Michelin picks San Diego

Michelin will hold its 2026 California awards ceremony in San Diego on June 24, the first time the statewide event has landed there. (guide.michelin.com) The ceremony is where Michelin reveals new California stars, green stars for sustainability, and other annual honors. In 2025, Michelin announced two new three-star restaurants, two new two-star restaurants, five new one-star restaurants, and two new green stars. (guide.michelin.com) California’s Michelin guide is still a recent project. Michelin launched the first statewide California edition in March 2019 and called it the first regional guide for the United States. (guide.michelin.com) The host cities have moved around the state since then. The 2019 live reveal was held in Huntington Beach, the 2024 ceremony was at The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, and the 2025 ceremony was scheduled for June 25 in Sacramento. (guide.michelin.com, guide.michelin.com, guide.michelin.com) San Diego already has a larger Michelin presence than its beach-town image suggests. Michelin’s official San Diego guide lists starred restaurants in the city, and Addison earned a third star in 2022, giving Southern California a rare top-tier restaurant outside Los Angeles. (guide.michelin.com, sandiego.org) Michelin inspectors have also been adding San Diego restaurants to the statewide guide in recent years. A 2023 Michelin preview of new California additions highlighted San Diego seafood restaurant Mabel’s Gone Fishing before that year’s awards. (guide.michelin.com) San Diego’s tourism agency has been pushing that dining identity alongside its usual surf-and-sun pitch. In a February 19, 2026 release, the San Diego Tourism Authority pointed to Michelin and James Beard recognition as part of its case for the city as a food destination. (sandiego.org) The next marker is June 24, when chefs from across California will gather in San Diego and Michelin will decide which kitchens move up, hold steady, or join the guide. (guide.michelin.com)