Culture Calendar
Comic conventions, Japanese American festivals, and Asian culture events across San Diego County.
Use the city guide for Convoy and meal starts, then this calendar for Balboa Park, Liberty Station, Oceanside, National City, and countywide festivals.
San Diego, California
TILTshift Dance closes AADF2026 Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the Saville Theatre with four invited AAPI choreographers and sliding-scale tickets from $20.
Image: TILTshift Dance / Asian American Dance Festival
San Diego, California
Buddhist Temple of San Diego marks its 100th anniversary September 18–21, 2026 with reunion programming, a banquet, O-Chigo parade, and anniversary service.
San Diego, California
Gujarati Association of San Diego opens its three-night 2026 Navratri season Saturday, September 26 at the Convention Center with live garba and raas headliner Priyanka Kher.
Image: Gujarati Association of San Diego
San Diego, California
House of Korea hosts its 2026 Balboa Park lawn program Saturday, September 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the International Cottages outdoor stage, with stage time typically around 2 p.m.
Image: BrokenSphere (CC BY-SA 3.0)
San Diego, California
PNASD hosts free Halika Fest Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 1 to 4 p.m. on the International Cottages lawn in Balboa Park, a mental health and wellness resource fair co-hosted with House of the Philippines.
Image: BrokenSphere (CC BY-SA 3.0)
San Diego, California
Mira Mesa Town Council hosts its 26th annual Street Fair Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Camino Ruiz with a Hawaiian theme, two stages, a kids zone, and an international food court.
Image: Mira Mesa Town Council
San Diego, California
GASD returns downtown Saturday, October 10, 2026 for Night 2 of Navratri at the Convention Center, a community garba and raas floor between the Priyanka Kher opener and the Alliant finale.
Image: Gujarati Association of San Diego
San Diego, California
Kiku hosts Kiku Matsuri Sunday, October 25, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hangar 858 in Kearny Mesa with Bon Odori, two stages, taiko, food vendors, and tickets from $10 general admission.
Image: Kiku
Past San Diego listings stay live for recaps and next-year bookmarks.
San Diego, California
House of Pakistan hosts its 2026 lawn program Sunday, August 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Balboa Park’s International Cottages outdoor stage, with typical HPR stage time around 2 p.m. Free admission.
San Diego, California
SAMAFEST, the 39th Philippine Cultural Arts Festival, is free August 22–23, 2026, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the Presidents Way lawn in Balboa Park.
Image: SAMAHAN Arts
San Diego, California
House of Chamorros stages the 2026 Håfa Adai Festival Saturday, August 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at Balboa Park's International Lawn Stage with free CHamoru cultural programming, island food, and crafts.
Image: House of Chamorros
San Diego, California
Japanese Friendship Garden lists Natsu Nights: Enchanted Curio Market for Saturday, August 22, 2026 with $5 evening upper-garden hours and themed night market vendors in Balboa Park.
Image: Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego
San Diego, California
TAP-SD's third annual Taiwan Festival returns August 22, 2026 from 1 to 5 p.m. at NTC Park in Liberty Station with Taiwanese food, games, and cultural programming.
Image: TAP-SD
Oceanside, California
Oceanside's Multicultural Autumn Moon Festival is Sunday, August 16, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Frontwave Arena's plaza, before a Bombers game.
La Jolla, California
FIA San Diego marks India's 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the Jewish Community Center Auditorium in La Jolla with flag hoisting and cultural performances. Ticketed, not a street parade.
National City, California
Thaiyo and Villa Manila’s National City Night Market ran Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Old Schoolhouse Square with Filipino and pan-Asian food, mahjong, live DJs, and free admission.
Film, TV, music, and culture coverage from Goldscene. Not just what's on the calendar.
Lists
Five anime that make this week’s San Diego panels land: a modern Gundam on-ramp, My Hero Academia after its true finale, Castle in the Sky for Ghibli’s 40th, Sailor Moon for the Sunday room, and one comfort rewatch for Otakon recovery.
Today's Radar
Lisa's Viva La Lisa run at Caesars Colosseum priced like legacy pop residencies with presales in April 2026 and resale listings starting around $200. Goldscene maps what that sticker shock signals for K-pop fans planning November trips.
Brand Watch
At BTS's sold-out Arirang nights at Stade de France, Jimin wore custom Dior stage looks tied to Jonathan Anderson's menswear, with house PR in the building and President Macron posting the red hoodie Dynamite clip. The ambassador job moved from front row to 92,000-person livestream.
Get Friday's concise edit of Asian entertainment, a finished watch queue, and culture dates worth saving.
