15 picks for the season ahead, spanning new theatrical works, a major concert lineup, and world-renowned art exhibits.
San Diego isn’t just having a cultural moment. It is the cultural moment. Where else can you paddleboard in Mission Bay during the day, then catch a world premiere musical that evening?
Dubbed America’s Finest City in 1970, the moniker has stuck and earned its bragging rights. Balboa Park alone features 18 museums, running from anthropology to comics. (Cosplayers descend on the city each July for Comic-Con.) But fall proves the ideal time of year to explore the city, with a wave of new theater productions, art exhibits, festivals, and music acts.
Here are 15 picks for the best fall arts and culture events in San Diego.
“Begin Again,” The Old Globe
When: Sept. 6 – Oct. 11, 2026
A screen-to-stage adaptation of the 2013 film “Begin Again” arrives at The Old Globe for its world premiere. After a record producer and heartbroken singer-songwriter cross paths, the pair sets out to record an album at various locations throughout New York City. Lorin Latarro, who choreographed the recent Broadway revival of “Chess,” directs.
Since its inception, over 20 Old Globe productions have transferred to Broadway and Off-Broadway, earning 13 Tony Awards.
“Oh, Mary!,” San Diego Civic Theatre
When: Sept. 29 – Oct. 4, 2026
Cole Escola’s Tony-winning comedic romp “Oh, Mary!” heads out on a national tour this fall, with San Diego’s Civic Theatre as its second stop. The fast-paced comedy imagines former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret star who will do anything for a chance in the spotlight.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season two winner Alaska Thunderf*ck plays the title role through the first half of the tour, opposite J. Harrison Ghee as Mary’s Husband (aka Abraham Lincoln). Broadway director Sam Pinkleton returns to stage the production.
(Note: “Oh, Mary!” contains explicit language, adult themes, and comedic material intended for mature audiences, 14 and older.)
“GRIM,” La Jolla Playhouse
When: Oct. 27 – Nov. 29, 2026
San Diego’s theater scene includes not one, but two new musicals this fall, with La Jolla Playhouse presenting the world premiere of “GRIM.” Just in time for Halloween, this spooky musical imagines what happens when, after 300,000 years, the Grim Reaper decides to retire. Too bad his daughter falls for a mortal.
The musical comedy features a score by Petro AP, who has written for Reneé Rapp and One Direction, and Scott Hoying, whose collaborators include the hit acappela vocal group Pentatonix. Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (“Hamilton”) promises equally innovative moves.
Art
“Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World,” The San Diego Museum of Art
(Cecil Beaton/National Portrait Gallery, London/Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights are used with permission of The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC)
When: Through Jan. 10, 2027
Organized in collaboration with London’s National Portrait Gallery, “Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World” offers an eye-catching collection of one of the most formidable creative forces of the 20th century.
Beaton, a multi-hyphenate artist, worked as a photographer, fashion illustrator, writer, and Academy Award-winning production and costume designer (“Gigi,” “My Fair Lady”). The first exhibit to focus exclusively on Beaton’s photography includes fashion photography for Vogue, royal portraiture, and images captured throughout World War II.
Museum visitors will recognize many of Beaton’s subjects, including Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Other temporary exhibits at the San Diego Museum of Art worth visiting this fall include “Cafés and Cabarets: The Spectacular Art of Toulouse-Lautrec” (through Sept. 20) and a collection of Dutch paintings on loan from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts (through Mar. 21, 2027).
“Visiones Nocturnas: Queer Nightlife in Contemporary Art,” Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
When: Sept. 19 – Jan. 10, 2027
Exploring the intersection of LGBTQ+ nightlife and art, “Visiones Nocturnas” borrows its title from artist Andres Payan Estrada’s installation of the same name, which documented more than a decade of queer nightlife along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I think of nightlife as a living archive,” says Estrada. “Every dance floor and nightlife space carry stories of friendship, desire, movement, grief, resistance, and joy. These are spaces where communities create and transmit forms of belonging that extend well beyond the night itself.”
Mediums throughout the exhibit at MOCASD include painting, performance, photography, sculpture, textile, collage, and video, from artists including Laura Aguilar, Martine Gutierrez, and Teresa Margolles, and more.
For a San Diego-centric experience, be sure to also check out “Hometown Heroes” (through Nov. 8), featuring works by local artists and photographers that explore the region’s cultural and ecological landscape.
“Will You Stay Here for a Moment? By Denja Harris,” Visions Museum of Textile Art
When: Oct. 24 – Dec. 5, 2026
Founded in 1985 as Quilt San Diego to present the international, juried Quilt Visions biennial, volunteers rallied for a permanent space, and in 2007 the Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) opened in Liberty Station’s arts district.
This fall, the museum will feature San Diego-based fiber artist Denja Harris in the solo exhibit, “Will You Stay Here for a Moment?” Using dead-stock, secondhand, and new yarns, Harris constructs tactile, structural pieces with an emotional throughline that continues to evolve. The VMOTA exhibition follows her first solo museum exhibition, “The Space Between: Texture Studies by Denja Harris” at the Oceanside Museum of Art.
“I want people to look at my work and recognize a familiar item like yarn … but they see it reimagined in a different way, so they don’t feel as intimidated by going to museums or visiting galleries,” Harris said in an interview with KPBS. “I didn’t grow up in art spaces. I’m still working to feel totally comfortable in art spaces … and I would love to bridge that gap.”
