CALIFORNIA — October 26, 2026. SACRAMENTO — California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has scheduled annual priority license drawings for the week of October 26, 2026. According to its October 21 announcement, the drawings apply to eligible counties where the number of priority license applications exceeds the number available. Assigned randomized numbers are used in the process.

What it means for residents

ABC’s priority application process includes authorization for certain new On-Sale General and Off-Sale General licenses and certain intercounty transfers. It is a regulated licensing process; participating in a drawing is not a guarantee that a permit or retail operation will be approved. Applicants should review the exact county notices, eligibility requirements and drawing procedures on the regulator’s site rather than generalize across all counties.

What happens next

For California’s restaurant, hospitality and retail operators, licensing availability can affect expansion plans and business valuations. But additional local zoning, business, health and land-use requirements may apply. A prospective owner should verify those separately with the relevant agencies, not assume that an ABC draw resolves all necessary permissions.

Where to verify

The drawing dates described here come from ABC’s official October 21 notice. California58 will report any confirmed outcomes as announcements, without publishing guessed winners or unofficial lists.

Primary source: official agency or original organization. Published by California58.com; future schedules, alerts and legal outcomes may change. See the linked source for current status.

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