SILENT AUCTION OPEN NOW! Set to close on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 5:30pm SHARP!

Surf Del Mar Festival

October 8–11, 2026

Celebrating the Sport and the Culture

Preserving the Stories and the Spirit

Highlights of the Festival

Jeff Divine

Sunday · October 11th

Jeff Divine Book Signing

Meet legendary surf Photographer Jeff Divine and get a copy of his newest book "Divine Surf!" Sunday, October 11th at L'Auberge Hotel, 11:00 am.

Divine Surf by Jeff Divine book cover
Del Mar Surf History: Roots, a film by Jim Lischer

Sunday · October 11th · 5:00 pm

Special Film Showing Just Added

A new film by Jim Lischer, “Del Mar Surf History: Roots,” will be shown on Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 pm at St. Peter's Church Parish Hall. The film features stories and interviews with over 75 Del Mar surfers over the years, the first of its kind to document Del Mar surfing history. There will be a short film honoring Don Hansen that will be shown just before “Roots.” The event is free, but space is limited, so you need to register. Go to the Del Mar Historical Society website, delmarhistoricalsociety.org, under Festival events.

The Endless Summer film poster by Bruce Brown

Saturday Night · October 10th

The Endless Summer on the Lawn

Bring your friends, family and a picnic for a screening of Bruce Brown's classic film, The Endless Summer, Saturday night, October 10th, on the lawn at Powerhouse Park, Del Mar. The show starts between 6:30 and 7:00 pm…as soon as it's dark! Free Admission!

Courtesy Bruce Brown Films LLC

Bustin' Down the Door screening poster with Shaun Tomson

Friday · October 9th

Bustin' Down the Door Screening with Q&A

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a surf revolution — join surfing legend Shaun Tomson for a screening of Bustin' Down the Door with Q&A, Friday, October 9th at 5:30 pm at St Peter's Parish Hall, 334 14th Street, Del Mar. Free Admission!

Sunset gathering on the Upper Level of Del Mar Plaza

Friday · October 9th

Surfer’s Sunset Reunion Session — Day 2

5:00 pm – Friday, October 9th: Everyone will be gathering on the Upper Level of the Plaza to watch the sunset, swap some more stories, and celebrate living in Paradise.

SURF DEL MAR FESTIVAL is more than a festival—it's a Reunion, decades in the making. It brings together generations of surfers, storytellers, artists, musicians, authors and filmmakers for a one-of-a-kind event celebrating the sport, the culture, the legacy and the surfing history of Del Mar and the surrounding communities.

JOIN US OVER FOUR UNFORGETTABLE DAYS

October 8–11, 2026 – Del Mar, California

Come Be A Part Of The History and The Fun When Surfers Come Together Again

Support Surf Del Mar Festival

Help us keep this festival and our coastal heritage programs going. Donations are processed securely through Zeffy.

Donate with Zeffy
Don Hansen Don Hansen (1936–2026)

A Tribute to Don Hansen

Donald Hansen — entrepreneur, athlete and adventurer — passed away on March 28th, 2026 at the age of 89. Born in 1936 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Don discovered surfing in his early California years and, in 1960, founded Hansen Surfboards near Cardiff Reef in Encinitas. The shop became one of the best-known names in California surf culture — a gathering place for generations of surfers, skaters, skiers and local families, with Don at its heart.

He chased challenge everywhere: big Hawaiian waves when that frontier was still young, national titles and world records as captain of the Airfreight skydiving team, and team roping on the mountain trails of Big Sky, Montana. What set Don apart was not just his willingness to take risks, but his willingness to care — a strong spirit, a memorable sense of humor, and a habit of believing in people before they fully believed in themselves.

ALL EVENTS WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WELCOMING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, SURFERS, FAMILIES AND ANYONE WHO SHARES A LOVE OF THE OCEAN

VIEW FULL EVENT SCHEDULE