2025 2026 San Diego Region Events

SCBWI San Diego 2025-2026 Season

For questions about our region or our events, please contact us at [email protected].

Chapter Meetings

2025-2026 Meetings Will Be Virtual

All meetings will be recorded, and all registered attendees (Season Ticket or Individual Purchase) will receive the link to the recording.

Chapter Meetings 2024–25 (Pacific Time).

Times and Dates Subject to change.

Sept 20, 2025: Topic and Speaker TBA

Oct 18, 2025: Topic and Speaker TBA

Nov 8, 2025: Topic and Speaker TBA

Dec 6, 2025: Topic and Speaker TBA

January 2026: SCBWI International Winter Conference - Topic and Speaker TBA

February 21, 2026: Topic and Speaker TBA  

Mar 14, 2026: Topic and Speaker TBA

April 11, 2026: Topic and Speaker TBA

Schedule (Pacific Time)

2:00-2:20 p.m. Announcements and Member News

2:20-3:30 p.m. Craft Talk by Guest Speaker

3:30-4:00 p.m. Questions

Prices

Individual Chapter meeting cost: $10 for SCBWI members, $25 for nonmembers.

Season Ticket: September through April Meetings $60 for SCBWI Members, and $115 for Non-Members.

Season Tickets provide admission to all chapter meetings; discounted pricing for intensives, conferences and workshops; and access to chapter meeting recordings. Registration will open in mid-August, 2025 and will be aavailable through mid-December. Those who purchase a Season Ticket between Aug.-Dec. will receive recordings of the meetings they missed.

 

If you are an SCBWI member facing financial hardship, please contact us at [email protected]We will be offering a free meeting, one time per person.

IMPORTANT Information

Those who register and pay online will receive the Zoom invite by email no later than the Friday evening before the meeting. Registration for each event closes the Friday evening prior to that meeting so we are assured of getting the Zoom invite to attendees on time. SCBWI members please verify your correct email is on record with SCBWI to facilitate your receiving your invite. Any issues please contact us at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

 

To get all of the SCBWI discounted rates you are entitled to you must be logged into the SCBWI.org website with your email and password before registering and paying.

Writing for Children 101 With RAE Patricia Morris Buckley

This online class takes you from idea to a polished manuscript and covers plotting, dialogue and characters, as well as finding an agent or publisher. Also included are critiques of students' work. 

Cost is $60 for members, $90 for nonmembers. 

Registration will open in mid-August, 2025

Intensives

Author Intensive – February 28, 2026: Topic and Speaker TBA

Picture Book Intensive – Date, Topic and Speaker TBA

Any Intensive SAME-DAY Registrations will not receive the Zoom link to attend live, but you will receive the recording link on the following Tuesday.

FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ONLY Virtual Intensive $35 for SCBWI Members and $45 for Non-Members

FOR NON-SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Virtual Intensive $40 for SCBWI Members and $50 for Non-Members

Illustrator Mentorship 

This is a San Diego SCBWI Member Only Event.

The mentorship provides illustrators or author/illustrators the opportunity to work directly with an art director (TBD).

Registration Opens September 21, 2025 7:00 p.m. - Mentor and Topic TBA

$170 for members with a SD Season Ticket and $190 for members without a Season Ticket.

Author Mentorship 

This is a San Diego SCBWI Member Only Event.

The Author Mentorship is open to Unpublished SCBWI Members to work directly with a publishing professional (TBD).

Registration Opens September 28, 2025 7:00 p.m. - Mentor and Topic TBA

$170 for members with a SD Season Ticket and $190 for members without a Season Ticket.

MayFest 2026

Virtual Conference May 23, 2026

Speakers and Critique Faculty TBD

There will be two optional add-ons, each for an additional fee:

1)  Optional Portfolio Showcase judged by industry art professional(s).

2)  Optional Critique from an editor or agent

IF YOU WANT AN OPTIONAL CRITIQUE (1 per person), it's important that you review each faculty's critique preferences prior to registering. During the registration process you can choose the faculty and critique time (all times are PT).

MayFest 2026 Illustrator Contest

Design our website banner for MayFest 2026! The winner will be attributed to our website–great for publicity–plus receive free registration to MayFest, San Diego SCBWI’s annual one-day conference.

Watch here for further information sometime after September 2025.

SAN DIEGO REGION REFUND POLICY

Chapter Meetings, MayFest, and Intensives--refunds will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Any refund will be minus Stripe fees and any other expenses. No refunds one month before the event, because all events are being recorded and available for viewing for 30 days after the event.

Critiques and Mentorships--no refunds because the payment is already promised to the faculty.

NO REFUNDS will be offered for Season Tickets, because the meeting recordings are available to attendees for thirty days.