Hotel del Coronado has announced its 2026 holiday season, and this year's theme, A Holiday Through Time, is built around the Victorian beachfront resort's full 138-year history rather than a single character or era. The festivities run from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, and include the return of the resort's beloved oceanfront ice rink, a new lounge inside a freshly restored 1919 building, and a lineup of holiday dining events in the hotel's historic Crown Room.
The theme was announced by FOX 5 San Diego, which reports that A Holiday Through Time is meant to take visitors through Hotel del Coronado's history dating back to 1888, spotlighting a property that has served as a witness to and backdrop for defining moments in American culture since it welcomed its first guests, including visitors during Hollywood's Golden Age. That framing marks a shift from last year's approach — in 2025, the resort themed its season A Holiday in Oz, honoring author L. Frank Baum's stays at the property between 1904 and 1917, as reported by Arizona Foothills Magazine. This year's theme instead spans the property's entire history rather than a single literary chapter.
Skating By The Sea Returns for a 22nd Season
The resort's signature Skating by the Sea oceanfront ice rink returns to the Windsor Lawn for the same November 20 through January 3 window, according to FOX 5 San Diego. The attraction first debuted in 2004 as San Diego's first oceanfront ice skating venue, per historical background from the Coronado Times, meaning the 2026 season marks its 22nd year on the sand. General admission tickets for the 90-minute skating sessions run between $35 and $45, per a GlobeNewswire release from the hotel, and a portion of the rink's proceeds will again benefit Make-A-Wish San Diego as the resort continues its partnership with the nonprofit.
Alongside the rink, the resort's nightly Lightshow Spectacular will run free every 30 minutes from 5 to 9 p.m. among the Norfolk Island Pines on the Founders Lawn, according to the same GlobeNewswire release. FOX 5 San Diego notes that beachside igloos will also return for the season, giving guests a heated, private space near the shoreline throughout the run of the festivities.
A New Holiday Lounge Inside a Restored 1919 Building
New this year is a Holiday Lounge debuting inside the hotel's historic 1919 Laundry Building, which FOX 5 San Diego reports will run on select dates from November 25 through January 3. The lounge will include lights, holiday shopping, cookie and stocking decorating, and a pub-style holiday menu. The Laundry Building itself was among the historic structures rejuvenated during the resort's recently completed $550 million Master Plan restoration, according to Hotel del Coronado.
That six-year restoration, funded by owner Blackstone, wrapped up in June 2025 and also restored the hotel's 1888 Victorian Lobby and reinstated its historic front porch, as detailed by the Coronado Times. The 1919 building will also host the Frostbite Lounge, another returning attraction running the full holiday window, and will close out the season with the Rockin' New Year's Eve Party at the Laundry on December 31.
Free Community Festival Set for December 2
The resort's free Holiday Festival is scheduled for December 2, 2026, and features Coronado school choir performances in the Founders Ballroom. The event, detailed in the hotel's own August release, will also include a skydiving Santa landing on Del Beach at 4:30 p.m. and a fireworks display over the beach at 6:45 p.m., serving as one of the season's primary community gathering nights.
Other returning traditions include Holiday Movies at the Beach on Friday and Saturday nights from November 20 through December 31, gingerbread house decorating on select dates from December 5 through December 27, Photos with Santa from December 4 through December 24, and Elf Deliveries on select dates from December 12 through December 24. FOX 5 San Diego also notes a Jingle Roast running December 1 through December 27.
Holiday Dining in the Crown Room
The resort's historic Crown Room, known for its 33-foot ceiling panelled in Oregon sugar pine and crown-shaped chandeliers designed by L. Frank Baum, will host the season's holiday dining events. Per FOX 5 San Diego's reporting, the Crown Room lineup includes Thanksgiving Dinner on November 26, a Victorian Tea from December 18 through December 22, Christmas Eve Dinner on December 24, and Christmas Day Brunch on December 25.
The 2026 holiday season arrives as Hotel del Coronado continues expanding its dining footprint following the completion of its historic preservation work. Japanese culinary brand Nobu opened at the resort in 2025, replacing the former Sheerwater restaurant with a 3,700-square-foot oceanfront dining space and sushi bar, according to prior Hoodline reporting. Nearby, hospitality group Social Syndicate has broken ground on Maiden Coronado, a $10 million waterfront dining destination at Coronado Ferry Landing slated to open in early 2027, according to Hoodline's coverage of the project, underscoring the broader wave of hospitality investment reshaping the island alongside the resort's holiday offerings.
-4.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
