Week of September 21–27, 2026

Your 5–7 minute briefing on the news, business, real estate, food, sports and events shaping San Diego this week.

Welcome to another week in America's Finest City.

And this weekend is shaping up to be a busy one.

The Padres head to Los Angeles for three huge September games before returning to Petco Park for their final regular-season series.

The MCAS Miramar Air Show returns Friday through Sunday, CRSSD takes over Waterfront Park, the Pacific Islander Festival comes to Mission Bay, Poway gets ready for rodeo weekend, and San Diego FC has another Saturday matchup.

Meanwhile, San Diego's economy has some interesting stories developing—from a growing cruise industry and a local AI company raising millions to the continued transformation of the long-troubled 101 Ash Street property.

Let's get into it.

🚢 San Diego's cruise industry is preparing for a major season, with passenger traffic showing some of its strongest growth in decades.

🏢 The City is moving forward with plans to transform 101 Ash Street into affordable housing.

🤖 San Diego-based Faro AI raised $37.3 million in Series B funding.

⚓ Austal USA landed a $10.8 million Navy ship-maintenance contract, another reminder of the importance of defense spending to the local economy.

✈️ The MCAS Miramar Air Show returns September 25–27.

🤠 The Poway Rodeo returns Friday.

🎧 CRSSD Festival takes over Waterfront Park Saturday and Sunday.

🌺 The Pacific Islander Festival returns to Ski Beach this weekend.

⚾ The Padres finish the regular season at Petco Park against Arizona.

⚽ San Diego FC faces Austin FC Saturday.

🌊 San Diego Wave travels to Louisville Friday.

🏈 SDSU football travels to Toledo Saturday.

🎓 USD and UC San Diego have several home sporting events this week.

San Diego's waterfront is getting busier.

The region is seeing its strongest cruise passenger growth in roughly two decades as more cruise lines increase their presence in San Diego.

The Port is preparing for 183 cruise voyages and more than 700,000 passengers during the season.

Royal Caribbean is expanding its San Diego presence, while Disney is preparing to base a second ship here.

That's important for more than the Port.

Cruise passengers spend money at:

🏨 Hotels

🍽 Restaurants

🚕 Transportation companies

🛍 Local businesses

🎟 Attractions

🍺 Bars and entertainment venues

And many passengers arrive in San Diego before their cruise or stay afterward.

Tourism remains one of San Diego's biggest economic engines.

Every additional visitor arriving through the cruise terminal creates another potential customer for businesses throughout downtown, Little Italy, the waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods.

Keep an eye on San Diego's cruise business.

It could become an increasingly important part of the downtown economy.

One of downtown San Diego's most controversial properties could finally be getting a new purpose.

The City has approved another step toward converting the former 101 Ash Street office building into affordable housing.

The current plan calls for approximately 249 affordable residential units.

The building became one of San Diego's most complicated real estate problems after the City acquired it for office use and later encountered major building and safety issues.

Now the strategy is changing.

Instead of trying to make the property work as government offices, the City is moving toward housing.

Downtown San Diego has two major real estate challenges:

🏢 Older office buildings that are increasingly difficult to fill.

🏠 A continuing shortage of housing people can afford.

Converting underused office properties into residential projects could eventually help address both.

101 Ash may become an important test case.

Office-to-residential conversion.

San Diego isn't alone.

Cities across the country are trying to figure out what to do with older office buildings in a world where companies simply don't need as much traditional office space.

Downtown San Diego could see more creative redevelopment proposals in the years ahead.

Another San Diego technology company just attracted serious investment.

Faro AI has raised $37.3 million in Series B funding.

The company is developing artificial-intelligence technology designed to improve the organization and use of clinical-development data.

It's an interesting intersection of two industries where San Diego has considerable expertise:

🧬 Life sciences

🤖 Artificial intelligence

San Diego has long been known for biotech.

But the next generation of companies may increasingly combine biotech, healthcare, software and AI.

