California Concerts in October 2026: Major Artists, Venues and Dates

September in California usually means one thing: summer is technically over, but nobody has told the weather, the beaches or the concert calendar. And late September 2026 is particularly ridiculous in the best possible way. Pearl Jam is closing out a beach festival in Dana Point. Bruno Mars is beginning a five-show run at SoFi Stadium. Usher and Chris Brown are taking over the same stadium days earlier. San Francisco gets Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire.

And if you are willing to cross the state line, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age are waiting in Las Vegas. So, yes, concerts in California September 2026 are stacked.

But buying a ticket is only half the battle. The other half is figuring out where to park without donating half your paycheck to a garage, when to arrive, what transportation actually works and whether that "quick walk from the hotel" is really quick. Here are five of the biggest late-September shows to have on your radar and the practical details worth knowing before you go.

Pearl Jam at Ohana Festival 2026, Dana Point - September 27

Pearl Jam. The Pacific Ocean. Late September in Dana Point. Some concert combinations simply make sense. Ohana Festival returns to Doheny State Beach from September 25–27, with Pearl Jam closing the festival on Sunday. Across the weekend, the lineup spreads dozens of performances across multiple stages, turning a beachfront state park into one of Southern California's biggest music destinations. The catch? A beach is a wonderful place for a concert and a considerably less wonderful place for thousands of cars.

Ohana Festival Parking, Shuttles and Doheny State Beach Parking

If you are still thinking, "We'll just drive down and find something," this is your friendly intervention. Festival parking is limited, and the parking options listed through Ohana have been in heavy demand. That makes transportation something to plan before festival morning, not while sitting in traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. Depending on current festival arrangements, alternatives may include the Ohana Festival shuttle, rideshare and parking farther from Doheny State Beach followed by a walk.

Arriving early also gives you much more room to recover if your first parking plan fails. If you're searching for Doheny State Beach parking specifically, remember that you're competing not only with concertgoers but with normal weekend beach traffic. Festival transportation arrangements can change, so check the official Ohana information shortly before leaving for Dana Point.

Ohana Festival 2026 Tickets, Ticket Prices and Set Times

Ohana isn't exactly a "$30 ticket and see what happens" weekend. Published ticket tiers started at approximately $199 for one-day GA and $639 for one-day VIP, while three-day options started around $535 for GA and $1,620 for VIP. At the very top end, the Ultimate VIP package for two was listed from $10,299. Yes, you read that last number correctly. For $10,299, you are officially allowed to tell everyone you are "going to Ohana" in a much fancier tone of voice. Buy-now-pay-later options have also been offered at checkout, along with group-ticket options for parties of 10 or more.

The bigger issue this close to the festival, however, may be availability rather than the original Ohana Festival ticket prices. And don't build your Sunday around an imaginary Pearl Jam start time. Ohana Festival set times were not confirmed in the material available when this guide was prepared. Check the official festival schedule before you travel.

Who Is Performing at Ohana Festival 2026 and What Could Pearl Jam Play?

This is not a weekend where you arrive five minutes before the headliner. Friday's major names include Eddie Vedder, Maná, Billy Idol, Bad Religion and Courtney Barnett. Saturday brings Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes, Jon Batiste, Men I Trust and The Front Bottoms. Sunday's lineup includes Pearl Jam, Fontaines D.C., Pixies, Rilo Kiley and Tom Odell. And yes, Eddie Vedder fans get an especially good weekend. As for the Pearl Jam setlist 2026 searches already happening online, don't mistake predictions for confirmation. Pearl Jam has an enormous catalog and can change things substantially from night to night.

Still, longtime concert statistics show Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Daughter and Given to Fly among the band's frequently performed songs. Think of those as songs worth brushing up on not a leaked Ohana setlist.

Bruno Mars at SoFi Stadium 2026 - September 30

Apparently one night at SoFi wasn't enough.

Or two.

Or three.

Bruno Mars begins a five-show SoFi Stadium run on Wednesday, September 30, as part of The Romantic Tour. The September 30 show begins at 7:00 p.m., with additional SoFi dates on October 2, 3, 6 and 7. Anderson .Paak is also billed as DJ Pee.Wee for the September 30 show. Five shows at one of America's largest stadiums is a fairly convincing way of saying Los Angeles wants Bruno Mars.

