Michelin moves awards to San Diego

Michelin Guide will hold its 2026 California awards ceremony in San Diego on June 24, the first time the city has hosted the event. (sandiegouniontribune.com) The ceremony is invitation-only and is scheduled for EVE, a new bayfront event space near the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego. (sandiegouniontribune.com) (kogo.iheart.com) Michelin’s California guide has covered the state statewide since 2019, when San Diego restaurants first became eligible for stars, Bib Gourmand awards, and selection listings. (kogo.iheart.com) (guide.michelin.com) That statewide model changed the map of Michelin recognition in California. Before that expansion, Michelin’s modern U.S. coverage in the state was centered more narrowly on major established markets. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiegouniontribune.com) The host-city switch also follows last year’s California ceremony in Sacramento on June 25, 2025, when Michelin added two new three-star restaurants, two new two-star restaurants, and five new one-star restaurants statewide. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) Michelin has kept adding California restaurants between annual ceremonies as inspectors travel year-round. In March 2026, the guide published another round of new California selections ahead of this year’s awards. (guide.michelin.com) San Diego’s current starred footprint on Michelin’s official site is still small compared with Los Angeles or San Francisco. Michelin’s San Diego starred list shows two starred restaurants in the city and surrounding area. (guide.michelin.com) Hosting the ceremony does not itself change any ratings. Michelin says stars and Bib Gourmands are revealed at the annual ceremony, while new additions to the broader selection can appear during the year. (guide.michelin.com) What San Diego gets on June 24 is the industry spotlight: chefs, restaurateurs, and Michelin’s California results in one room, on San Diego Bay, for the state guide’s biggest night. (sandiegouniontribune.com)