SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s meetings and events sector is set for further expansion in 2026, with convention center upgrades, new entertainment districts, and additional group-focused hotels coming online across the state, according to Visit California.
“From convention center modernizations to new offsite venues and hotel openings, 2026 marks a period of change for meetings and events in California,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California.
Convention center investment
Construction is underway on a $2.6 billion modernization and expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). The project will add 190,000 square feet of space, creating a contiguous exhibition hall of more than 750,000 square feet, along with expanded meeting and multi-purpose rooms.
New entertainment districts and venues
Several large-scale developments are scheduled to open or continue phased rollouts in 2026.
In Orange County, OCVIBE is opening in stages on more than 100 acres around the Honda Center. Planned 2026 openings include a 50,000-square-foot Market Hall, the Weave flexible workspace, a 5,700-seat concert hall, and Urban Park.
ONT Field in Ontario is slated to open in April 2026 as part of a 190-acre sports and entertainment district. The venue will host the Ontario Tower Buzzers, a Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and will include seating for 4,500 and more than 75,000 square feet of food and beverage space.
West Harbor, a 42-acre waterfront development at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, is expected to open in summer 2026 with restaurants, retail, recreational space, and a 6,200-seat amphitheater, along with access to Harbor Breeze Cruises.
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is scheduled to open in September 2026 in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, featuring 100,000 square feet of gallery space, theatres, classrooms, and event areas.
In Truckee, the Old Lumberyard will debut its first phase in May 2026; a second phase planned later in the year will include a 10,000-square-foot event center and boutique hotel.
New and updated hotel inventory
In Napa Valley, Casa Mani Resort Napa Valley has opened under Hilton’s Curio Collection, offering more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The Napa Valley Car Club has also debuted as a group venue, accommodating up to 150 guests.
The Limelight Hotel Mammoth recently opened with 8,000 square feet of event space, while La Bahia Hotel & Spa has debuted in Santa Cruz with 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
Additional projects include The Kali Hotel & Rooftop in Inglewood, Rosewood San Francisco, the reopening of Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara in 2026, renovations at several Beverly Hills hotels, a new amphitheater at Parker Palm Springs, the planned reopening of Hotel De Anza in San Jose, and the restoration of Chateau Big Bear.
Learn more at Visit California.