How to Get to SoFi Stadium: Parking, Metro and Rideshare

Here's the first rule of how to get to SoFi Stadium: don't wait until you're staring at the stadium from inside a traffic jam to make a plan. SoFi uses assigned parking zones, and your parking pass corresponds to a particular zone and entry route. The stadium specifically tells drivers to follow the directions for their assigned zone rather than simply heading toward whichever entrance appears first. Parking should be purchased online before arrival; SoFi says event-day prices increase on site.

That little detail can save a surprisingly large headache. A parking pass is not a magical "enter anywhere" card. Public transportation can also be useful. For NFL events, SoFi directs passengers to the Metro C or K Line and the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where game-day shuttle service connects to the stadium. Because transit arrangements can differ for concerts, confirm service for September 30 rather than assuming the football schedule applies. The same rule applies to rideshare: check SoFi's current event transportation instructions before leaving. In other words, your pre-concert checklist should be: phone, ticket, parking or transit plan, and someone in the group who actually remembers where the car is.

Bruno Mars SoFi Stadium Tickets, Dates and Show Length

The complete SoFi run is:

• September 30
• October 2
• October 3
• October 6
• October 7

The September 30 concert starts at 7:00 p.m. SoFi currently lists tickets as on sale, but the stadium event page does not provide one fixed ticket-price range.

That's important because searches for Bruno Mars SoFi Stadium tickets can produce wildly different numbers. Prices can change with seat location, demand, the particular night and how close you are to the show day. So compare what is actually available when you're ready to buy rather than treating an old "tickets from..." number as today's price. And don't schedule dinner for 9:15 because somebody online told you exactly how long the concert lasts. Tour pacing can change. Give the evening room to breathe. Nobody wants to leave during the song they spent three months hoping to hear because they made an aggressively optimistic restaurant reservation.

Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas - September 26

California has enough going on, but Las Vegas apparently refused to sit this weekend out. Foo Fighters bring the Take Cover Tour 2026 to Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, September 26, with Queens of the Stone Age joining them. Lots open at 3:00 p.m., doors open at 4:00 p.m., and the event starts at 5:30 p.m. That 5:30 start deserves attention. This is not one of those shows where everyone casually appears at 8:45 and assumes nothing important has happened.

Can You Walk to Allegiant Stadium From the Strip, or Should You Park?

Yes, you can walk to Allegiant Stadium from the Strip.

In fact, depending on where you're staying, it can be one of the easiest options. The Hacienda Bridge provides pedestrian access from Las Vegas Boulevard toward Allegiant Stadium. The stadium describes the route as less than one mile from Las Vegas Boulevard, with the bridge portion taking roughly 10–15 minutes to walk. It closes to vehicle traffic for pedestrian access on game days and select event days. If you're driving instead, buy parking in advance and pay attention to the lot on your pass.

Allegiant warns that its parking lots have no re-entry, and event parking can be purchased in advance through SpotHero. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is in Lot N on Dean Martin Drive, while general and taxi pickup/drop-off is near Diablo Drive and Procyon Street. Accessible drop-off is available in Lot B near Gate 2. The RTC Deuce also runs along Las Vegas Boulevard, with a stop near Mandalay Bay and the Hacienda Bridge.

So the real question isn't "Can I walk?" It's "Do I want to spend the end of a Foo Fighters concert looking for my parking lot or walking back toward a Las Vegas hotel?"

Take Cover Tour Tickets, Doors and Start Time

Saturday, September 26. Lots at 3:00. Doors at 4:00. Music starts at 5:30. Put those times in the group chat now. The official Allegiant Stadium event listing confirms the show is on sale but doesn't publish a simple fixed ticket-price range.