5 can’t-miss concerts in San Diego this fall
Brandi Carlile
When: Sept. 22
Brandi Carlile: The Human Tour arrives at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, a stunning outdoor music venue celebrating its fifth anniversary. Set against the backdrop of San Diego Bay, the 10,000-seat venue will welcome the 11-time Grammy winner along with special guest CMAT.
Expect live performances from her latest album “Returning to Myself” along with hits from a career dating back nearly two decades. “Bramily” (the nickname for Carlile fans) can purchase a soundcheck upgrade, including early entry, the band’s soundcheck, and The Human Tour merch pack.
Charli xcx
When: Oct. 14
Charli xcx: Music, Fashion, Film promises to be one of the most energizing shows of the season, taking over Viejas Arena on Oct. 14.
One of only 12 dates on her fall schedule, concertgoers can expect the biggest hits from her latest studio album. “It’s rock played the Charli xcx way,” writes Billboard’s Andrew Unterberger, so expect rock with danceable hooks, meaning don’t plan on staying in your seat much.
Gorillaz
When: Oct. 25
Gorillaz co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett bring their virtual band—the animated 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel—on a 22-city arena tour across the U.S. and Canada.
Gorillaz’s San Diego concert will be at Pechanga Arena. Accompanying acts include London rapper Little Simz and hip-hop group Deltron 3030. The tour coincides with House of Kong in New York City, an immersive pop-up exhibition that traces the band’s 25-year history as groundbreaking musicians and animators.
Doja Cat with Latto
When: Oct. 27
On her latest album, “Vie,” Doja Cat pays homage to 80s funk, describing herself as “a rapper that makes pop music.”
“‘Vie’ is an evolution of Doja’s strong suits as both a songwriter and performer at liberty to toy with the vestiges of pop’s past,” writes Variety, which makes for a song list packed with deep grooves and nods to icons like Prince and Janet Jackson.
Rapper Latto opens the San Diego stop at Viejas Arena, bringing her own hard-hitting bars to set the stage for Doja’s genre-blurring act.
Teddy Swims
When: Nov. 13
Singer-songwriter Teddy Swims draws from soul, R&B, country, and pop with a voice both tender and soaring. His recently expanded album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition)” anchors his current solo tour following a summer of festival dates including Coachella and Stagecoach.
Swims’ “Lose Control” became the first song in Billboard history to spend more than 100 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. But expect more than a one-hit wonder when Swims arrives at Pechanga Arena with Natasha Bedingfield and MarcLo to round out the evening.
Film
Silent Movie Mondays
When: Sept. 21, 2026 – June 7, 2027 (select Mondays)
Originally opened in 1924 as a vaudeville and film house, the Balboa Theatre remains one of the country’s greatest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Over the years, the venue has hosted a range of cultural events and even housed World War II sailors before they shipped out in its office wing.
Silent Movie Mondays returns for its third season, showcasing classics including “The Headless Horseman,” starring Will Rogers (Sept. 21), and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” starring John Barrymore (Oct. 26).
More than just a film screening, Silent Movie Mondays also feature a guest organist playing the venue’s Wonder Morton Theatre Organ, followed by post-film conversations with a local film expert.
San Diego International Film Festival
When: Oct. 13-18
The San Diego International Film Festival returns for its 25th anniversary with powerhouse programming, including a Main Slate line-up from 22 countries and 8 world premieres.
Highlights include Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy “Wild Horse Nine” starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, and Steve Buscemi; Eugene Jarecki’s documentary “The Six Billion Dollar Man” about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; and Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón’s “Gringo Champion,” based on Aura Xilonen’s novel about a boy who crosses the Rio Grande and navigates a hostile new world on the other side.
“We’re thrilled to share a lineup that reflects the very best of cinematic storytelling,” says CEO and artistic director Tonya Mantooth. “From international standouts and thought-provoking documentaries to award-winning shorts and highly anticipated premieres, this year’s films showcase diverse voices and bold perspectives that inspire empathy and conversation.”
Fall events: Bella Vita Fest & Parade of Lights
Bella Vita Fest
When: Oct. 17-18
One of the most anticipated fall arts and culture events in San Diego, Bella Vita Fest is a two-day festival celebrating Italian food, art, and culture. Each year, Madonnari (street artists) chalk India Street in San Diego’s Little Italy, an art form dating back to 16th-century Europe.
Other activities include wine tastings, a cooking stage featuring live demos, and plenty of festival eats, including the Calabrian-focused Civicio 1845, Sicilian favorites at Barbusa, and Monello, known for its dozen varieties of handmade pasta.
San Diego Bay Parade of Lights
When: Dec. 13 and 20
Technically still fall according to the winter solstice, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights has become one of the city’s most anticipated holiday traditions. Bayfront crowds gather for the annual boat procession, featuring nearly 80 decorated and illuminated vessels.
More than 100,000 residents and travelers descend upon the route, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at Shelter Island, traverses Harbor Island, Seaport Village, The Embarcadero, and the Pier at Cesar Chavez Park before concluding at the Ferry Landing on Coronado. Be sure to claim your spot early for the best viewing.
This year’s theme, Liberty Lights the Bay — Cheers to 250 Years!, continues the celebration of the U.S.’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
