San Diego Food + Wine Festival 2026: when is the Grand Tasting, and what do tickets cost?

3 min read Checked November 2, 2026 Report a correction

Saturday, Nov. 7 (Grand Tasting) and Sunday, Nov. 8 (Grand Fiesta), noon–3 p.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park North. General admission is $210 Saturday and $155 Sunday. 21+ only, rain or shine, no refunds.

Grand Tasting: Sat, Nov 7
Grand Fiesta: Sun, Nov 8
Cheapest GA: $155
Age: 21+

The short version

The Grand Tasting is Saturday, Nov. 7, and the Grand Fiesta Sunday, Nov. 8, both noon–3 p.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Saturday general admission is $210 and VIP $360; Sunday general admission is $155 and VIP $255, fees included.
Designated-driver tickets cost $185 Saturday and $130 Sunday; every festival event is 21 and older.
The festival recommends rideshare; a lot at 501 Broadway charges $11 for the day, and meters nearby run $2.50 an hour.
Tickets are non-refundable but transferable, and events go ahead rain or shine.

The San Diego Food + Wine Festival runs Nov. 1–8, 2026, with dinners and parties around the county all week. The two big walk-around tastings are on the bay at Embarcadero Marina Park North (400 Kettner Blvd., by Seaport Village): the Grand Tasting on Saturday, Nov. 7, and the Grand Fiesta on Sunday, Nov. 8. Both run noon to 3 p.m., with VIP and early entry from 11 a.m.

Ticket	Grand Tasting (Sat, Nov 7)	Grand Fiesta (Sun, Nov 8)
General admission	$210	$155
Designated driver	$185	$130
Early entry (11 a.m.)	$260	$205
VIP	$360	$255

General admission
Grand Tasting (Sat, Nov 7)
$210
Grand Fiesta (Sun, Nov 8)
$155
Designated driver
Grand Tasting (Sat, Nov 7)
$185
Grand Fiesta (Sun, Nov 8)
$130
Early entry (11 a.m.)
Grand Tasting (Sat, Nov 7)
$260
Grand Fiesta (Sun, Nov 8)
$205
VIP
Grand Tasting (Sat, Nov 7)
$360
Grand Fiesta (Sun, Nov 8)
$255

Prices include a $10 fee, as listed on KPBS's event pages for each day. Checked Nov. 2, 2026.

Saturday or Sunday?

Same park, different weekend days

	Grand Tasting	Grand Fiesta
Date	Saturday, Nov. 7	Sunday, Nov. 8
GA price	$210	$155
What's pouring	More than 200 wineries, breweries and spirits producers	Wine, craft beer and Mexican spirits
Food	More than 80 West Coast and Baja chefs and restaurants	Chefs from San Diego, Southern California and Baja
Extras	Chef of the Fest: attendees vote for the People's Choice	Demonstrations on Mexican spirits and traditional dishes

Grand Tasting
Date
Saturday, Nov. 7
GA price
$210
What's pouring
More than 200 wineries, breweries and spirits producers
Food
More than 80 West Coast and Baja chefs and restaurants
Extras
Chef of the Fest: attendees vote for the People's Choice
Grand Fiesta
Date
Sunday, Nov. 8
GA price
$155
What's pouring
Wine, craft beer and Mexican spirits
Food
Chefs from San Diego, Southern California and Baja
Extras
Demonstrations on Mexican spirits and traditional dishes

Want both days? The festival's 2-Day Grand Weekend Package starts at $381, and a four-pack of general admission tickets for either day starts at $682. The Nov. 6–8 full-weekend package is sold out.

Getting there

The festival recommends rideshare, especially if you plan to taste. If you drive, Ace Parking at 501 Broadway, about five blocks away, has an $11 all-day rate you can book ahead through the festival's travel page. Metered street parking nearby is limited and costs $2.50 an hour. Parking isn't included with any ticket.

More this month: things to do in San Diego in November 2026 and the best new restaurants worth booking.

Is this still right?

We last checked this tip against its sources on November 2, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.

Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.

This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.

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SOURCES

Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.

PrimaryEvents
San Diego Food + Wine Festival · checked 2026-11-02
Festival week schedule; Grand Tasting/Grand Fiesta at Embarcadero Marina Park North, noon–3 p.m.; package prices ($381 2-day, $682 4-pack); full weekend sold out.
PrimaryFAQ
San Diego Food + Wine Festival · checked 2026-11-02
21+; no refunds; transferable; rain or shine; $11 lot at 501 Broadway; $2.50/hr meters.
PrimaryPlan your trip
San Diego Food + Wine Festival · checked 2026-11-02
400 Kettner Blvd. address; rideshare recommended; Blacklane code through Nov. 10.
BackgroundGrand Tasting (event listing)
KPBS · checked 2026-11-02
Saturday prices: GA $210, DD $185, early entry $260, VIP $360; 200+ beverage producers, 80+ chefs; Chef of the Fest.
BackgroundGrand Fiesta (event listing)
KPBS · checked 2026-11-02
Sunday prices: GA $155, DD $130, early entry $205, VIP $255.

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