With Queens of the Stone Age appearing as direct support, arriving late would be a particularly expensive way to discover that "opening act" doesn't always mean "band I don't care about." If you're traveling from California for the weekend, sort out the hotel and your walk-or-park decision early. A room near the south end of the Strip can turn the Hacienda Bridge into part of the plan rather than another transportation problem.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at Chase Center - September 26

San Francisco gets a different kind of Saturday night. Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire play Chase Center on September 26 at 7:30 p.m., bringing two catalogs with enough recognizable songs to make "I only know a few of their hits" a dangerous claim. This is the kind of co-headline pairing where sitting down between songs may become more theoretical than practical. And because the show is at Chase Center in Mission Bay, your transportation strategy deserves almost as much thought as your seats.

Chase Center Parking Cost, Garages and Mission Bay Transit

If you're researching Chase Center parking cost, there is one detail you need to understand first: event parking and ordinary daytime parking are not the same thing. Chase Center currently says its garage at 99 Warriors Way charges $7 per hour, up to $35, during the public-parking period on an event day. But those vehicles must leave before the event begins. Event parking starts two hours before the event and currently carries an additional $75 entry rate on top of any public-parking fees already accrued. Event rates can vary, so check again for your specific concert.

Translation: this is not the night to drive into Mission Bay and improvise. The venue recommends reserving parking ahead because spaces are limited. It also warns that the Chase Center Garage closes at midnight and does not allow overnight parking. For many Bay Area concertgoers, public transportation deserves serious consideration instead. Chase Center is in one of those locations where avoiding the car can turn the post-concert experience from "Why haven't we moved?" into "That was surprisingly painless."

Tickets, Seating Tiers and Price Ranges

Unlike Bruno Mars' five-night SoFi run, Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire have one Chase Center date on this September calendar: Saturday, September 26. That means you don't have the luxury of deciding Tuesday looks cheaper or Thursday fits the schedule better. When comparing tickets, think beyond price alone. Floor seats put you closest to the stage and the energy, but they don't automatically provide the best sightline for every person. Lower-bowl seats can offer a great balance of proximity and elevation, while upper-bowl tickets can make sense for fans who mostly want to be in the building without turning concert night into a major financial event.

For a show built around decades of familiar songs, there isn't necessarily a bad philosophy here. Just don't wait until you've emotionally committed to a seat before checking what it actually costs.

Usher and Chris Brown at SoFi Stadium - September 25 and 26

Before Bruno Mars moves into SoFi for five shows, Usher and Chris Brown get the keys. The R&B Tour reaches SoFi Stadium on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, with both shows scheduled for 7:30 p.m. SoFi describes the tour as a co-headlining stadium run. Then, just four days after the first R&B Tour show, Bruno Mars begins his own run. So if Inglewood traffic seems unusually musical that week, now you know why.

The R&B Tour 2026 Tickets, Dates and Prices

The tour has been moving through major stadiums, and SoFi currently lists tickets and suites as available for both September 25 and 26. One useful warning: don't assume every city receives exactly the same supporting lineup or guest appearances. Stadium tours can change supporting performers from market to market.

The same goes for ticket prices. There isn't one useful universal number for The R&B Tour 2026 tickets because inventory, seating sections and demand change constantly. If both Los Angeles nights work for you, compare the actual seat inventory for September 25 and 26 before choosing. Sometimes the difference between two otherwise identical evenings is simply that one has much better seats left in your budget.

Parking and Getting Into SoFi Stadium on Back-to-Back Nights

The same SoFi parking rules mentioned earlier apply here: buy parking ahead, follow the zone and gate attached to your pass, and arrive with the pass ready on your phone. But two consecutive shows create one extra opportunity for confusion.

A parking purchase is tied to its event. If you're attending both nights, don't assume Friday's parking arrangement magically carries into Saturday. And after a 7:30 p.m. stadium show, thousands of people will have the same brilliant idea at roughly the same moment: "Let's call an Uber." If transit is practical for your group, investigate it before show day. If you're driving, give yourself extra time both entering and leaving Hollywood Park. If you're using rideshare, don't schedule something immediately after the concert that depends on escaping the stadium district in 12 minutes. That is optimism California traffic has not earned.

The biggest challenge with concerts in California September 2026 may not be choosing what to see. It may be figuring out how to get there without spending the opening song circling a parking structure. For Ohana, make your Dana Point transportation plan before festival day. At SoFi, buy parking early and follow the assigned zone and gate. For Foo Fighters in Las Vegas, decide whether the Hacienda Bridge makes more sense than driving. At Chase Center, compare reserved parking with public transit before automatically reaching for the car keys.

