Mission San Juan Capistrano celebrates 250 years on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and in anticipation of this significant milestone which also runs concurrently with the anniversary of the United States of America, an exciting calendar of events has been planned. The Mission Preservation Foundation is eager to celebrate this amazing milestone of endurance, tradition, legacy, and impact.

In anticipation of the 2026 anniversary, the Mission is working alongside Mayor Pro Tem John Campbell, and community volunteer, Jan Siegel, in serving on the City of San Juan Capistrano’s official 250th Anniversary Committee. The committee is also planning an array of local events and programs to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mission San Juan Capistrano and the community. For more information about the committee’s separate events and schedule, please visit their website here.

~ Special Programming for 2026 ~

2026 Event Calendar

For Members and Visitors:

January 2026
– New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) – Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Artifact of the Month (Jan. 5 – Feb. 2): Mary Pickford’s Wedding painting from 1924 (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19) – Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

February 2026
– Debut of Audio Tour (History and Garden) in Mandarin!
– 250th Anniversary Celebration Banners Installed!
– Artifact of the Month (Feb. 2 – March 2): The Lincoln Document signed on March 18, 1865, on limited display (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Music Under the Stars Fundraising Concert Series Sales Begin (Feb. 4)
– Free Birthday Cupcakes (Feb. 14 @ 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
– Presidents’ Day (Feb. 16) – Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Pennies for the Mission Drive

March 2026
– Artifact of the Month (March 2 – April 6): The Leon René Piano from 1930 (Location: Leon René Exhibit)
– New Exhibit! Opening of “Henry Chapman Ford Etchings” (March 14 – June 7)
– St. Joseph’s Day & Return of the Swallows Celebration, featuring commemorative flyover (March 19 @ 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
– Annual Swallows Day Parade, hosted by San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association (March 21 @ 11:00 a.m.)

April 2026
– Good Friday (April 3) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
– Easter Sunday (April 5) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Artifact of the Month (April 6 – May 4): Confessional Booth from the early 1800s (Location: Sala)
– Earth Day Celebration, in collaboration with Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation (April 22)
– New Exhibit! San Juan Capistrano Student Art (April 23 – May 25)

May 2026
– Artifact of the Month (May 4 – June 1): Baptismal Font from the early 1800s (Location: Serra Chapel)
– Free Birthday Cupcakes (May 10 @ 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
– Mother’s Day (May 10) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
– Homefront America’s Field of Honor (May 19 – May 25) – Celebrating its 5-year milestone! Opening Day Bell Ringing: May 19 @ 12:00 p.m.
– Memorial Day (May 25) – Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

June 2026
– Artifact of the Month (June 1 – July 6): Forster Saddle from the 1830s (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Father’s Day (June 21) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
– Summer Lecture Series (June 25 @ 2:00 p.m.)
– Music Under the Stars Concert #1 (June 27 @ 5:15 p.m.)
– New Exhibit! Opening of “Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life & Myth Making” (June 20 – Aug. 2)

July 2026
– Historic Bell Ringing: Feast Day of St. Serra (July 1 @ 10:00 a.m.)
– Artifact of the Month (July 6 – August 3): Mission Inventories written from 1791-1834 (Location: Sala)
– Summer Lecture Series (July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 @ 2:00 p.m.)
– Independence Day (July 4) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
– Music Under the Stars Concert #2 (July 11 @ 5:15 p.m.)
– Music Under the Stars Concert #3 (July 25 @ 5:15 p.m.)

August 2026 
– Artifact of the Month (Aug. 3 – Sept. 4): Historic Photograph Collection (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights Tickets Go on Sale (Details to Be Announced)
– Free Birthday Cupcakes (Aug. 8 @ 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
– New Exhibit! Opening of “Paintings of the Virgin Mary” (Aug. 15 – Nov. 15)

September 2026 
– Artifact of the Month (Sept. 4 – Oct. 5): Rare Books! Chinigchinich (1933), Capistrano Nights (1930) and more (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Labor Day (Sept. 7) – Open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Historic Bell Tolling: Patriot Day (Sept. 11 @ 10:00 a.m.)
– Historic Bell Ringing: Constitution Day (Sept. 17 @ 1:00 p.m.)
– Romance of the Mission Annual Benefit Gala (Sept. 18, Grounds Closed) – Celebrating 250 years with special musical artist, concert, black tie dinner, and preview of the Mission’s digital mapping projection: “The Story of the Mission: A Legacy of Builders, Faith & Time.”

