Events & Music in San Diego this September

Phantom of the Opera, San Diego Civic Theatre - Friday, September 11th - Sunday, September 13th.

Movies on the beach, Hotel Del Coronado - September 11th & 12th

Arlo Parks Desire tour, ​The Observatory North Park - September 14th, 7pm

Masego, SOMA San Diego - September 14th, 7pm

Line Dancing, Full Circle Saloon - September 14th, 6.30pm

Weird Al Yankovic: Bigger & weirder 2026 tour - ​The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, September 16th, 7pm

Soccer Baja Cup: San Diego FC vs Club Tijuana - ​Snapdragon Stadium, September 16th, 7pm

Live Band Karaoke - Hardrock Hotel: September 18th, 8:00pm-10:00pm

Places to eat and drink

Seaport Village - just steps from the convention centre, this vibrant waterfront destination for is great for dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Portside Pier - Overlooking the water on Harbor Drive, there are four great restaurants for you to choose from: Miguels, The Brigantine, Ketch, and Dockside.

For pre-dinner drinks (or post) there's a super bar on the rooftop called Topsail, and a coffee/gelato bar downstairs.

Costerra - Costerra is an upscale Mexican restaurant along Harbor Drive with stunning views of the skyline and the water. Next door to it is Island Prime, which has a delightful outdoor area along the water.

Babusa - This modern Sicilian restaurant in Little Italy is the place to go for celeb spotting - as well as excellent Italian cuisine. Other fun restaurants in the area include Herb and Wood and Nolita Hall. 

If you're after casual spots with affordable menus, try Mike Hess Brewing in Seaport Village and The Crack Shack in Little Italy.

Get outside in the city

Balboa Park is San Diego’s "ever-changing, always amazing, 1,200-acre backyard." Home to cool architecture, trails and gorgeous gardens it's a must-visit attraction - especially for those who like a wander.

Local speaker Jack Sherrett's top recommendation:

"Sunset Cliffs. As the name suggests, it's the spot to catch a breathtaking sunset. Cabrillo National Monument located at the tip of Point Loma has breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, downtown San Diego against the backdrop of rolling hills behind it, Coronado & the silver strand, and all the way down to Mexico."

San Diego Zoo, one of the best zoos in the world, just got even better with the recent arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao - a pair of giant pandas from China.

Take me to my beach

It wouldn't be brightonSEO without a beach, and San Diego is home to some of the most stunning stretches of shoreline in North America.

If it's serious surfing you're after, you'd better head to Blacks (note it's not a family oriented beach, if you catch our drift); for more laidback waves and family fun, Cardiff by the Sea is where you want to be; Carlsbad is great for camping, while Coronado will deliver the quintessential San Diego postcard experience. La Jolla, with captivating coves and glorious reefs is known as "the jewel" for good reason.

If you want a personal recommendation, Hero Conf speaker Dustin Baly says "the best beach view is at the Torrey Pines Glider Port overlooking the sea covered Scripps Canyon. This dramatic seaside cliff landscape still takes my breadth away every time, and I surf here often. Afterwards, consider a visit to nearby Mustangs & Burros at Estancia for old world California flavor eats & drinks near the UCSD campus."

Find more via San Diego tourism.

Beyond the city

Rent bikes and ride along the beach from Hotel Del in Coronado. There are many shops, restaurants, live music, and things to do.

See the baby sea lions and walk the beach trails at La Jolla Shores Cove. Stop for a picnic in the park, check out the lovely little shops, or have a bite at one of its many restaurants. The outdoorsy type? You can even take a kayak tour through the caves!

San Diego's rich culture

San Diego is known for its vibrant arts scene, rich cultural heritage and creative neighbourhoods. If you're looking to explore beyond the conference, the one-day Old Town Trolley Tour is an easy way to discover many of the city's best-known attractions.

If you're around for the weekend, don't miss the Gaslamp Artisan Market, held every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Browse handcrafted goods, meet local makers and pick up a unique souvenir while exploring the historic Gaslamp Quarter. If you're more of a thrill seeker check out the Belmont Park & Mission Beach Boardwalk and ride the roller coaster.

Galleries and museums include Balboa Park’s Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Timken Museum of Art.

As you'd expect from a city of this sort, you can find all manner of live music every day of the week. The Casbah in Midtown is a great spot to catch up-and-coming acts, while The Shout House, House of Blues and Humphreys Concerts all have similarly impressive calendar of shows and are near the venue.

Museums and Galleries

From art and science to history and contemporary culture, San Diego is home to all manner of museums and galleries to stimulate the synapses.

If that's the sort of thing you're after, you'll be heading to Balboa Park, which boasts 18 museums, which explains why it's known as "the Smithsonian of the West."

If you're coming to brightonSEO with kids you'll want to take them to The Fleet Science Centre, where its 100 interactive exhibits bring science to life.

The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a cultural arts center dedicated to creating, promoting, preserving and raising awareness of Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino art and culture.

The Museum of Photographic Arts is exactly what you think it is, likewise the Institute of Contemportary Art San Diego.

The bossman Kelvin Newman is keen for us to give a mention to the Comic Con museum, which features exhibits devoted to everything from superheroes to sci-fi franchises.

For more see San Diego.org