The San Diego Bird Alliance is proud to announce the return of the San Diego Bird Festival, scheduled from February 25 to March 1, 2026, at the Marina Village Conference Center in Mission Bay. This premier five-day celebration centered around the theme “Where Passion Takes Flight” invites birders of all backgrounds, abilities, and experience levels to explore the region’s unique biodiversity.
Join us Saturday, February 28th anytime between 10 am-6pm and Sunday, March 1st,10am-3pm for Family Friendly Community Days that offer FREE activities, live birds, food vendors, art & more at the Marina Village Conference Center.
The 2026 festival features an expanded lineup of world-class keynote speakers across iconic San Diego venues. Highlights include Jason Hall at Festival HQ, Makeda Dread Cheatom and Marilú Lopez-Fretts at the WorldBeat Cultural Center, Dexter Patterson at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and birding legend Kenn Kaufman at the Hyatt Regency.
“Our keynote series anchors each day, offering fresh perspectives on birds, culture, creativity, and conservation,” says the festival team. Beyond presentations, the festival offers high-demand “Signature Programs” such as Pelagic Birding trips, Birding the Border excursions, and the 100 or More Challenge.
New “Awe-Factor” programs debuting in 2026 include:
• A Walk with the Raptors: An exclusive outing with Sky Falconry featuring close-up encounters with birds of prey.
• Birding Beyond Binoculars: A nature journaling masterclass focused on mindful observation.
• 1st Annual Bird Film Festival: Featuring the debut of the documentary Hawkwatch.
• Walk, Roll, and Stroll: An accessible outing designed for mobility, sensory, and cognitive needs.
The festival also fosters a vibrant social community with daily gatherings at the Uncommon Saloon, featuring local craft beer and bird trivia. Families are encouraged to join the Free Community Days at Marina Village or attend the Bird-day Cake celebration on Sunday, March 1, to close the event.
Registration is now open at www.sandiegobirdfestival.org. Early registration is highly recommended for limited capacity trips and keynotes.
As the SD Bird Alliance always says, “Bird is the word”:
Here’s a link to the fun free stuff on Saturday and Sunday:
https://www.sandiegobirdfestival.org/free-days
Come by and see Marina Village as it is now. Charming, low-rise, in need of some new roofing, sure, but try and picture a high rise hotel here, and you’ll see why so many people came out against designating this area “surplus land.”