San Diego Symphony and Rady Shell at Jacobs Park Concerts
The Rady Shell concerts 2026 schedule brings major touring artists, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, movie concerts, jazz, blues, rock, pop, electronic music and special cultural performances to the San Diego waterfront.
The schedule covered here starts with St. Vincent with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and runs through Tom Jones on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Artists and events include Sarah McLachlan, Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes, Interpol, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mt. Joy, Jeff Goldblum, Buddy Guy, Chris Tomlin, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Brandi Carlile, MUNA, Bonnie Raitt, Madeon, Mariachi USA and several performances featuring the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is located at 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101, on Embarcadero Marina Park South behind the San Diego Convention Center.
Use the schedule below to compare dates, show times, special guests, Symphony participation, concert formats and event-specific details before planning your night at The Shell.
Rady Shell Concert Schedule 2026
August Rady Shell Events
| Date | Event | Show Time | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 1, 2026 | St. Vincent with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM | St. Vincent performs with the San Diego Symphony under conductor Jules Buckley. |
| Sunday, August 2, 2026 | Sarah McLachlan: Better Broken Tour | 7:00 PM | Allison Russell is the special guest. This is a Live Nation rental event without the San Diego Symphony. |
| Friday, August 7, 2026 | Disney’s ’80s-’90s Celebration in Concert | 7:30 PM | Broadway vocalists join the San Diego Symphony for music associated with Disney favorites from the 1980s and 1990s. |
| Saturday, August 8, 2026 | Stayin’ Alive: The Bee Gees & Beyond | 7:30 PM | Finnish vocal ensemble Rajaton joins the San Diego Symphony, conducted by Steven Reineke. |
| Sunday, August 9, 2026 | Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes | 7:30 PM | Reyes Heritage appears as special guest. VIP ticket options are available. |
| Friday, August 14, 2026 | The Gershwins in Hollywood | 7:30 PM | Features Michael Feinstein, Scarlett Strallen, conductor Rob Fisher and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. |
| Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Interpol | 7:00 PM | julie provides support. This is an AEG Presents rental event without the San Diego Symphony. |
| Sunday, August 16, 2026 | Tedeschi Trucks Band: Future Soul 2026 Tour | 6:00 PM | Lukas Nelson appears as special guest. |
| Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | Mt. Joy: Celebrating 10 Years | 7:00 PM | Standing general admission only. Chairs and blankets are not permitted. VIP options include early entry, Q&A and a photo opportunity. |
| Friday, August 21 & Saturday, August 22, 2026 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert | 7:00 PM | The complete film plays while Justin Freer conducts the San Diego Symphony performing John Williams’ score live. |
| Sunday, August 23, 2026 | Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM | Goldblum and his jazz ensemble perform with the Symphony under conductor Stuart Chafetz. |
| Friday, August 28, 2026 | Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert | 7:30 PM | The full movie is screened while Larry Loh conducts the San Diego Symphony performing the score live. |
| Saturday, August 29, 2026 | Classic Albums Live Performs The Beatles (The White Album) | 7:30 PM | The Beatles’ 1968 double album is recreated live using Classic Albums Live’s note-for-note approach. |
| Sunday, August 30, 2026 | Tchaikovsky Spectacular | 7:30 PM | Joyce Yang joins the San Diego Symphony for a program including Piano Concerto No. 1 and the 1812 Overture, with pyrotechnics. |
The August schedule and show times are supported by The Rady Shell’s 2026 summer season listing and current individual event pages.
September Rady Shell Events
| Date | Event | Show Time | What to Know |
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Dizzy Gillespie at The Shell: A Night in Tunisia and More | 7:30 PM | Gilbert Castellanos and the KSDS Jazz Orchestra lead the program. Young Lions Jazz Conservatory All-Stars perform a 6:30 PM pre-concert set. |
| Friday, September 11, 2026 | Buddy Guy 90 | 7:30 PM | Buddy Guy celebrates his 90th-birthday year with special guest Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. |
| Sunday, September 13, 2026 | Chris Tomlin: Worship Under the Stars | 7:00 PM | Outdoor contemporary Christian worship concert. The San Diego Symphony does not perform. |
| Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour | 7:00 PM | Puddles Pity Party appears as special guest. The multimedia production includes strobe lighting. |
| Friday, September 18, 2026 | The Sixties Show | 7:30 PM | Full-band multimedia production built around music and performance styles associated with the 1960s. |
| Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Brandi Carlile: The Human Tour | 6:00 PM | CMAT appears as special guest. Select VIP packages include premium seating, backstage access and soundcheck experiences. |
| Saturday, September 26, 2026 | Mariachi USA | 6:00 PM | Approximately four hours of mariachi, folklórico ballet and audience sing-alongs, ending with a pyrotechnic finale over San Diego Bay. |
The September calendar includes both Rady Shell-produced programming and rental performances. The September 5 jazz event is currently presented around the music of Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Dizzy Gillespie, with Gilbert Castellanos and the KSDS Jazz Orchestra.
