California is set to introduce a range of new attractions, events, and venues in 2026. The state will see several theme park additions, including Universal Studios Hollywood’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, and LEGOLAND California’s Galacticoaster, its first new roller coaster in over twenty years. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim will debut a Bluey stage show and integrate the Mandalorian and Grogu into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park will open Danny Sanford Elephant Valley, offering close-up views of elephants and savanna plants. SeaWorld San Diego is revamping its Shark Encounter exhibit with a 360-degree underwater tunnel.
Entertainment districts are also expanding. West Harbor at the Port of Los Angeles will add an amusement park and amphitheater by summer 2026. OCVIBE in Anaheim plans to open market halls, bars, a concert hall, and an urban park later in the year. Palm Springs’ historic Plaza Theatre reopened in December 2025 after restoration.
Major sporting events scheduled for California include Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, with related concerts featuring Sting and The Killers. The NBA All-Star Weekend comes to Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome on February 15 with a new U.S. vs. World tournament format and other fan experiences. Fourteen matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area from June 11 to July 29.
Other sports developments include ONT Field opening as home to the Ontario Tower Buzzers baseball team; NASCAR hosting its first event on an active military base in Coronado; and various local activations surrounding these events.
New hotels slated for opening range from Napa Valley’s The Elene to Rosewood San Francisco in the Transbay District. Outbound Yosemite near Yosemite National Park offers cabins and modern rooms beginning June 2026. The Oasis at Death Valley is adding luxury RV sites, while Santa Barbara’s Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore reopens after renovations.
In dining, Ilora opens in Calistoga with Californian fare led by a French Laundry alum; Rotation by Feast It Forward introduces monthly chef residencies at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market; Matt Horn brings his Michelin-recognized barbecue to Fresno; Little Mountain opens in Montecito; Nancy Silverton launches Spacca Tutto in Pacific Palisades; Wilde’s offers British pub cuisine in Los Feliz; Sant Ambroeus debuts its Beverly Hills flagship; Tony Hawk collaborates on Chick & Hawk fried chicken restaurant in Encinitas.
Retail expansion continues as Union Square welcomes major flagships like Bang & Olufsen—its largest worldwide—alongside Zara and Uniqlo openings through 2026. Rodeo Drive has added House of Dior’s four-story boutique with its first U.S. restaurant led by Dominique Crenn, plus Bulgari’s relocated store featuring a rooftop terrace. South Coast Plaza introduced Manolo Blahnik’s first West Coast store and expects London jeweler Jessica McCormack next summer.
Westfield UTC begins phased expansion spring 2026 with brands such as Chanel, Tom Ford, Saint Laurent, Zegna, and Carolina Herrera joining its luxury wing.
Cultural institutions are also seeing growth: Palo Alto Museum opens February 2026 highlighting local history via interactive exhibits including AI-powered displays; Dataland becomes the world’s first museum dedicated to ethically-generated AI arts inside Frank Gehry’s Grand LA complex; LACMA unveils David Geffen Galleries spanning more than five years of development this April; Lucas Museum of Narrative Art launches September 2026 focusing exclusively on storytelling through images.
California will mark notable anniversaries including Route 66 Centennial on November 11 with celebrations statewide from San Bernardino to Santa Monica featuring car shows and parades throughout the year. The San Diego Museum of Art celebrates its centennial on February 28 with exhibitions such as “SDMA 100 Years” running all year.
