What's changing in San Diego in November and December 2026?

This is our running list of what changes in San Diego between now and New Year's, checked November 3, 2026. Every item is dated and sourced. Today is also election day; we only list things that were decided before today, and we don't report or predict results.

Parking, wages and fees

Balboa Park paid parking ends January 1, 2027. It started January 5, 2026, and the City Council agreed in a May 20, 2026 settlement to roll it back for everyone, nonresidents included. Until then it's still enforced: meters are $2.50 an hour (up to $10 a day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Level 1 lots such as Organ Pavilion and Alcazar cost nonresidents $10 for four hours. Monthly passes stop selling November 30, and all 2026 passes expire December 31. The same deal cuts the single-family trash fee to $38.75 a month, but not until July 1, 2027. Also on January 1, the City of San Diego minimum wage goes from $17.75 to $18.35; see what changes January 1. For museum tickets, see Balboa Park admission.

Airport, roads and transit

At San Diego International, the new Terminal 1's first 19 gates are open, and Phase 1B (11 more gates) is due in 2028. Until then, the road and sidewalk between Terminals 1 and 2 are closed. Use the Inter-Terminal Shuttle, which runs 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. If you're driving between terminals, exit at Harbor Island Drive and re-enter at Spanish Landing. Outside the airport, a project that runs through fall 2027 started August 17, 2026. It means overnight lane closures on Grape Street (Sunday to Thursday, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.) and daytime work on Pacific Highway (weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Palm Street work starts in January 2027. Allow extra time for Thanksgiving and holiday flights, and see airport to downtown.

Transit: Fares went up in October; see the fare increase. In September, MTS proposed cutting about one-third of bus routes (including service to SeaWorld, Cabrillo National Monument, Mission Hills and Tierra Santa) and reducing service on all four Trolley lines, citing yearly deficits of up to $150 million by fiscal 2030. Nothing has been approved yet. MTS said it would bring back detailed plans in November or December 2026. MTS hasn't posted its 2026 holiday schedules yet. Its holiday page says Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day run on a Saturday or Sunday schedule, with details posted closer to each date.

Events, openings and closures

• —TwitchCon, Nov 13-15: San Diego Convention Center, plus a party at Gallagher Square at Petco Park on Nov 14. Expect busy downtown hotels and trolleys.
• —Rady Children's Invitational, Nov 26: a two-day college basketball tournament that starts Thanksgiving Day at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion. For the rest of the holiday, see Thanksgiving in San Diego.
• —Poinsettia Bowl, Dec 23, 4:30 p.m. PT and Holiday Bowl, Dec 28, 2 p.m. PT: both at Snapdragon Stadium and both on The CW. The Holiday Bowl matches an ACC team against a former Pac-12 school.
• —Closed: SRO Lounge, the Bankers Hill LGBTQ bar, closed abruptly after 44 years. The closure was announced November 1 (SanDiegoVille).
• —Not yet: The Admiral, the dining and events project in Liberty Station's WWII-era buildings, won't finish its first phase until late summer or early fall 2027 (Times of San Diego).
• —For December lights, shows and skating, see holiday events and New Year's Eve.

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Leaflet | © OpenStreetMap contributors

Parking

1. 1Balboa Park (House of Hospitality) — Paid parking ends Jan 1, 2027

Construction

1. 2San Diego International Airport — T1 Phase 1B through 2028; T1-T2 road closed

Events

1. 3San Diego Convention Center — TwitchCon Nov 13-15
2. 4Snapdragon Stadium — Poinsettia Bowl Dec 23, Holiday Bowl Dec 28

Addresses from the Port of San Diego, San Diego Tourism Authority and event pages; checked Nov 3, 2026.

See these on the full San Diego map