October Rady Shell Events
| Date | Event | Show Time | What to Know |
| Sunday, October 11, 2026 | for KING + COUNTRY’s The Most Beautiful Colours Tour | 7:00 PM | Joel and Luke Smallbone perform new music alongside established songs. The San Diego Symphony does not participate. |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | MUNA: Gets So Hot Tour | 7:00 PM | hemlocke springs appears as special guest. This is an AEG Presents rental event. |
| Saturday, October 17, 2026 | Bonnie Raitt: Live 2026 | 7:00 PM | Special guests Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Ticket QR codes are withheld until seven days before the concert. |
| Friday, October 23, 2026 | Madeon presents Victory: Live | 7:00 PM | Electronic music, visual production, indie-rock and multimedia elements come together in Madeon’s Victory production. |
| Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | Tom Jones: Come Gather Round | 8:00 PM | Reserved chairs only. No lawn and no table seating. |
The October dates, show times and event formats are listed on the current individual Rady Shell event pages.
Which Rady Shell Concert Should You Choose?
The schedule covers enough genres that the best event depends on the experience you want.
For alternative and indie music, Interpol, Mt. Joy and MUNA are strong choices. St. Vincent offers something different by combining her catalog with orchestral arrangements performed alongside the San Diego Symphony.
For blues, roots and guitar-driven music, the calendar includes Tedeschi Trucks Band, Buddy Guy and Bonnie Raitt.
Movie fans have two major options in August. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert presents the complete first film with John Williams’ score performed live, while Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Concert pairs the movie with live orchestral accompaniment.
Families and audiences interested in recognizable screen music may also consider Disney’s ’80s-’90s Celebration in Concert.
For electronic music and large visual production, Madeon presents Victory: Live on Friday, October 23, 2026 brings a multimedia performance rather than a standard band setup.
Where Is The Rady Shell?
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is located at:
222 Marina Park Way San Diego, CA 92101
It sits on Embarcadero Marina Park South, behind the San Diego Convention Center and close to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Visitors staying in downtown San Diego may be able to walk to the venue rather than drive.
The venue uses flexible seating configurations, which means the setup can change considerably from one concert to another.
Rady Shell Seating
Seating options can include individual reserved seats, Marina tables, San Diego Row tables, Parkside two-person seating, Bridgeview seating, Mission Fed Community Green lawn areas and standing general admission.
Lawn seating is available for most San Diego Symphony-produced concerts but is not guaranteed for rental events. Lawn spaces are first-come, first-served, and low-profile chairs or blankets are generally permitted unless a specific event has different restrictions.
That event-specific distinction matters.
Mt. Joy on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 is standing general admission, so chairs and blankets are not allowed.
Tom Jones on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 uses reserved chairs only, with no lawn or tables.
Always check your event’s seating map before deciding what to bring.
Rady Shell Tickets
Screenshots and print-at-home tickets are not accepted for entry. Third-party tickets must ultimately appear through The Rady Shell ticketing system to be valid, and ticket validity is guaranteed only when tickets are purchased through official channels.
The Rady Shell Ticket Office can be reached at 619-235-0804. Standard hours are Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, with special concert-day hours.
Parking at The Rady Shell
Parking can become one of the more important parts of planning a Rady Shell concert because the venue shares the downtown waterfront with the Convention Center, Petco Park and several large hotels.
Prepaid parking through Ace Parking is available for many performances. Drive-up parking may also be offered, but availability is not guaranteed and day-of pricing can be significantly higher.
Parking is also available at the IQHQ building north of Seaport Village and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Parking Structure. A complimentary shuttle runs between the Hilton parking structure and The Shell around concerts.
When a Padres game, major convention or other downtown event overlaps with your concert, reserving parking before leaving home is the safer choice.
