California Festival Calendar 2026

New Year's Day tradition since 1890 — elaborate flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units parade down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, followed by the Rose Bowl college football game. Over 700,000 spectators line the 5.5-mile route. Camp out on the sidewalk the night before for the best free viewing spots. A quintessential Southern California experience.

A PGA Tour event played across three of the most beautiful golf courses in the world — Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, and the Links at Spanish Bay. Celebrities pair with pros in a pro-am format. The coastal scenery is as much the star as the golf. Daily tickets start around $75. The Monterey Peninsula in February is cool but often clear.

The most influential music festival in the world — two weekends in the desert featuring 150+ artists across multiple stages, massive art installations, and the celebrity-packed scene that launches trends. Headliners range from Beyonce to Radiohead. Tickets sell out within hours of release. Temperatures hit 100°F+ so hydrate aggressively. Stay in Palm Springs (20 minutes away) for the best experience.

San Francisco's most eccentric tradition since 1912 — a 12K footrace from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach where costumes, floats, and general weirdness are more important than finish times. Salmon (runners going the wrong way), centipede teams, and elaborate group costumes define the event. Over 50,000 participants. Register early or just show up to spectate along the route.

The longest-running jazz festival in the world, held annually since 1958 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Three days of world-class jazz across eight stages with over 500 artists. Past performers include Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and Herbie Hancock. Weekend passes start around $300. The Monterey coast in September offers perfect weather — sunny days and cool evenings.

The largest pop culture convention on Earth — 130,000+ attendees converge on the San Diego Convention Center for panels, screenings, cosplay, and exclusive reveals from Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and every major entertainment franchise. Badges sell out in minutes via lottery. Even without a badge, the surrounding blocks host free events, pop-up experiences, and celebrity sightings. Book hotels 6+ months ahead.

San Francisco's premier music festival in Golden Gate Park — three days of major headliners, a curated food village featuring the Bay Area's best restaurants (Gastromagic), craft beer and wine tasting, and comedy stages. The fog rolls through the eucalyptus trees creating an atmosphere unlike any other festival. Wear layers — temperatures drop 20°F when the fog comes in. 3-day passes run $400–500.

The most prestigious classic car event in the world. A week of auctions, rallies, and exhibitions culminating in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance — where the rarest and most valuable automobiles on Earth compete on the 18th fairway. Cars worth tens of millions of dollars are displayed on the grass. Concours tickets are $500+, but many surrounding events are free or affordable.

A completely free three-day music festival in Golden Gate Park featuring bluegrass, country, folk, and Americana acts across seven stages. Founded by venture capitalist Warren Hellman, who stipulated it must always be free. Over 750,000 attendees across three days — one of the largest free music festivals in the world. No tickets needed. Just show up with a blanket and enjoy.

California's vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations honor deceased loved ones with elaborate altars (ofrendas), face painting, music, and community processions. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery festival in LA draws 30,000+ with live bands, traditional dance, and thousands of decorated altars. San Francisco's Mission District hosts a massive community procession. Free to attend. Deeply meaningful cultural experiences.

California's coastal cities light up for the holidays. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade features 100+ decorated boats cruising the harbor for five nights — a tradition since 1907. San Diego's Parade of Lights fills the bay with glowing boats. San Francisco's Great Dickens Christmas Fair transforms the Cow Palace into Victorian London. Most boat parades are free to watch from shore.