The 2026 California Main Street Conference will bring downtown revitalization professionals from across the state to Carlsbad Village for three days of sessions and networking Nov. 3–5.
The conference, themed "The Next Wave of Main Street," will spread across multiple Village venues including the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, New Village Arts, Carlsbad Village Books and the State Street Farmers Market, according to California Main Street, the statewide coordinating program for Main Street America.
The Carlsbad Village Association joined the California Main Street network in 2019 and is co-hosting the event alongside Square and Main Street America.
Christine Davis of the Carlsbad Village Association said in a statement on the conference website that she has been a supporter of Main Street training "ever since my first CAMS conference in Pleasanton (2018)."
"I know the networking and learning opportunities from this conference will be invaluable," Davis said.
The 2025 conference in San Luis Obispo drew a record 100 Main Street professionals from 30 communities, according to the CAMS conference page. The 2024 event in Old Town Eureka attracted 70 from more than 18 communities, and the 2023 gathering in Oceanside drew 78.
Sessions in Carlsbad will cover streetscape design, housing, tourism, economic development, legislative updates and emerging data tools for commercial districts. The program also includes targeted trainings on board essentials, special assessment districts and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The schedule opens Nov. 3 with a sunset welcome reception at the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Full-day programming on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 runs at New Village Arts and the Carlsbad Inn, with educational sessions, plenary talks and a "Coffee with Dr. Downtown" one-on-one advising session each morning.
On Nov. 4, attendees can visit the State Street Farmers Market from 2:30 to 7 p.m. or take the Coastal Five Trolley Tour of nearby North County Main Streets from 4 to 7:30 p.m. for an additional ticket. The conference wraps Nov. 5 with a farewell celebration at Carlsbad Village Books featuring food, drinks and a live surf band.
Sponsors and partners include the City of Carlsbad, Visit Carlsbad, Visit California, the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Geocentric.
California Main Street members receive two complimentary registrations per membership. Additional member passes cost $325, and non-member registration is $475. Single-day passes cost $125. The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, the official conference hotel at 3075 Carlsbad Blvd., is offering a conference rate of $179 per night.
Registration is open at californiamainstreet.org/conference.