Getting to The Rady Shell Without Driving
The MTS Green Line Trolley stops at Convention Center Station. From the station, visitors can cross Harbor Drive and follow the walkway between the Convention Center and Marriott toward Embarcadero Marina Park South.
Other options include MTS buses, bicycles, walking from downtown hotels, the Coronado Ferry, water taxis and rideshare services.
Uber, Lyft and other hired vehicles should use the area near the Hilton San Diego Bayfront parking structure for pickup and drop-off rather than entering The Shell traffic circle.
Food and Drinks at The Rady Shell
Outside food and drinks are generally not permitted during ticketed events.
Food is available through Shell Provisions, which works with local partners including Richard Blais, Urban Kitchen, Biga, Puesto, Wicked Popcorn and Cali-Cream.
Options can include pizza, tacos, nachos, picnic boxes, snacks, ice cream, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.
For selected seating sections, Blais by the Bay dinners and picnic boxes can be pre-ordered by 4 PM the day before the concert. Marina, San Diego Row and Parkside guests have access to some of these pre-order options.
Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
Rady Shell Bag and Security Policy
All guests are subject to security screening, including wanding, and bags can be inspected before entry.
The maximum bag size is:
16 x 16 x 8 inches
Items that are not permitted include glass containers, umbrellas, drones, laser pointers, weapons, noise-making devices, oversized camera lenses, skateboards, scooters and outside food and beverages. Rental events may add additional restrictions.
For San Diego Symphony performances, guests may bring one empty reusable plastic or aluminum water bottle and refill it inside. Glass bottles are not permitted.
Rady Shell Accessibility
Every major seating section has designated accessible seating.
Transfer and non-transfer wheelchair spaces, semi-ambulatory seats and companion seating are available. Guests purchasing an accessible seat can purchase up to three additional companion seats in the same row when availability allows.
Accessible parking is limited near Embarcadero Marina Park South, so advance parking at the Fifth Avenue Landing Lot or Hilton Bayfront Garage is recommended.
Accessible shuttle transportation with a lift is available from the Hilton Parking Garage and Convention Center Drive. Wheelchair transportation assistance and assistive listening devices are also available at the venue.
Is The Rady Shell Family-Friendly?
Many Rady Shell events are suitable for families, particularly Symphony-produced film concerts and Disney programming.
For San Diego Symphony-produced events, children age two and older require a ticket. Rental producers can use different age requirements, so families should check the individual event page before purchasing.
Parents should also consider show length, volume and production effects. The “Weird Al” Yankovic performance, for example, uses strobe lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Rady Shell?
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is located at 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101.
When is Harry Potter in Concert?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert takes place on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM. The San Diego Symphony performs John Williams’ score live.
When is Buddy Guy at The Rady Shell?
Buddy Guy performs on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM.
When is Chris Tomlin at The Rady Shell?
Chris Tomlin’s Worship Under the Stars takes place on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM.
When is Brandi Carlile at The Rady Shell?
Brandi Carlile performs on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM, with CMAT.
When is Mariachi USA?
Mariachi USA takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM, with mariachi, folklórico ballet and a pyrotechnic finale.
When is MUNA at The Rady Shell?
MUNA performs on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 7:00 PM, with hemlocke springs.
When is Bonnie Raitt at The Rady Shell?
Bonnie Raitt performs on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM, with Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen.
When is Madeon at The Rady Shell?
Madeon presents Victory: Live on Friday, October 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM.
When is Tom Jones at The Rady Shell?
Tom Jones performs on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM. The event uses reserved chairs only, with no lawn or tables.
Plan Your Rady Shell Concert
The Rady Shell concerts 2026 schedule from August through October covers far more than standard touring concerts.
August combines St. Vincent, Sarah McLachlan, Gipsy Kings, Interpol, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mt. Joy and Jeff Goldblum with Symphony productions, film concerts and the Tchaikovsky Spectacular.
September includes jazz, Buddy Guy, Chris Tomlin, “Weird Al” Yankovic, The Sixties Show, Brandi Carlile and Mariachi USA.
October brings for KING + COUNTRY, MUNA, Bonnie Raitt, Madeon and Tom Jones.
Before heading to 222 Marina Park Way, confirm your show’s date and start time, review the seating configuration, arrange parking or transportation, have your mobile ticket ready and check the event-specific security rules.