San Diego's defense economy also received another boost.

Austal USA was awarded a $10.8 million Navy contract for ship maintenance.

Defense spending remains an enormous part of the regional economy.

And the impact goes far beyond the large shipyards.

Major military contracts create opportunities for:

🔧 Specialty contractors

⚡ Electrical companies

📡 Technology integrators

🛠 Equipment suppliers

👷 Skilled trades

💻 Engineering companies

📋 Project-management firms

San Diego's increasingly diversified technology economy.

Biotech isn't disappearing.

Neither is defense.

But AI, robotics, autonomous transportation, software, aerospace and advanced manufacturing are increasingly overlapping with San Diego's traditional industries.

That's worth watching.

San Diego Restaurant Week wrapped up September 20, but the local restaurant scene isn't slowing down.

September and October are some of the best months of the year to explore San Diego restaurants.

The summer tourist rush begins to ease.

The weather stays warm.

Patios remain busy.

And restaurants begin rolling out fall menus.

Try a neighborhood you don't normally visit.

Instead of automatically heading downtown or to Little Italy, consider:

📍 North Park

📍 South Park

📍 Hillcrest

📍 Convoy

📍 Ocean Beach

📍 Point Loma

📍 Encinitas

📍 La Mesa

📍 Chula Vista

Some of San Diego's best food experiences are happening outside the traditional tourist areas.

📍 MCAS Miramar
📅 September 25–27

One of San Diego's biggest annual events returns.

The Miramar Air Show brings military aviation, flight demonstrations and static aircraft displays back to the skies over San Diego.

This year's scheduled attractions include demonstrations featuring the F-35B and F-22 Raptor, along with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration and other aviation performers.

If you've never experienced the Miramar Air Show in person, it's difficult to understand just how impressive these aircraft are until they're flying overhead.

Go early.

Traffic around Miramar can become extremely heavy during Air Show weekend.

And don't forget hearing protection for younger children.

📍 Poway
📅 Friday, September 25

Trade the beach for boots.

The annual Poway Rodeo returns with professional rodeo competition featuring cowboys from around the country.

Expect:

🐂 Bull riding

🐴 Rodeo competition

🤠 Western entertainment

👨‍👩‍👧 Family fun

It's one of those San Diego County events that feels completely different from a typical weekend downtown.

📍 Petco Park
⏰ 6:40 PM

The Padres come home Friday night.

And this isn't just another series.

It's the final regular-season series at Petco Park.

The weekend is also part of the Padres' Hispanic Heritage celebration.

September baseball doesn't get much better than this.

📅 Friday, September 25
📍 Lynn Family Stadium — Louisville

The Wave hit the road Friday for an NWSL matchup against Racing Louisville.

📍 Waterfront Park
📅 September 26–27

Downtown is about to get loud.

CRSSD returns to the San Diego waterfront for two days of electronic music.

The festival takes over the 12-acre Waterfront Park with:

🎵 Three stages

🎧 36+ performers

🍺 Craft beer

🍹 Cocktails

🌮 Food

🌴 Waterfront views

It's become one of San Diego's signature music weekends.

Expect Little Italy and the surrounding downtown waterfront to be busy.

📍 Ski Beach — Mission Bay
📅 September 26–27

One of San Diego's great cultural celebrations returns to Mission Bay.

The Pacific Islander Festival celebrates the traditions and cultures of Melanesian, Micronesian and Pacific Islander communities.

Expect:

🎶 Live entertainment

🌺 Cultural performances

🍽 Island food

🎨 Arts and crafts

🏝 Cultural exhibits

It's family friendly and another great reason to spend Saturday around Mission Bay.

📅 September 26–27

The San Diego Spirits Festival returns with tastings from more than 60 brands.

Expect everything from premium spirits and cocktails to ready-to-drink beverages.

If you're more interested in cocktails than concerts, this might be your weekend event.

📅 Saturday, September 26

San Diego FC heads to Austin for another MLS matchup as the regular season moves into its final stretch.