October 2026
– Día de los Muertos Altar (Oct. 1 – Nov. 2)
– Artifact of the Month (Oct. 5 – Nov. 2): Acjachemen Baskets from the early 1900s (Location: Acjachemen Exhibit)
– Food & Wine Festival, hosted by San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce (October 10)
– Historic Bell Ringing: Indigenous Peoples Day (October 13 @ 10:00 a.m.)
– Historic Bell Ringing: Feast Day of St. John of Capistrano (October 23 @ 10:00 a.m.)

November 2026
– 250th Official Celebration (Nov. 1 @ 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) – Community ceremony with presentations, a bell ringing, and the reveal of the Mission’s digital mapping projection: “The Story of the Mission: A Legacy of Builders, Fath & Time.” See Mission Basilica at www.missionparish.org for special mass times.
– Free Birthday Cupcakes (Nov. 1 @ 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
– Artifact of the Month (Nov. 2 – Dec. 7): Sacramental Registers written in 1776 (Location: Mission Treasures Exhibit)
– Veterans Day (Nov. 11) – Open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
– New Exhibit! Opening of “Photo Reproductions from the Archival Collection” (Nov. 21)
– Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) – CLOSED

December 2026
– Artifact of the Month (Dec. 7 – Jan. 4, 2027): Station XII of the Stations of the Cross painting from 1800 (Location: Serra Chapel)
– Historic Bell Tolling: Day of Remembrance (Details to Be Announced)
– Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights Opening Night (Dec. 18) – Now featuring nightly digital projection @ 6:05 p.m.
– Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights, with nightly digital projection @ 6:05 pm. (Dec. 19 – 23 & Dec. 26 – 30 ~ select days)
– Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) – CLOSED
– Christmas Day (Dec. 25) – CLOSED

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Education Programs For Teachers, Students, and Schools

This year only, funding is available for up to 250 students daily through our Adopt-A-Class Scholarship Program. Visit www.missionsjc.com/scholarships for more information.

Free Admission for Teachers. Second Saturday of each month, free admission for educators! (restrictions apply).

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For Shoppers

At the Mission Store, new products including commemorative, limited-edition ornaments, pins, caps, shirts, magnets, and more! Discounts for Mission Members!

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2026 Sponsors

With the Mission celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, we would like to recognize the many wonderful event sponsors who have committed to sponsoring the following 2026 events and programs so far:

250th Anniversary Special Projects and Events Giving Registry

Jan & Honorable Warren Siegel
Jon Cobain Trust
El Viaje de Portolá
Lisa & Victor Gonzales
SEEN + UNSEEN
Jacqueline & Angel Lopez
D Lighting
Costco Wholesale SJC #429

St. Joseph’s Day & Return of the Swallows Celebration ~ March 19

~ Featuring a St. Joseph’s Day altar, special flyover by WWII AT-6 Airplanes and more! ~

Vicky & Michael Carabini, St. Joseph’s Day Altar
Cityside Fiber
Mike Ahumada, Realtor

Swallows Parade Day ~ March 21

Dame Connie & Dr. Peter Spenuzza, Spenuzza Velastegui Family Foundation

Music Under the Stars Summer Concert Series

Farmers & Merchants Bank
The Griffith Family – Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano
Dana Wharf Sportsfishing & Whale Watching
Cityside Fiber

2026 Romance of the Mission Gala

~ Featuring Tony Award® winning artist Sutton Foster ~

Eden & George O’Connell, O’Connell Family Foundation
Jon Cobain Trust
James Jerome Moiso Living Trust
Chris & Bill Griffith
Deanna & Robert Saint-Aubin
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Andrea & Steve Johnson
Karen Thorp & Richard Goul
The Irvine Museum
Gretchen Augustyn

Capistrano Lights: Mission in Lights

Farmers & Merchants Bank
Cityside Fiber
Mike Ahumada, Realtor

Special Projects and Programs

Mission Birthday Cupcakes by Costco Wholesale SJC #429, on February 14, May 10, August 8, and November 1 (supplies limited, first come basis)

How to Get Involved

Sponsorships for 2026 are still available! Please reach out to Events Director, Stephanie Montes de Oca at (949) 234-1315 or email smontesdeoca@missionsjc.com.