San Diego Yacht Rock Festival 2026, United States

• September 19, 2026
  Event date:
• September 19, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

The San Diego Yacht Rock Festival returns on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for its third edition at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station. The six-hour event runs from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM and combines live yacht rock performances with cocktails, wine, food and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. The festival focuses on the polished soft-rock sound associated with the late 1970s and early 1980s, making it a destination for fans of classic yacht rock and nostalgic live music.

The 2026 program features Yachty By Nature, Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels and Böaterhead, with a special guest appearance by David Pack, formerly of Ambrosia. Pack brings an original connection to the classic yacht-rock era, having served as Ambrosia’s original lead singer and songwriter.

The festival experience extends beyond the music with an expanded food and beverage program. The 2026 edition introduces a Food & Wine Pavilion, alongside general-admission bars, VIP bar service, wine, bubbly, cocktails and craft beer. Guests are also encouraged to embrace the event’s nautical theme through yacht-inspired, resort-style or retro clothing.

Festival dates

The San Diego Yacht Rock Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

• Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
• Festival hours: 4:00 PM–10:00 PM
• Duration: Approximately 6 hours
• Age requirement: 21+
• Location: Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station, San Diego, California

The event is designed as an evening festival, with the main performances, food, drinks and entertainment taking place between the afternoon opening and the 10:00 PM closing time.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

The festival takes place at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station, a large outdoor event space within Liberty Station in San Diego. The festival address is 2751 Dewey Road, San Diego, CA 92106.

Ingram Plaza provides an open-air setting that fits the relaxed coastal character of the festival. Liberty Station itself contains restaurants, shops, public spaces and other attractions, giving visitors plenty of options before or after the event.

The 2026 festival is centered around one main concert stage rather than multiple simultaneously operating stages. This makes the event easier to follow for guests who want to experience the complete lineup without choosing between different performances.

Full lineup

The announced 2026 lineup includes:

• David Pack, formerly of Ambrosia
• Yachty By Nature
• Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels
• Böaterhead

David Pack is a particularly notable addition because of his direct connection to the original yacht-rock era. As Ambrosia’s original lead singer and songwriter, he is associated with songs such as “Biggest Part of Me” and “How Much I Feel.”

Yachty By Nature is a Southern California band specializing in live performances of yacht rock from the 1970s and 1980s. Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels and Böaterhead add further yacht-rock performances to the 2026 program.

Headliners

David Pack is the most prominent special guest announced for the 2026 festival. His history with Ambrosia gives the event an opportunity to feature an artist directly connected with the classic music era celebrated by the festival.

Yachty By Nature is another major attraction on the bill. The Southern California group has developed a reputation for performing yacht-rock favorites in a full live-band setting.

Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels and Böaterhead complete the announced performance lineup, giving attendees several different interpretations of the yacht-rock sound throughout the evening.

Stage-by-stage schedule

The 2026 festival is organized around a single primary concert stage rather than several separately programmed stages.

The announced performance program includes:

• Main Stage: Yachty By Nature
• Main Stage: Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels
• Main Stage: Böaterhead
• Main Stage: Special guest David Pack

The complete official running order has not been published in the sources currently available. The performance sequence and individual transitions should therefore be confirmed through the festival’s official channels closer to September.

Set times

The published festival hours are 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. A complete official set-time schedule for every performer has not yet been released.

Yachty By Nature has been listed with a 7:00 PM performance time by an event listing, but guests should wait for the festival’s final schedule before treating individual set times as definitive.

Visitors should plan to arrive early enough to enter the venue, find their preferred viewing position and explore the food and beverage areas before the main performances begin.

Ticket types

The 2026 San Diego Yacht Rock Festival is a paid, 21+ event. Current published listings show admission ranging from $88.99 to $169.

The main admission options include:

• General Admission
• VIP Admission

General Admission provides standard access to the festival and its entertainment areas. VIP is designed for guests looking for a more premium experience, including enhanced access to selected festival amenities.

The 2025 edition previously listed General Admission at $60 and VIP Admission at $139, providing useful previous-edition pricing where current ticket tiers may change as inventory progresses.

Ticket release phases

The 2026 festival has promoted Priority Access before broader public ticket availability. Priority Access members are given an opportunity to purchase or access tickets before the general public.

The release structure can be summarized as:

• Priority Access
• General public ticket release
• Later ticket inventory, subject to availability

Ticket inventory can change as the event approaches, and individual ticket levels may sell out. Guests should check the official festival ticketing page for the current availability and applicable admission category.

VIP/Village options

The festival does not operate a traditional camping or accommodation village. Its premium experience is instead centered around VIP admission within the festival grounds.

The 2026 edition promotes expanded VIP bar service as part of its upgraded food and beverage experience. VIP is therefore particularly suitable for visitors who want premium beverage facilities and a more elevated festival atmosphere.