San Diego FC's first two seasons have turned the club into one of the city's most closely followed sports teams.

Another important late-season match.

📅 Saturday, September 26

The Aztecs hit the road for their final non-conference game.

San Diego State travels to Ohio to face Toledo before returning home to begin Pac-12 play.

📍 Petco Park
⏰ 5:40 PM

Game two of the Padres' final regular-season series.

Saturday evening baseball at Petco.

Hard to beat.

📍 MCAS Miramar

Sunday is your final opportunity to catch this year's Miramar Air Show.

If Saturday doesn't work, make Sunday your aviation day.

📍 Waterfront Park

CRSSD continues Sunday with another full day of electronic music along the downtown waterfront.

📍 Ski Beach

Day two brings another round of food, cultural performances and entertainment to Mission Bay.

Sunday is the final day of the two-day festival.

📍 Petco Park
⏰ 12:10 PM

The regular season ends at Petco Park Sunday afternoon.

And the Padres are giving fans another reason to stick around.

The weekend includes Hispanic Heritage celebrations, with Los Tucanes de Tijuana scheduled for a postgame concert Sunday.

If you want one final regular-season Sunday at Petco Park, this is it.

This was a tough week to choose just one.

CRSSD.

Padres baseball.

Pacific Islander Festival.

Poway Rodeo.

But we're going with the Miramar Air Show.

Why?

Because there aren't many cities where you can spend the weekend watching some of the world's most advanced military aircraft perform just minutes from downtown.

It's big.

It's loud.

And it's uniquely San Diego.

San Diego Brief Tip: Arrive early, expect traffic and bring hearing protection—especially for kids.

The Padres have reached the final week of the regular season.

And they're right in the middle of the postseason race.

San Diego has been playing some of its best baseball of the season at exactly the right time.

Tuesday — 7:10 PM

Wednesday — 7:10 PM

Thursday — 7:10 PM

Then it's back home.

Friday — Petco Park • 6:40 PM

Saturday — Petco Park • 5:40 PM

Sunday — Petco Park • 12:10 PM

This is the final regular-season series at Petco Park.

And with postseason positioning on the line, every game matters.

📅 Saturday, September 26

📍 Austin

San Diego FC hits the road Saturday to face Austin FC.

As the MLS season enters its final stretch, every remaining point becomes increasingly important.

📅 Friday, September 25

The Wave travel to Kentucky Friday to face Racing Louisville FC.

San Diego continues its late-season NWSL push away from Snapdragon Stadium this week.

📅 Saturday, September 26

The Aztecs head east this weekend.

San Diego State faces Toledo in its final non-conference matchup before returning home for Pac-12 play.

It's a busy Saturday at Torero Stadium.

📍 Torero Stadium
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 5:00 PM

The match also includes a Hispanic Heritage celebration and USD scarf giveaway.

Then stick around.

📍 Torero Stadium
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 7:30 PM

Two soccer matches.

One stadium.

A pretty good Saturday night on the USD campus.

The Tritons have several home events this week.

📍 Triton Soccer Stadium
📅 Wednesday, September 23
⏰ 7:00 PM

📍 LionTree Arena
📅 Friday, September 25
⏰ 6:00 PM

Friday also features the Welcome Back Block Party.

📍 LionTree Arena
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 5:00 PM

Saturday is Youth Day.

Late September in San Diego usually means one thing:

Summer isn't quite finished yet.

Expect generally comfortable coastal weather this week with cool mornings, warmer afternoons and the normal possibility of morning marine-layer clouds near the coast.

Inland areas should continue to run warmer than the beaches.

☀️ Beach Weather: Still very much in play.

🌊 Coast: Expect morning marine influence followed by improving afternoon conditions.

✈️ Miramar Air Show: Bring sunscreen and water if you're spending several hours outside.

🎧 CRSSD: Prepare for warm afternoons and cooler conditions after sunset.

⚾ Petco Park: Friday and Saturday evenings may cool down quickly after sunset.