And remember that concerts are wonderfully unpredictable. Ticket inventory changes. Transportation plans get updated. Supporting acts can vary. Festival set times appear. Parking sells out. Check the official festival, artist or venue page again before you leave. Because there are few sadder sights than someone dressed perfectly for a concert, sitting beautifully in traffic while the first song is already playing.

October in California has a bit of an identity crisis in the best possible way. You can spend one weekend listening to metal in Sacramento, the next watching jets fly over the Pacific, and another surrounded by enormous pumpkins on the coast. The October events in California calendar for 2026 has plenty of reasons to turn an ordinary weekend into a road trip. Families can take advantage of monthlong offers in San Diego, music fans have festivals in Sacramento and Joshua Tree, and fall lovers can finish the month with a classic pumpkin-filled day in Half Moon Bay. Here are eight California events worth putting on your October calendar, along with the dates, locations, and planning details you’ll want before heading out.

Kids Free San Diego: Family Offers All October

October 1–31 - San Diego County

October may be one of the smartest months for families to plan a San Diego getaway. Kids Free San Diego runs throughout the month, bringing together more than 100 special offers from participating attractions, museums, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses across the county. The offers are not identical, so this is one event where reading the fine print can actually save you money.

Age limits, accompanying-adult requirements, and other conditions vary depending on the participating business. One standout is the San Diego Zoo. Children 11 and younger receive free admission from October 1 through 31, with each ticketed or member adult able to bring up to six eligible children. That makes Kids Free San Diego less of a single event and more of a choose-your-own-family-adventure. Build a weekend around the zoo, museums, attractions, or a combination of several offers rather than trying to squeeze everything into one day.

Aftershock Festival 2026 in Sacramento

October 1–4 - Discovery Park, Sacramento

If your ideal October soundtrack involves considerably more guitar than falling leaves, Sacramento has you covered. Aftershock Festival 2026 takes over Discovery Park for four days of rock, punk, and metal. Instead of choosing a ticket first and figuring out the music later, check the lineup and decide which day or days have the artists you most want to see. The festival notes that lineup details and set times can change, so give the schedule another look before leaving home.

Transportation deserves some planning too. Aftershock takes place at Discovery Park, not Cal Expo. However, festivalgoers can purchase a park-and-ride shuttle pass that includes parking at Cal Expo and transportation to and from the festival site. In other words, save your energy for the festival rather than spending it circling Sacramento looking for somewhere to leave the car. Once you’ve picked your must-see artists, check Aftershock passes to find the ticket option that fits your plans.

Mill Valley Film Festival in Marin County

October 1–11 - Mill Valley, San Rafael, Larkspur, and Berkeley

For an October outing with fewer amplifiers and considerably more movie credits, there is the Mill Valley Film Festival. The 49th festival runs October 1–11, with screenings and festival programming spread across several Bay Area venues. Confirmed locations include the Sequoia Cinema in Mill Valley, Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, Lark Theater in Larkspur, and BAMPFA in Berkeley. That geographic spread makes a little advance planning important. Find the movie or filmmaker event that interests you first, then check the venue before arranging dinner, parking, or the rest of your day. “Mill Valley Film Festival” does not necessarily mean your screening is actually in Mill Valley. It can also work well as the centerpiece of a larger Marin or Bay Area day trip: one good film, somewhere good to eat afterward, and no obligation to spend the entire day following a festival schedule.

Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach

October 2–4 - Huntington Beach oceanfront

There are air shows, and then there are air shows where the Pacific Ocean is basically part of the stage. The Pacific Airshow returns to Huntington Beach from October 2–4 for its 10th anniversary. The three-day event combines aerobatic demonstrations and high-speed flyovers with activities on the beach, including family entertainment, STEM experiences, commentary, and performer appearances. Gates are scheduled to open at 9 a.m., with aerial action expected from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; final times remain subject to change. The official event precinct is along the Huntington Beach oceanfront near Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street. If you want access to the designated event area, look through the ticket choices and viewing options before buying rather than assuming every spot along the beach offers the same experience.

