex. Five galleries include the multisensory Infinity Room, which incorporates AI-generated scents into an immersive walk that envelops you with dynamic visuals and sounds.
David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, Los Angeles
A project more than five years in the making, LACMA’s new gallery space is set to open in April 2026. The 110,000 square feet of exhibition space offers a presentation of art on a single level, inviting the public to explore the world’s cultures in a nonlinear way.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles
Cofounded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, this is the first museum to focus exclusively on storytelling through images. The 11-acre campus opens in Exposition Park in September 2026.
Notable Anniversaries
Route 66 Centennial
Route 66 is turning 100 on Nov. 11 and towns across the Golden State are joining the celebration. From the deserts of San Bernardino to the end of the line in Santa Monica, visit roadside landmarks for car shows, caravans, parades, and more all year long.
San Diego Museum of Art Centennial, San Diego
The Balboa Park museum is marking its milestone with a once-in-a-century birthday fest on Feb. 28, featuring photo ops, live music, art-making, and cake tastings. Centennial exhibitions run throughout the year like “SDMA 100 Years,” which features photographs and film footage of key moments in the museum’s history.