And remember:

September sun in San Diego is still strong.

Sunscreen isn't just a summer thing.

⚽ UC San Diego Men's Soccer vs. Cal State Fullerton

✈️ MCAS Miramar Air Show Begins

🤠 Poway Rodeo

⚾ Padres vs. Diamondbacks

🌊 San Diego Wave @ Racing Louisville

🏐 UC San Diego Volleyball vs. Cal State Fullerton

✈️ MCAS Miramar Air Show

🎧 CRSSD Festival

🌺 Pacific Islander Festival

🥃 San Diego Spirits Festival

⚾ Padres vs. Diamondbacks

⚽ San Diego FC @ Austin FC

🏈 SDSU @ Toledo

⚽ USD Men's Soccer vs. Denver

⚽ USD Women's Soccer vs. Santa Clara

🏐 UC San Diego Volleyball vs. Long Beach State

✈️ MCAS Miramar Air Show — Final Day

🎧 CRSSD Festival

🌺 Pacific Islander Festival

🥃 San Diego Spirits Festival

⚾ Padres vs. Diamondbacks — Regular-Season Finale

🎵 Los Tucanes de Tijuana Postgame Concert at Petco Park

This weekend is a good excuse to spend some time around San Diego's waterfront.

CRSSD Festival takes over Waterfront Park Saturday and Sunday, bringing thousands of people downtown.

But don't just go to the festival.

Explore the neighborhood.

☕ Grab coffee in Little Italy before the crowds arrive.

🍝 Have lunch along India Street.

🌊 Walk the waterfront.

🚢 Check out the activity around the cruise terminals.

🍺 Stop at one of the neighborhood restaurants or bars.

🌅 Catch sunset along the bay.

Parking will be difficult around Waterfront Park during CRSSD.

The trolley or rideshare may be easier than trying to find a downtown parking space.

And if you drive?

Go early.

Here's some good economic news.

San Diego is seeing some of its strongest cruise passenger growth in roughly two decades.

More than 700,000 cruise passengers are expected during the season across approximately 183 voyages.

That's a lot of people walking through San Diego.

And potentially spending money.

Hotels.

Restaurants.

Transportation.

Tourism.

Retail.

Entertainment.

The benefit extends far beyond the ships themselves.

Sometimes San Diego's waterfront is easy to take for granted.

But economically, it's one of the city's most valuable assets.

⚾ Padres postseason push

🏢 101 Ash Street affordable-housing conversion

🚢 San Diego's growing cruise industry

🤖 AI investment in San Diego

⚓ Defense and Navy contracting

🏠 Housing affordability

🏙 Downtown office conversions

⚽ San Diego FC's late-season run

🌊 San Diego Wave

🏈 SDSU football

✈️ Miramar Air Show crowds and traffic

🎧 CRSSD weekend downtown

🌡 Whether late-September heat makes another appearance

That's approximately how many cruise passengers San Diego is preparing to welcome during the cruise season.

Think about what that means.

If only a portion of those visitors spend money on:

🏨 Hotels

🍽 Restaurants

☕ Coffee

🚕 Transportation

🛍 Shopping

🎟 Attractions

…the economic impact spreads quickly.

San Diego's cruise terminal isn't just a place where ships dock.

It's another front door to the city.

"The best way to enjoy San Diego is to know what's happening before everyone else."

San Diego Brief reaches people who care about what's happening in their city.

Local businesses.

Restaurants.

Real estate professionals.

Contractors.

Financial services.

Events.

Healthcare.

Hospitality.

Professional services.

If San Diego is your customer, San Diego Brief should be part of your marketing plan.

Contact San Diego Brief

That's your San Diego Brief for the week ahead.

If you found something useful, send this newsletter to one person who loves San Diego as much as you do.

Every share helps us build something local.

Something useful.

And something San Diegans actually look forward to reading.

Have a fantastic week, San Diego.

The Team @ San Diego Brief