Sushi & Sake Festival 2026 in Downtown LA

The Sushi & Sake Festival has been running since 2000, which makes it one of the oldest Japanese food events in the LA area. For 2026 it lands on Sunday, November 1, inside the DoubleTree by Hilton on Los Angeles Street, right on the edge of Little Tokyo. If you keep a running list of things to do in Los Angeles that revolve around eating, put this one near the top.

The deal is all-you-can-eat. You pay once, walk in, and work your way through nigiri, sushi rolls and a spread of other Japanese dishes for the length of the event.

Who's making the sushi

The fish comes from two names locals already know. Chefs from Sushi Gen, the long-running Little Tokyo sushi bar, and from Katsu-ya Group, the local chain famous for its crispy rice, prepare the sushi fresh on site. That's a better roster than you'd expect from a hotel ballroom festival.

The organizer is the Japanese Restaurant Association of America, a trade group for Japanese restaurants and food businesses in the US. They've been putting this on for over two decades.

What's in the glass

Drinks are a big part of the ticket. You can taste premium sake, Japanese beer and other traditional beverages. The Shochu Rising Fair is back this year too, so there's a dedicated stretch for shochu, the distilled spirit that tends to get overlooked next to sake. It's made from barley, sweet potato, rice and more, and trying a few side by side is the fastest way to learn what you actually like.

Between plates, there are cultural performances and hands-on activities throughout the afternoon. This year's flyer shows taiko drummers on the floor, which gives you a sense of the volume level.

Plan ahead

Last year's festival sold out well before the day, and the organizers are saying so plainly. If you want in, don't wait. Two more things worth knowing: the Eventbrite listing says there are no refunds, and parking at the venue is paid.

Eat a light breakfast. Four hours of unlimited sushi is a marathon, and the people who pace themselves get to the good stuff (and the shochu table) still feeling human.

Practical info

• When: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 11 AM to 3 PM
• Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown, 120 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• Tickets: $45 to $90 on Eventbrite, depending on tier
• Ages: the listing says all ages; bring ID if you plan to drink
• Refunds: none
• Parking: paid on site

Getting there

The hotel sits a short walk from the Little Tokyo/Arts District station on the Metro A and E lines, which beats circling for parking after a few rounds of sake. If you drive, budget for paid parking.

Planning your November? Browse more festivals or check out what else is going on in Los Angeles. Our full roundup of upcoming events Los Angeles has to offer is on the events page, and it's where we keep the running list of Things Happening In Los Angeles.