And yes, spending several hours staring into the California sky is one of the rare situations where being told to “look up” is genuinely useful advice.

San Francisco Fleet Week and Air Show

Fleet Week: October 4–12 - Air show: October 9–11 | San Francisco

October brings another major aviation event to the California coast, but San Francisco adds Navy ships, waterfront activities, and the Golden Gate Bridge to the background. San Francisco Fleet Week runs October 4–12, while its air show takes place October 9–11 over the San Francisco waterfront. The 2026 program also includes ship tours, the Parade of Ships, Fleet Fest, neighborhood concerts, and events at several locations around the city. The air show runs Friday through Sunday and is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Marina Green serves as its main festival center, where general admission is free. Ticketed premium viewing experiences are also available. The 2026 air show lineup includes the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, among other performers. Don't treat Fleet Week as one event happening in one place. Check the official calendar first, decide whether ships, planes, concerts, or waterfront activities are your priority, and build your day around those locations.

Joshua Tree Music Festival in the Mojave Desert

October 8–11 - 2601 Sunfair Road, Joshua Tree

Some festivals give you a stage and a crowd. Joshua Tree Music Festival adds desert skies, camping, and the feeling that you temporarily moved into a very musical little community. Running October 8–11, the fall festival is built around live music and a broader festival experience in the Mojave Desert. It makes particular sense for travelers who want the event itself to become the weekend rather than simply attending a concert and heading home afterward.

There is one geographic detail first-time visitors should know: the festival is held at 2601 Sunfair Road, outside Joshua Tree National Park. If visiting the national park is also on your list, treat it as a separate part of your itinerary rather than assuming the festival takes place inside the park. Camping can be part of the experience, so check admission and camping arrangements together when planning the trip. Desert travel also rewards preparation October may sound comfortably autumnal elsewhere, but this is still the Mojave.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair Awards Gala

October 10, 6–9 p.m. - Grace Pavilion, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa

Sonoma County in October already has a pretty convincing argument for a road trip. Add award-winning wine and local food, and the argument gets stronger. The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is doing things differently in 2026. Rather than a traditional multiday public fair, the confirmed public celebration is a one-night ticketed gala on October 10, running from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. The evening celebrates the region's wine, food, and agricultural community, with medal-winning wines and locally produced bites. Guests will also get to see the announcement of the top Sweepstakes Wine winners. Think cocktail-party evening rather than county-fair afternoon. This one is better suited to a planned night out, especially if you want to pair it with a weekend elsewhere in Sonoma County.

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival for Halloween Season

October 17–18, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. - Main Street, Half Moon Bay

If California had to nominate one town to go completely overboard for pumpkins, Half Moon Bay would have a strong résumé. The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival returns to historic Main Street on October 17–18. Admission is free, and the weekend brings giant pumpkins, pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, live entertainment, food, a costume contest, and the Great Pumpkin Parade. It's the kind of Halloween-season outing that works even if haunted houses are not your thing.

Come for the pumpkins, stay for the coast, and accept that at some point you will probably photograph a pumpkin considerably larger than anything a pumpkin has a reasonable excuse to be. One date is easy to confuse with the festival weekend. The World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off happens separately on Monday, October 12, at the IDES Grounds. The main Art & Pumpkin Festival follows on October 17–18. If you're driving, an early start is sensible. The festival's official travel information warns that Highway 92 can become congested early during the weekend.

Which California October Event Fits Your Trip?

The best thing about October events in California is that “fall trip” can mean almost anything. For families who want flexibility, Kids Free San Diego gives you the entire month to build an itinerary. Aftershock turns Sacramento into the choice for a louder music weekend, while Joshua Tree pairs live performances with a desert getaway. Film fans can build a Bay Area day around the Mill Valley Film Festival, and aviation fans have two very different coastal options in Huntington Beach and San Francisco.

Then there is Half Moon Bay, where October means pumpkins, costumes, coastal scenery, and a perfectly reasonable excuse to spend your day admiring vegetables that weigh more than cars. Whichever event makes the calendar, check the official website again before leaving. Confirm the exact venue, admission rules, ticket availability, schedule, and transportation details then get the group together and make a California weekend out of it.