Summer 2026: The OC Events You Need on Your Radar

Make the Most of OC Summer 2026

Orange County doesn't do summers quietly. Between world-class surf competitions, a month-long county fair, internationally acclaimed art festivals, and FIFA World Cup energy right in Irvine, Summer 2026 is stacking up to be one for the books. Here's what should already be on your calendar.

OC Fair — July 17 to August 16 | Costa Mesa

The county's signature summer tradition is back, and the 2026 theme is "Your Adventure Awaits." A full month at the OC Fair & Event Center means carnival rides, headlining concerts at Pacific Amphitheater, a rodeo, demolition derbies, and enough deep-fried everything to last you a year. Go once. Go on a weekday if you can. Bring sunscreen and a strategy.

FIFA World Cup — USMNT Base Camp | Great Park, Irvine

This is a once-in-a-generation moment for OC sports fans. The U.S. Men's National Team is using Irvine's Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium as their World Cup base camp in June and July. With 5,000-seat spectator capacity at training sessions, this is your shot to watch the national team prepare for one of the world's largest sporting events — up close and personal.

Laguna Beach Art Season — July 7 to September 4

Laguna's world-famous art trifecta runs all summer and shouldn't be rushed through in a single afternoon. The Festival of the Arts hosts Orange County's finest in a striking open-air gallery. The Sawdust Festival is where 150+ independent artists sell original work in handcrafted booths. And the Pageant of the Masters — a nightly theatrical reenactment of famous paintings using living people — is unlike anything else on earth. Budget multiple evenings for this stretch of Laguna.

U.S. Open of Surfing | Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach earns "Surf City USA" every summer when the world's top surfers descend for the U.S. Open. The best part: it's completely free. The stretch of beach around the Huntington Pier transforms into a week-long festival with pro surfing, BMX and skateboarding exhibitions, live music, and a vendor village. Show up early, claim a spot on the sand, and watch elite surfing from the shoreline.

San Clemente Ocean Festival — July 18–19

One of the most underrated summer events in OC. The Ocean Festival is a two-day beach sports celebration — featuring the iconic Dory boat races, a 5K beach run, a one-mile ocean swim, surf competitions, and the Dolphin Dash youth race. It's the closest thing to an OC summer Olympics, and it all goes down on the sands of San Clemente.

Concert Series Worth Knowing

The Subaru Summer Concert Series at Newport Beach's Hyatt Regency runs through October with artists like Richard Marx and Black Violin at the outdoor Back Bay Amphitheater. Buena Park's free Summer Concerts in the Park runs every Wednesday in July with no cover and no catch. And Irvine Spectrum's Silent Disco events (June 27 and July 25) are genuinely fun if you haven't tried one.

Don't Overlook: Disneyland's 70th Anniversary

if school district is a priority — or are just a person who appreciates a good milestone — Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration continues through 2026 with extra festive programming and classic-era nostalgia layered throughout the park. This is the year to go if you've been putting it off.

Pacific Wine + Food Classic | Newport Dunes

For the food-and-drink crowd, the Pacific Wine + Food Classic at Newport Dunes is the summer highlight. Top SoCal chefs, an expanded Dessert Garden, and the backdrop of the Back Bay make this one of the most aesthetically pleasing food events in the county. Confirmed for September 12, 2026.

The Summer 2026 Shortlist

OC Fair (July 17–Aug 16, Costa Mesa) · FIFA USMNT Training (June–July, Irvine) · Festival of the Arts (July 7–Sept 3, Laguna Beach) · Pageant of the Masters (July 9–Sept 4, Laguna) · U.S. Open of Surfing (Huntington Beach) · Ocean Festival (July 18–19, San Clemente) · Sawdust Festival (June–Aug, Laguna) · Pan Pacific Swimming Championships (Aug 12, Irvine) · Taste of Yorba Linda (July 31) · Pacific Wine + Food Classic (Newport Dunes)