The exact benefits attached to VIP admission can change between ticket releases, so guests should confirm the inclusions shown at the time of purchase.

Festival rules

The San Diego Yacht Rock Festival is strictly a 21+ event. Guests should bring valid government-issued identification for age verification.

Important festival rules include:

• No re-entry after leaving the festival.
• Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
• Small bags are permitted within the stated size limits.
• Clutches should be no larger than approximately 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
• Backpacks are limited to approximately 12 x 6 x 12 inches.
• Low-profile beach chairs are permitted within the specified height restrictions.
• Beach-towel-sized blankets are permitted.
• Pets are not permitted except service animals.
• Tickets are non-refundable.
• The event is scheduled to take place rain or shine.

Guests should follow all venue, security and alcohol-service requirements during the event.

How to get there

Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station is located at 2751 Dewey Road in San Diego’s Point Loma area. The venue is relatively close to downtown San Diego and San Diego International Airport.

Visitors driving to the festival can approach Liberty Station through the Point Loma and Rosecrans Street area. Parking is available around Liberty Station, although spaces can become busy during major events.

Rideshare services are another practical option, particularly because the festival is a 21+ event with alcohol service. Guests using rideshare should follow any designated festival pickup and drop-off instructions provided by the organizers.

Public transport after the festival

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System provides public transportation serving Liberty Station, including Route 28. The route connects the area with the Old Town Transit Center and other parts of San Diego.

For Ingram Plaza, MTS event guidance directs passengers toward the Rosecrans Street and Roosevelt Road area, followed by a short walk toward Dewey Road and the festival site.

Because the festival ends at approximately 10:00 PM, visitors relying on public transportation should check the latest Saturday-night schedules before leaving the venue. Rideshare or taxi services can provide an alternative if a convenient late-evening connection is unavailable.

Accommodation areas

Liberty Station is one of the most convenient areas for visitors attending the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival because it places them close to Ingram Plaza.

Recommended areas include:

• Liberty Station: Convenient for reaching the festival site.
• Point Loma: Close to the venue and coastal attractions.
• Downtown San Diego: Useful for combining the festival with sightseeing and nightlife.
• Little Italy: Offers numerous restaurants, hotels and downtown attractions.
• Harbor Island: Convenient for visitors seeking waterfront accommodation.
• Old Town: Useful for public transportation connections.

Liberty Station and Point Loma are particularly practical for visitors who want to reduce transportation time after the festival. Downtown and Little Italy provide more extensive hotel and dining choices.

Food & drink at the festival

Food and beverages form an important part of the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival experience. The 2026 edition introduces a new Food & Wine Pavilion alongside expanded bar service.

The Food & Wine Pavilion is expected to feature a Wine & Bubbly Bar, while the wider festival offers craft beer, cocktails and other drinks.

Food vendors for the September 2026 edition are still being finalized. Previous editions have featured a variety of food vendors, but previous vendors should not automatically be considered confirmed for the 2026 event.

Outside food and beverages are not permitted, so guests should plan to purchase their meals and drinks inside the festival grounds.

Accessibility

The festival provides an ADA viewing area for guests who require accessible viewing. Guests using this area should follow the festival’s accessibility instructions and bring any personal seating equipment they require where permitted.

Ingram Plaza is an outdoor event space, so visitors with mobility requirements should consider the distance between entrances, viewing areas, restrooms and food and beverage facilities.

Guests requiring specific accommodations should contact the festival organizers before attending. Advance communication allows the event team to explain the current accessibility arrangements and available assistance.

Best days to attend

The San Diego Yacht Rock Festival is a single-day event, so there are no multiple festival days to choose between.

The only scheduled date is Saturday, September 19, 2026, with the event running from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Guests wanting the complete experience should plan to arrive before the main performances begin. Arriving early also provides time to enter the venue, explore the Food & Wine Pavilion and bars and find a comfortable viewing location.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 San Diego Yacht Rock Festival took place on October 11 at Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station and featured Monsters of Yacht, Harbor Party and Yachty By Nature.

The 2025 edition also featured Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass as a special guest. Lurie was a notable addition because he was the original voice behind “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” giving the festival another direct connection to the classic soft-rock era.

The previous edition offered General Admission at $60 and VIP Admission at $139. The 2026 event introduces a new Food & Wine Pavilion, expanded bar options and David Pack as its special guest, providing several changes from the previous year’s program.

Official tickets

Tickets for the San Diego Yacht Rock Festival 2026 are available through the festival’s official ticketing process.

https://sandiegoyachtrockfestival.com/

Current published 2026 admission information ranges from $88.99 to $169. Ticket availability and individual admission levels can change as the event approaches, so visitors should use the official festival website for the latest ticket inventory and purchasing information.

Location

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