In San Diego we kick off the New Year with the San Diego International Auto Show at the San Diego Convention Center!
If the New Year has you dreaming about what’s next—on the road and beyond—there’s no better place to start than the San Diego International Auto Show. Running January 1–4, 2026, this annual favorite transforms downtown into a playground for car lovers, future buyers, families, and anyone curious about where automotive design, technology, and sustainability are headed next.
Held at the San Diego Convention Center, the 2026 show brings together cutting-edge vehicle debuts—including a Ram Trucks World Debut—alongside an expanded lineup of electric vehicles, interactive displays, indoor EV test tracks, and real-world street test drives with brands like Alfa Romeo, Ford, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, and more. Whether you’re shopping for your next car, exploring EV options, or just soaking in the spectacle, this is one of San Diego’s most dynamic ways to kick off the year.
And the experience doesn’t stop when you leave the show floor. San Diego is home to several must-see car and transportation museums that let you dive deeper into automotive history, design, and innovation—perfect complements to the high-tech future on display at the Auto Show. From classic cars to unexpected collections, these local gems help tell the full story of our love affair with the automobile.
Here’s how to make the most of it—and where to keep the automotive inspiration going long after you’ve left the Convention Center. It’s Where the Cars are the Stars™! For more detailed information click/tap here to find a digital show guide for this year’s show. Find tickets here. Plus, bring the kids for Family Day on Sunday, January 4. Kids 12 & under are free.
Keep the FUN going at San Diego’s world-famous car museums including the San Diego Automotive Museum, the JA Cooley Museum, and the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum.
San Diego Automotive Museums
San Diego Automotive Museum
Balboa Park
San Diego’s premier transportation museum
Visiting the San Diego International Auto Show? Pair it with a stop at the San Diego Automotive Museum for the perfect contrast between the future and the past of transportation. While the Auto Show at the San Diego Convention Center highlights new models, EVs, and cutting-edge technology, the museum in Balboa Park offers context—showcasing the design, craftsmanship, and innovation that shaped today’s cars.
Many enthusiasts turn their Auto Show visit into a full automotive experience, combining the excitement of the Convention Center with a deeper dive into San Diego’s automotive history just minutes away.
🚘 Current Exhibits at the San Diego Automotive Museum
The San Diego Automotive Museum features a 17,000-square-foot exhibit space with rotating and permanent collections showcasing 75+ cars and motorcycles. Together, they explore automotive beauty, design, engineering, history—and even a glimpse into the future.
NASCAR: Design and Innovation
This exhibit spotlights NASCAR’s Next Gen car, introduced in 2022, highlighting advances in aerodynamics, safety, body design, and performance. From sequential transmissions and increased horsepower to improved driver protection and in-car cameras, it shows how racing continues to push innovation forward.
At the San Diego Automotive Museum, automotive history comes alive through rotating exhibitions and a rich permanent collection celebrating design, innovation, and horsepower. A highlight is The Plank Road: San Diego vs. Los Angeles, which explores early automobile travel and the rivalry to become Southern California’s road hub—when roads, not rail, drove economic opportunity.
Visitors can also experience Louie Mattar’s Fabulous Car, the legendary 1947 Cadillac that tells the story of epic non-stop drives and bold ingenuity, alongside a Featured Collection of cars, motorcycles, and memorabilia that reflects the region’s automotive culture. The museum’s Harley-Davidson exhibit further showcases the brand’s history, cultural impact, and enduring legacy—making the museum a must-see complement to any automotive weekend in San Diego.
JA Cooley Museum
University Heights, San Diego
Kids will love the dozens of cars at JA Cooley Museum from vintage to modern, including a very cool DeLorean.
Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum
Escondido
For admirers of classic automobiles and all things vintage — the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum is a FUN destination for the whole family to explore.
Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum boasts of having the largest convertible car collection in the world highlighted with classic neon signs. The museum has vehicles ranging from the 1800s to the 1980s, plus collections including vintage radios, televisions, neon signs, and an entire room devoted to Barbie (yes, Barbie prefers convertibles!). Discover more here!
Come for the vintage autos and stay for the wine. Or vice versa. Both are worth a visit. Deer Park produces such award-winning varietals as Merlots, Sangioveses and dinner-style reds. The tasting room is open at 10 a.m. Thursdays through Mondays.
Other Cool car Finds
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Balboa Park
San Diego’s premier transportation museum
You might think you’d find it in the San Diego Automotive Museum, but instead one very special car is found in the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. KPBS Reporter & Anchor John Carroll and Video Journalist Mike Damron give us a close-up look at the futuristic Avion Car here.
Coronado Historical Association
Coronado
One of the best ways to experience the history of Coronado is to go on a historic walking tour.
The sleek black cab contrasts the rest of the truck’s bright red coloring with lettering that reads “Hotel Del Laundry” etched in gold. This pristine image is a 1923 Ford Model T laundry truck that is very near and dear to the hearts of Coronado residents. Her name is Isabella, and the Coronado Historical Association celebrated her 100th birthday on Dec. 9. The Coronado Historical Association features a Coronado History Research Center and changing exhibition galleries about the unique history of the community of Coronado.
Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum
Carlsbad
The Craftsmanship Museum honors the individual builders of finely crafted miniature items in wood and metal.
Think SMALL and FUN this weekend! The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum is now open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit Carlsbad and check out the museum’s more than 200 functional miniature cars, miniature ships, autos, cranes, clocks, tools, and more on display. The exhibits are housed in 13,000 square feet of exhibit and working machine shop space. Find out more here.
