San Diego has gained a stellar reputation as one of America’s top theater towns, as numerous Broadway-bound productions originated here. The city is home to historic world-class theaters that have won Tony Awards for their contributions to the arts, and everything from classic Shakespeare plays to acclaimed musicals can be found performing on stage throughout the city. This year is shaping up to be another banner year for big shows, from world premieres to jovial musicals, dance performances and popular Broadway shows.
The Old Globe Theatre
The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park has been a cultural institution for more than 80 years, and its Tudor-style design that transports theater-goers to 16th century England is a prominent landmark in the park. The Old Globe complex has three stages onsite and hosts year-round productions, including outdoor shows during the summer Shakespeare festival and the annual holiday run of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” at the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. This season, it is staging three world premieres: Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” starring Katie Holmes, Fiasco Theater’s “Bartleby” and “Alien Girls.” Fans of The Bard can look forward to seeing the comedies “Measure for Measure” and “Much Ado About Nothing.”
La Jolla Playhouse
The La Jolla Playhouse has been groundbreaking in theater since its founding in 1947 by Hollywood legends Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer. The Playhouse has evolved into a powerhouse of new work, sending hits like “Jersey Boys” and “Come From Away” to Broadway and commissioning 120 world premieres to date. The upcoming season features the world premieres of the musicals “The Family Album” and “GRIM” and the play “A Black-Billed Cuckoo” alongside the West Coast premieres of “Purpose” and “The Monsters.” The current spring season includes an extension of the world premiere of “The Recipe,” based on the early life of chef Julia Child. Theater-goers can now conveniently enjoy dinner and a show thanks to the recent opening of Dora Ristorante, a new Italian eatery by award-winning chef Accursio Lota, that is just steps away from the playhouse. Dora offers ticketed guests an exclusive experience that includes a pre-fixe dinner with menus inspired by what’s on stage.
Balboa Theater
The Balboa Theater is an architectural and cultural treasure that has been in Downtown San Diego for more than 100 years. Its vertical neon sign, marquee and Spanish design harkens back to the 1920s when it hosted vaudeville acts and played silent films. Today, the theater is managed by the city and is the primary venue for the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, and is a major tour stop for musicians, comedians and dance troupes. This year, a variety of productions will take to the stage: the musical parody “Spamilton” (January); the one-man show “Mark Twain Tonight!” starring Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas (February); City Ballet’s “Rhapsody in Blue” (March); San Diego Opera’s “Fellow Travelers” (July) and more.
Staying true to its Art Deco-era roots, the theater still showcases silent films. Movie buffs won’t want to miss “Silent Movie Mondays,” where classic films are joined by the melodies and sound effects played on a historic pipe organ by a master organist, just as they were a century ago.
San Diego Civic Theatre
With its 3,000 plush seats and an elaborate chandelier made up of more than 50,000 Bavarian crystals that hangs in its Grand Salon, enjoying a show at the San Diego Civic Theatre feels like a big night out. The theater — which is right across from City Hall in Downtown San Diego — recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and is the home venue for the San Diego Opera and visiting big-ticket performances. The theater has an exciting schedule this year: “The Barber of Seville” (February); the World Ballet Company’s performance of “Swan Lake” with a live orchestra (February); “Beetlejuice” (February-March); “Carmen” (March); “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” (April); “MJ The Musical” (May); and “The Phantom of the Opera” (September).
San Diego Civic Theatre is also the home of Broadway San Diego, which announced its exciting 2026-2027 season of musicals, including the Tony Award-winning “Maybe Happy Ending,” along with “Oh, Mary!” and “The Great Gatsby.”
Joan & Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center
The long-awaited Joan & Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center opened last fall at Arts Center Liberty Station in Point Loma. Affectionately known as “The Joan” in memory of Joan Jacobs, a beloved arts patron and philanthropist (alongside her husband, Irwin), the center serves as a permanent new home for Cygnet Theatre, which was located in Old Town for over a decade. Upcoming shows include the uplifting musicals “Somewhere Over the Border” and “The Sponge Bob Musical.”
Diversionary Theatre
This landmark cultural institution in the University Heights neighborhood is one of the oldest LGBTQIA+ plus theaters in the U.S. and is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. The theater’s long-held mission is to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and provide opportunities for diverse storytelling. In addition to showcasing works by acclaimed local and national playwrights, Diversionary Theatre offers free arts education programs, and the onsite Clark Cabaret and Bar regularly hosts live (and mostly free) queer-themed entertainment. Programming for the 40th anniversary season includes the world premiere of “Straddle” by Harrison David Rivers and a reimagined production of “Rent.”
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater
Theater enthusiasts will appreciate this unique gem inside Balboa Park — it’s the longest running theater in the U.S. devoted to the art of puppetry and offers weekend shows for guests of all ages. For nearly 80 years, visitors have enjoyed the comical shows and performances from special guests inside the historic venue.
