What’s New in Oceanside Winter 2026

Oceanside, Calif. (Dec. 2025) — Winter in O’side brings cooler temps, cozy coastal energy and a new wave of food, art and community experiences. Shifting into the new year, the city’s cultural calendar is filled with culinary happenings, creative exhibitions and family-friendly activities. In 2026, Oceanside continues to shine as a destination shaped by creativity, collaboration and a deep connection to the coast.

Second Annual Swell Plates Series & New Oceanside Openings
Visit Oceanside’s second annual Swell Plates Series returns January 14-February 11, 2026, inviting diners to explore the city’s chef-driven dining scene during California Restaurant Month. More than 18 restaurants are crafting limited-edition “Swell Plates” that highlight hyper-local ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and the creative partnerships that define Oceanside’s culinary community. Diners can collect passport stamps, join new weekend Swell Plates food tours, and enjoy dishes inspired by local art, cultural storytelling, and Oceanside’s coastal bounty. Swell Plate purchases also support Oceanside’s coastal resiliency and sand renourishment efforts through donations to WILDCOAST, making this a delicious way to give back.

The local dining scene continues to expand with several exciting openings and updates. Little Fawn, now open inside the historic Fin Hotel, offers a fresh take on California-Mediterranean cuisine with natural wines, mid-century style, and a speakeasy sensibility. Amalfi Oceanside has reopened its refreshed space, welcoming guests back to coastal Italian dishes crafted by a seasoned team with more than 30 years of fine-dining experience. Hill Street Brewing is a new BBQ and craft beer spot from local restaurateur Travis Lester, whose family is behind The Red & White Market and Uncle Anthony’s. The laid-back spot pairs smoky barbecue flavors with crisp brews in a sleek, modern space that captures the city’s true O’side spirit. Additionally in 2026, Copper Kings Burgers will open its second brick-and-mortar location in the former Northern Pine Brewing space. Known for house-ground beef blends, Japanese-style milk buns, and scratch-made sauces, the team is excited to return to the community where the brand first took off.

Creative Culinary Collaborations and Wine-centric Partnerships
Kicking off the new year, Matsu will host its first collaboration of 2026 with acclaimed Chef Ron McKinlay on January 6 and 7. This two-night, eight-course tasting continues the restaurant’s celebrated guest-chef series which launched with a sold-out dinner with Chef Dominique Crenn in October. Under McKinlay’s tenure, Toronto’s iconic Canoe Restaurant earned a spot among Canada’s top 10, and his globally inspired, ingredient-driven approach now comes to Oceanside for a one-of-a-kind dining experience

Looking ahead, Visit Oceanside is partnering with Visit Temecula on ‘Waves to Wine’, a new “Perfect Pairing Experiences” initiative launching in 2026. The collaboration will introduce curated road trip itineraries connecting Oceanside’s coastal culture with Temecula’s wine country.

Art, Wellness & Creative Expression
This winter, Oceanside is stepping into the national spotlight as a destination for visitors interested in the growing movement that connects art and wellness. The Oceanside Museum of Art is now an official partner in the Art Pharmacy network, offering Art Rx prescriptions to patients of San Ysidro Health. These social prescriptions include museum guest passes designed to support mental well-being through art engagement. Visitors don’t need a prescription to experience OMA’s wellness offerings. The museum’s new Art & Wellness Guide includes mindful tour suggestions, meditation moments, and interactive exhibits, including tactile, huggable artworks that encourage joy, curiosity, and connection.

OMA’s winter exhibition lineup continues to build Oceanside’s creative momentum. Modern Simplicity: Irving J. Gill in Oceanside (November 6, 2025–April 26, 2026) explores the legacy of the pioneering architect whose clean lines and use of reinforced concrete helped shape early modern architecture in Southern California. Running concurrently, Francisco Eme: Future Rituals & La eco-resistencia (October 25, 2025–March 22, 2026) invites visitors to slow down and reconnect with nature through works blending ancestral knowledge with ceramics, drawing, digital audio and photography. The season is rounded out by the 2025-26 Artist Alliance Biennial (November 22, 2025–March 8, 2026), featuring 53 works selected from more than 1,300 submissions.

Oceanside’s cultural calendar continues to expand this winter with the return of the Oceanside International Film Festival, celebrating its 15th year in February 2026. The festival will take place at two Downtown Oceanside Cultural District landmarks, the historic Brooks Theatre and Star Theatre. Enjoy a special Surf Night preview on February 21 at the Brooks Theatre, with four days of programming following on February 25–28 at the Star Theatre, beginning with the festival’s annual Red Carpet reception.

Sports & Live Entertainment
Frontwave Arena is also building momentum in its second full season as a hub for live sports and entertainment in North County. The San Diego Clippers, the NBA G League affiliate of the LA Clippers, tipped off their 2025–26 season in mid-November, bringing high-energy basketball and 24 home games to Oceanside. The San Diego Sockers also returned for the 2025–26 MASL season on November 28, continuing their legacy as one of indoor soccer’s most successful franchises. With themed promo nights, giveaways, and a packed calendar of games, Frontwave Arena has quickly become a cornerstone of Oceanside’s year-round entertainment scene.

For more updates on what’s new in Oceanside, visit www.visitoceanside.org.

About Oceanside
Perfectly situated between metropolitan San Diego and Los Angeles, Oceanside is a quintessential California coastal escape that includes wide sandy beaches, a quaint New England-style harbor, historic wooden pier and charming bungalow neighborhoods. O’side (as locals affectionately call it) is a destination of discovery where visitors can explore everything from California history at the “King of Missions” to surf culture at the California Surf Museum and awe-inspiring sea life through exciting ocean adventures. This playful and fun destination thrives on taking recreation to the next level and boasts world-class surfing, skateboarding, bike riding, boating and even skydiving. A flourishing farm-to-table food and craft beer, wine and spirit scene reflects Oceanside’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit, as do exciting arts and culture programs that earned Oceanside one of just 14 California Cultural District designations in 2017. Classically charming, eclectic and always genuine, Oceanside is an ideal place to stay and a true O’riginal. www.visitoceanside.org

About Visit Oceanside
Visit Oceanside Conference and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing organization in Oceanside, Calif., promoting travel to the city for both leisure and group visitors. The organization influences about one-third of the $625 million that is generated by visitor spending in Oceanside each year, which supports over 4,000 jobs. Visit Oceanside also operates one of the state’s official California Welcome Centers. With just one stop, visitors can find local, regional and state maps, purchase discount tickets to major Southern California attractions, make hotel reservations or shop for the perfect California keepsake. The Visit Oceanside CVB and California Welcome Center- Oceanside are conveniently located just off Interstate 5 at 928 North Coast Highway. For more information, please call (800) 350-7873 or visit www.visitoceanside.org