The San Diego Sake Festival will mark its 10th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at the JULEP Venue in downtown San Diego. Founded in 2016 by the San Diego Sake Club, the annual gathering has expanded into one of Southern California’s largest sake tasting events and is projected to draw over 1,000 guests this year.
Organizers have curated a lineup of more than 100 premium craft sake and shochu varieties from breweries located across Japan and the United States. In addition to tasting options, the event will offer Japanese beer, local food vendors, and traditional cultural workshops led by visiting sake specialists and brewery owners.
The schedule begins with a registration-only morning session designed specifically for food and beverage industry professionals. Restaurant operators, sommeliers, importers, wholesalers, and media members will meet directly with brewery representatives to learn about production methods and the history behind various labels.
The main public festival takes place in the afternoon, bringing general attendees together to sample different styles of sake while experiencing traditional ceremonies. Programming for the public segment includes the Kagami Biraki, a traditional Japanese barrel-opening ceremony.
San Diego Sake Club founder Ayaka Ito noted that the festival serves as a connection between Japanese sake producers and Southern California audiences. Event management and industry programming support for the 2026 milestone festival is provided by local cross-cultural PR firm meribiz Inc.
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