Food lovers will have a fresh excuse to head to the coast this fall, as the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival returns for a weeklong run of SoCal and Baja flavors from September 30 to October 4, capped by a two-day Grand Tasting on October 3–4. The festival will bring chefs, wineries and lifestyle activations to Del Mar’s grass and nearby venues, aiming for a beachy, locally rooted showcase of the region’s food scene.
The 2026 lineup dropped on June 5. It has quickly become one of the largest food and wine experiences on the West Coast, co-founder Chris Finn said, according to San Diego Magazine.
Headliners and chefs
The festival is leaning hard into star power, pairing TV-famous cooks with Michelin-level talent. Announced headliners include Jet Tila, Maneet Chauhan, Aarti Sequeira, Buddha Lo, Beau MacMillan, Kelsey Murphy and Benito Molina. The full headliner roster and chef bios for the week are listed on the festival site, according to the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival.
Festival week highlights
Festivities start with a Signature San Diego tasting at Monarch Ocean Pub on September 30 and roll into a celebrity pickleball tournament hosted by Drew Brees on October 2 at Barnes Tennis Center. That tournament benefits Feeding San Diego. The two-day Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park runs October 3–4 and is slated to gather more than 100 exhibitors alongside 200-plus wine, beer and spirit producers, as reported by San Diego Magazine.
Tickets, prices and rules
Single-day Grand Tasting tickets start at $185 for general admission, with early-entry and VIP single-day options priced at $235 and $425, respectively. Two-day passes are listed at $275 for general admission, $375 for early entry and $765 for VIP access. The Grand Tasting is scheduled for Surf Sports Park (14989 Via de la Valle), and the event page notes that attendees must be 21 or older and that only service animals are allowed. Full pricing details and terms are posted on the event page, according to Del Mar Wine & Food Festival.
Partners and community
Festival organizers are folding in a range of activations this year, including a Big Queer Food Fest pop-up and a Novo Dia-led wellness zone. The event also continues its partnership with Feeding San Diego to support local hunger-relief work. Since its launch, the festival has raised more than $100,000 for Feeding San Diego, according to SanDiegoVille.
Between chef dinners, athlete-fronted events, wellness programming and VIP add-ons, Del Mar’s season-closing food week is shaping up as a marquee moment for North County hospitality. Organizers remind guests to check event schedules and ticket availability directly with the festival, since dates, venues and lineups are subject to change.
