Make a week of it: 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix

Since its inaugural race in 1975, the streets of Long Beach ignite every year under the strikes of hard-knuckle open-wheel racing, sci-fi GTP and elbows-out GT class battles, Stadium Super Truck madness, oil-eating oldies, drifters, and Porsche Cup Cars. There will be enough tire smoke and fuel to fill 100 Waffle House parking lots on gameday. 

The 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is nearly here (April 17th-19th). The race schedule is slammed, but what about all the folks who want to make a week of it? There’s no shortage of wonderful things to do, see, eat, drink, and explore in Long Beach and its surrounding areas, but we picked a few options that might not be on the top of the go-to list of automotive tourist destinations that we think are totally worth your time. 

The Queen Mary

It might not have wheels, but it made some serious power in its day. The once-mighty ocean liner, accidentally named (funny story) the Queen Mary, is now an incredible floating hotel, bar, restaurant, and living museum. Even if you don’t stay on the vessel, they offer daily historical tours, a Sunday brunch, art tours, and even evening ghost tours. Sure, it’s touristy, but sometimes things are touristy because they are worth seeing. The Queen Mary is one of them. 

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The Petersen Automotive Museum

I know. I know. If you can spell “car,” this shrine to the automobile probably isn’t news to you. Be that as it may, a list of things to do for a week's trip to the Long Beach Grand Prix would be woefully lacking without this little number. The Petersen Museum is one of the finest automotive attractions, not only in California, but in America, and even in the world. Chances are, the Petersen is one of the finest collections of cars and motorcycles, memorabilia, and ephemera in the Universe. You can’t miss that. 

One of the best parts of the Petersen is how often they curate new collections and exhibitions. Right now, the monument to motion features the Fast & Furious collection, an ‘80s and ‘90s exhibit, The Wedge Revolution, Legends of Dirt, “Cars Beautiful” painting exhibit, and so much more. Even if you’ve been a dozen times, it’s still worth a trip to see what wondrous collections they’ve put together this time. 

Fourth Street “Retro Row” 

If you want to get crazy and do a little non-Porsche-branded shopping, the stretch colloquially called “Retro Row” is home to 40+ independent merchants and shops selling all manner of curios and curiosities; vintage clothing, antiques, art, and the kind of coffee shops where people have orders you’ve never heard of before. The anchor to this historic district is the Art Theatre, a restored 1920s gem that – thankfully – still screens films, hosts live music, and generally refuses to behave like a work of historical preservation. It's the kind of place now being praised by The New York Times and on magazine covers. Even in a city that hosts one of the most prestigious motorsport events in North America every spring, Retro Row is a reminder that Long Beach was interesting long before the cars showed up.

Bike Shed Moto  

If you want to cram in more moto fun in your Long Beach Grand Prix week, and you don’t mind the trip into downtown LA, you must see the folks at Bike Shed Moto Los Angeles. Following in its English twin’s footsteps, Bike Shed LA is one of the classiest motorcycle establishments you could ever want to find. 

The Bike Shed’s ethos is community. The space not only serves as a clubhouse for its members and the wider motorcycle community, but it is also a restaurant and event space. Don’t be fooled by the heavy slathering of burgundy Chesterfield couches and booths, polished steel, and poached eggs; this is still a biker’s establishment. In case you were wondering, yes, you can get a tattoo while you're waiting for your brunch. 

Fingerprint Music

Cars and good tunes are inseparable. For the most discerning music lovers, vinyl collectors, and other such dorks, Fingerprint music is something you gotta do while in Long Beach. This enigmatic record shop opened in 1992 as a haven for Long Beach weirdos and freaks, no matter what strange corner of a sub-sub-genre of a niche music scene they could possibly have found themselves entrenched. Not only is this shop dripping in rare, limited records, but it is also one of those increasingly rare places in the universe where your favorite musician might turn up to play a show on craggy linoleum floors next to the cassettes. This place is a delightful sweet treat against the salty, embittered backdrop of modernity. Go. Listen. Buy. 

RRDC Evening with Derek Bell

On April 16th, the Road Racing Drivers Club holds its 16th annual honors banquet at the Westin Long Beach, and this year's is worth clearing your calendar for. The honoree is Derek Bell MBE (below, at Le Mans in 1971), one of the most decorated British racing drivers who ever turned a lap, and the man introducing him is his son Justin Bell — a Le Mans class winner and FIA GT world champion in his own right. The two even shared a podium together at Le Mans in 1995.

Rainer Schlegelmilch/Getty Images

The evening will also honor the memory of Jim Michaelian, the longtime President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, who passed away in March. Michaelian was there from day one, serving as the organization's first controller under founder Chris Pook at the inaugural 1975 race. Bobby Rahal called him "the driving force behind the huge success of the Grand Prix of Long Beach," and nobody in that room will argue with him. Proceeds benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation and the RRDC's SAFEisFAST initiative. Tickets here — buy them now, because this one sells out.

Cars and Coffee 

It’s no secret that the Cars and Coffee scene has exploded. From sea to shining sea, parking lots across the country glint and glimmer with all manner of enthusiasts, their friends, and their cars. That said, the car culture in Southern California is unrivaled, and it would be a shame to miss out on a chance to take part in its splendor. 

Given the sprawl of Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles Metro area, there are tons of options for Cars and Coffee meeting sites, depending on where you’ll be. Here is a list of the major Cars and Coffee groups in the area and where they meet. 

Kayaking/Whale watching

As we begin our ascent from the depths of wintertime on the East Coast, there will be many Long Beach Grand Prix goers who will be in desperate need of some sunshine and fresh air. Don’t go to California and miss its greatest offering: the outdoors. Long Beach is home to some of our most precious shores, where multiple species of whales visit during their long migration. Prepare your mind, body, spirit, and lungs for the plethora of fumes and tire smoke with a trip right off the shore in a kayak to see some big boys. There will be plenty of time for cars and racing. Make some time to slow down and experience Long Beach from its best seat. 

See you at Long Beach

Travis Hinkle/Penske Entertainment

The 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix will undoubtedly keep you plenty occupied for the weekend, but if you are traveling for the race, why not make the most of it? Explore Long Beach and the towns and cities surrounding it. Eat something you've never tried. Go somewhere you've never been. Eat the burrito with French fries in it, and try something from the fresh juice cart. Scream your head off as your favorite driver passes the stands. Enjoy.