Tech Conference, CrossFit Milestone and St. Patrick’s Festivities Lead San Jose Headlines
San Jose, CA – March 17, 2026 – A major tech conference kicks off downtown, CrossFit wraps its Open, and St. Patrick’s Day events draw big weekend crowds.
Major Tech Conference Underway Downtown
San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center is buzzing this week as NVIDIA GTC 2026 runs from March 16 through March 19. Organizers expect tens of thousands of attendees, bringing a noticeable boost to downtown hotels, restaurants and small businesses.
The multi-day conference features AI announcements, developer sessions and industry networking events. With evening gatherings spread across the city, local leaders have highlighted the economic impact as San Jose continues positioning itself as a global tech hub in a year packed with major events.
CrossFit Open Wraps Ahead of July Games at SAP Center
The 2026 CrossFit Open concluded March 16, marking the end of the first qualifying stage for athletes hoping to compete at this summer’s CrossFit Games at SAP Center.
The Games, scheduled for July 24 to 26, will bring elite competitors and fans from around the world to downtown San Jose. This year marks the competition’s 20th edition and a return to California, adding to a busy calendar of sports and entertainment events planned across the city in 2026.
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Draws Crowds
San Jose celebrated St. Patrick’s Day weekend with a slate of events across the city. A large bar crawl centered around downtown’s San Pedro Square area drew hundreds of participants on Saturday, while Santana Row hosted a local artist street fair.
At PayPal Park, Bay FC faced Denver Summit FC in a Saturday matchup that added to the festive weekend atmosphere. From nightlife to family-friendly markets and pro sports, the weekend showcased the city’s diverse event scene.
As San Jose heads deeper into spring, the combination of tech conferences, national sporting events and cultural celebrations continues to keep the calendar full — and downtown lively.
Sources
https://www.sanjose.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/60%20Day%20All%20Events%20Calendar%20TSJ%20Feb%20-%20Mar%202026.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_CrossFit_Games
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-jose-st-patricks-day-weekend-bar-crawl-2026-tickets-1295804549289
https://allevents.in/san-jose/2026-03-14
