What does the year ahead hold for music fans? Here’s a partial preview.
Humphreys Concerts by the Bay 45th anniversary
The rollout of the full 2026 Humphreys Concerts by the Bay lineup is still a few months away.
But this quintessential outdoor San Diego venue has already announced half a dozen performances for its 45th anniversary season, including by such Humphreys’ veterans as Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band, Pat Metheny and Cheap Trick. “It is a special venue for me,” said Starr, who has performed there more than a dozen times since 1995. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. humphreysconcerts.com
Bad Bunny’s historic year ahead
Apart from the ubiquitous Taylor Swift, no pop star dominated 2025 like Bad Bunny — or appears set to command more attention in the next two months. His latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” celebrates his Puerto Rican heritage and earned six 2026 Grammy nominations, including for Album, Song and Record of the Year.
No artist who sings exclusively in Spanish has ever won before in those categories. And no other artist in any genre has sold-out two back-to-back stadium concerts at Petco Park, as Bad Bunny — this year’s most-streamed music act in the world in any genre — did in 2022.
The Grammy telecast on Feb. 1 comes a week before the 31-year-old vocal superstar (born: Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) headlines the Super Bowl halftime show. The fact that he sings in Spanish and has questioned some Trump administration policies has fueled major controversy over his halftime show booking, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem vowing that federal immigration officers will be out in force at the Super Bowl. grammy.com; nfl.com/super-bowl/halftime-show
Grammy Music Educator of the Year
National recognition may soon be in store for Mission Bay High School music director Jean-Paul “JP” Balmat. On Dec. 4, he was announced as one of the 10 finalists for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award — and the only contender from California.
More than 2,000 initial nominations from 50 states were submitted for the award, which “recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in schools.”
The winner will appear during the 2026 Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on Feb. 1 and will receive a $10,000 honorarium and a matching grant for their school’s music program.
Big hits at Petco Park
Since opening in 2004, the downtown stadium home of the San Diego Padres has hosted concerts by the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Madonna, Bad Bunny, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, Chris Stapleton, blink-182 and a good number more.
The two acts confirmed so far to play Petco in 2026 could not be more different.
English troubadour Ed Sheeran, who performs July 21, will — as usual — do a one-man solo show that could well turn into a mass sing-along. The New Jersey emo band My Chemical Romance, who perform Aug. 30, will use ghostly makeup, pyrotechnics galore and a highly theatrical production to add visual flair to its songs about youthful alienation, depression and inclusivity. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., downtown. mlb.com/padres/tickets/concerts
Blues in Escondido
The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, will take on a welcome hue of blues with two of its first announced concerts for 2026.
Young guitar and vocal phenom DK Harrell, who delivered a sizzling performance here at the 2025 Gator By The Bay festival, will perform Jan. 29 at CCAE with his brassy band.
He’ll be followed on April 29 by powerhouse singer Shemekia Copeland, a multiple national-award winner who repeatedly lit up the stage during her January concert here at Humphreys and will perform Wednesday night at 9:10 p.m. San Diego time on ABC-TV’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest.
Copeland and Harrell’s concerts are being presented by the North County-based Six String Society, the plucky nonprofit that this year celebrated its 10th anniversary. 7 p.m. Jan. 29. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $43.20-$103.20. 800-988-4253, artcenter.org
San Diego concerts galore
There were fewer major concert tours that came to San Diego in 2025 than in the three previous years. That will likely not be the case in 2026, which is already starting to fill up with a multitude of options for live-music fans.
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre’s 2026 lineup will include Maña, Jack Johnson and Rod Stewart, while Pechanga Arena will welcome Rosalia, Nine Inch Nails and Third Day.
Artists headed to SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in 2026 include Miguel, Argentinian trap vocal star Cazzu and guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
Then there’s Gallagher Square at Petco Park, which will host shows by Iration, Charlie Crockett and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Viejas Arena, whose 2026 lineup ranges from Duran Duran and Doja Cat to Parker McCollum and Carlsbad native Alex Warren.
Not to be outdone, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park already has seven pop concerts booked for next year, including Yungblud, The Avett Brothers and the latest iteration of Foreigner, which will perform with the San Diego Symphony.
Steve Mark’s film ‘Concert Heroes’
San Diego indie filmmaker Steve Mark didn’t have to look far for inspiration for his third movie, “Concert Heroes,” which will begin shooting here on Jan. 28 and features “Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Kattan and “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” co-star E.G. Daily.
It is based on his 2008 book, “No Air Guitar Allowed,” a colorful chronicle of his exploits as a music-crazed young San Diego concertgoer. The screenplay is by Mark and his brother, Bob Weinberger, and filming will take place in Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and outside the San Diego Sports Arena.
“Concert Heroes” will feature songs by the Swedish-American rock band Carolina Liar. Its lead singer, Chad Wolf is slated to make a cameo in the film, which Mark hopes will be released by summer. instagram.com/stevemarksd