San Diego hosts Michelin awards

Michelin will bring its 2026 California awards ceremony to San Diego on June 24, the first time the city has hosted the state guide’s annual event. (sandiegouniontribune.com) The invitation-only ceremony is scheduled for EVE, a bayfront event venue downtown across Harbor Drive from the USS Midway Museum. Michelin’s California guide will announce its new stars, Bib Gourmands and other distinctions there. (kogo.iheart.com) (guide.michelin.com) San Diego restaurants were added to Michelin’s California coverage in 2019. The city had been outside the guide before Michelin expanded beyond Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Orange County and Santa Barbara. (sandiegouniontribune.com) Michelin’s own San Diego listings now show two starred restaurants in and around the city: Addison in Del Mar and Soichi in San Diego. The broader local selection also includes Bib Gourmand and recommended restaurants. (guide.michelin.com 1) (guide.michelin.com 2) The June ceremony puts San Diego at the center of California’s restaurant-awards calendar about six weeks before Michelin typically publishes late-spring and early-summer guide updates. Last year’s California stars were announced on June 25, 2025. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiegouniontribune.com) The Michelin move arrives during another national awards cycle for regional food scenes. The James Beard Foundation named Honolulu dessert maker Neale Asato a 2026 finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, with winners set for June 15 in Chicago. (jamesbeard.org 1) (jamesbeard.org 2) Other cities are building their own food calendars instead of waiting for outside guides. Visit Bellevue is promoting 2026 Culinary Weeks built around Dumpling Week, Berry Week, Crab Week and Noodle Week, each tied to self-guided dining trails. (visitbellevuewa.com 1) (visitbellevuewa.com 2) For San Diego, the immediate next date is June 24. That is when Michelin’s inspectors will decide whether the city leaves the night with the same two stars on the map or more. (guide.michelin.com) (sandiegouniontribune.com)